Duties

Summary

The Division of Investment Management Analytics Office provides the Division and Commission with practical reviews and actionable analyses ofthe asset management industry. The Analytic Office, Branch No. 2 is seeking to fill one Quantitative Research Analyst (Financial Engineer), the position will be located in either Washington, DC or New York, NY.
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Responsibilities

The Analytics Office is looking to grow with the addition of talented Quantitative Research Analysts who will analyze the asset management industry data, including data from regulatory filings including portfolio data from mutual funds, money market funds, and private funds, and for other industry financial data available through market data vendors.

If selected, you will join a well-respected team within the Analytics Office to provide rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis on the asset management industry.

Duties may include:

• Supporting the mission of the Division by providing rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis on the asset management industry.
• Serve as a quantitative research analyst working with SEC staff in building sophisticated models, determining proper empirical methodology, organizing data collection, writing unique programs, preparing written reports, and summarizing the studies in formal and informal presentations.
• Provide senior level technical expertise for the design and conduct of comprehensive, complicated financial data studies, surveys, reviews, and research projects where the boundaries are extremely broad and difficult to determine in advance.
• Conduct research in areas such as the analysis of new financial instruments and strategies, options, and derivates which involves the application of financial engineering methodologies and employing financial theory and applied mathematics, as well as computation and the practice of programming.
• Develop state-of-the-art software tools to collect, and analyze large volumes of structured and/or unstructured data.
• Work with large volumes of financial data from different instruments and sources for back-testing
  and validation of models, algorithms, and strategies.
• Participate in examinations of registered investment advisers, investment companies, and private fund managers, conducting interviews of compliance, risk, investment and operations professionals, as well as quantitative/modeling experts at the firms, and designing document requests to elicit information about registrant's products, strategies, and related risk management procedures and controls, to inform policy and complement the team's risk monitoring efforts.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen
• Application procedures are specific to this vacancy announcement. Please read all the instructions carefully. Failure to follow the instructions may result in you not being considered for this position.
• Supplementary vacancies may be filled in addition to the number stated in this announcement.
• This position has promotion potential to the SK-14.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: This appointment may require completion of a one-year probationary period.
• SECURITY CLEARANCE: Entrance on duty is contingent upon completion of a pre-employment security investigation. Favorable results on a Background Investigation may be a condition of employment or selection to another position.
• DRUG TESTING: This position may be subjected to drug testing requirements.
• PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS): Moving/Relocation expenses are not authorized.
• DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• This position is in the collective bargaining unit.

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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. Qualifying education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: All applicants must possess the basic requirement below

Degree: Mathematics, statistics, or actuarial science. The degree must be in a major field of study (at least at the baccalaureate level) that is appropriate for the position. or

Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major field of study as shown in paragraph A above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: In addition to meeting the basic requirement, applicants must also meet the minimum qualification requirement.

SK-13: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS/SK-12 level. Specialized experience includes all of the following:

Working with investment company and/or investment advisory data, applying the theories, principles, and processes of quantitative research; interpreting financial and securities industry data; using models and other types of data analysis and statistical software applications to ensure the accuracy of information produced; AND

Assisting with the development, maintenance and/or validation of models used for forecasting, valuation, instrument strategy selection, portfolio construction, and risk management; AND

Using a variety of risk evaluation models related to investment portfolios and/or the asset management industry.

SK-14: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS/SK-13 level. Specialized experience includes all of the following:

Independently working with investment company and/or investment advisory data, applying the theories, principles, and processes of quantitative research; interpreting complex financial and securities industry data; using models and other types of data analysis and statistical software applications, to manipulate large data sets to ensure the accuracy of information produced; AND

Independently developing, maintaining and/or validating models used for forecasting, valuation, instrument strategy selection, portfolio construction, and risk management; AND

With little supervision, using sophisticated models related to investment portfolios and/or the asset management industry, such as VaR and stress testing models, hedging techniques, credit risk, counterparty risk, market risk, valuation and pricing, and model sensitivity and risk statistics.

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

Salary ranges
Washington, DC

• SK-13: $112,524 - $185,048
• SK-14: $129,205 - $212,478

New York, NY

• SK-13: $115,778 - $190,400
• SK-14: $132,942 - $218,623

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SURPLUS OR DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) are available to individuals who have special priority selection rights under this plan. Individuals must be minimally qualified for this position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP or ICTAP eligibles will be considered minimally qualified if they meet the minimum requirements for this position.

Reasonable Accommodation: If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation for disability to participate in the application process at the SEC, submit the form for Reasonable Accommodation for Participation in Job Application Process here . Please be sure to submit your request at least 5 business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information for SEC Job Applicants: Federal EEO laws protect all applicants from discrimination on the following bases: race, color, sex (not limited to conduct which is sexual in nature, includes pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender status), age (40 and over), religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, retaliation for participating in the EEO process or opposing discrimination. Applicants who believe they have been discriminated against on any EEO basis can seek recourse through the SEC's administrative complaints process. To be timely, an individual must enter the EEO process within 45 days from when they know (or should have known) of the alleged discrimination. Click here for additional information.

TTY/ASCII: Video Relay Service users are welcome to contact the appropriate SEC office or employee via the contact information listed above. If you do not otherwise have access to a Video Phone or Video Relay service, you may send us an email or use the Federal Video Relay Service via the internet. For more information about using the Federal Relay Service and to create a new account, please see: http://fedvrs.us/

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the occupational questionnaire. Your resume must support your responses to the occupational questionnaire. After review of your application materials, if you are determined to be minimally qualified, you will be referred to the selecting official. Applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

• Financial Analysis
• Risk Management
• Technical Competence
• Computer Language

The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete. To preview the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10502015 .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

You must provide a complete Application Package, which includes:

• Required: Your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire.
• Required: Your complete and comprehensive resume that includes a complete history of your work experience and the applicable employment dates with months and years. To determine if you qualify for this position, OHR will review your work history that is relevant to the specific position for which you applied. If you are an external candidate selected for this position, OHR will review your complete work history to establish your starting salary. If you are a current SEC employee selected for this position, the standard percentage increases will be applied (i.e., 6% for non-supervisory and 8% for supervisory positions) if your selection results in a promotion. If your selection results in lateral movement (i.e. no change in grade) you will maintain your current salary. Note: Your resume must directly address the definition of specialized experience listed in the qualification section of this announcement and must NOT contain pictures.
• Required: An unofficial college transcript. (Note: If you are selected for this position, official transcript will be required.)
• Required, if applicable: CTAP/ICTAP 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.)
• Required, if applicable: Veteran's Preference Documentation (DD-214, Member Copy 4 or other documentation containing dates of service and character of discharge. Disabled veterans and other applicants eligible for 10-point Veteran's Preference please include: documentation to validate your claim - VA letter, SF-15, etc).

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.