Securities and Exchange Commission
Financial Economist
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Summary
Time-in-grade for this announcement is one year at the GS/SK-13 level. Applicants are responsible for confirming all required materials are submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Please check the How You Will Be Evaluated and Required Documents sections carefully, as missing documents will render the application incomplete and ineligible for review. Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENT: A. Applicants must possess a degree in economics that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus. --OR-- B. An appropriate combination of education and experience----courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Examples of qualifying experience include individual economic research assignments requiring planning, information assembly, analysis and evaluation, conclusions and report preparation; supervisory or project coordination assignments involving a staff of professional economists, and requiring the evaluation and interpretation of economic information; or teaching assignments in a college or university in economic subjects in combination with one of the following: (1) personal research that produced evidence of results, (2) direction of graduate theses in economics, or (3) service as a consultant or advisor on technical economics problems. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement SK-14: Applicant must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/SK-13 level providing economic analysis which includes at least one of the following: Success in conducting research in financial economics or industrial organization that is of comparable quality to peer-reviewed academic journals. Experience conducting economic analysis for use in federal courts, regulatory actions, or settlements, including the quantification of damages, ill-gotten gains, or harm to investors. Experience in analyzing the costs and benefits of regulations in financial markets, including effects on market efficiency, competition, and capital formation. ACCOMPLISHMENT RECORD COMPETENCIES: Your Accomplishment Record narratives should address the following competencies. See the How You Will Be Evaluated section below for more information: Competency 1: Economic Analysis - Evaluates economic effects of financial actions related to a rule, conduct in the marketplace, and/or risks in the market. Competency 2: Statistical Expertise - Performs and interprets data analysis. Competency 3: Teamwork and Collaboration - Interacts with internal and external others in a manner that advances examinations and SEC goals and objectives. Competency 4: Workload Management - Effectively prioritizes workload in a way that accommodates unforeseen developments and achieves successful outcomes.
Major Duties
In this role as a Financial Economist, you will be responsible for: Conducting economic analyses to evaluate specific violations of securities laws, including assessing stock-market impacts, measuring investor harm, and quantifying ill-gotten gains. Using statistical software and programming languages to analyze complex datasets for evidence of stock-price manipulation, insider trading, biased trade allocations, and other forms of misconduct. Researching emerging analytical techniques and developing sophisticated empirical methodologies that strengthen enforcement recommendations and inform investigative strategy. Providing objective and credible expert-witness testimony in litigation by presenting intricate economic concepts and analytical methods in an impartial and accessible manner. Preparing written reports and presentations that communicate complex economic findings to enforcement attorneys, investigative staff, and senior leadership. Prioritizing and coordinating multiple projects to ensure timely completion of economic analyses while adapting to evolving investigative needs, tight deadlines, and shifting enforcement priorities.
Required Documents
You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes: Required: Your responses to the Questionnaire. Required: Resume - Resumes should include relevant work experience, with specific employment dates, that demonstrates qualifications for the specialized experience and competencies as outlined above. If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. Resumes that exceed two pages will be deemed ineligible and receive no further consideration. For resume writing tips, visit USAJOBS and the SEC careers page. Required, if applicable: CTAP documentation (a copy of a separation notice or other proof of eligibility for priority selection; a copy of an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing current position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location; AND a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.) SEC EMPLOYEES: OHR will verify your competitive service eligibility via the SEC's personnel database.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. No additional documentation will be accepted after the closing date of the announcement. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.