Duties

Summary

The Division of Investment Management regulates investment companies, variable insurance products, and federally registered investment advisers. Types of investment companies include mutual funds, closed-end funds, unit investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, and business development companies. The Division of Investment Management works to support the SEC in its mission to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

This position is in the Division of Investment Management's Disclosure Review and Accounting Office, Chief Accountant's Office, Branch of Accounting Review No. 1, located in Washington, DC.

If selected, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for providing accounting guidance for sensitive and complex programs, issues, and problems dealing with assignments that cover a broad range of functions involving the investment management industry and administration of the securities laws affecting investment companies and investment advisers.

• Supervise the accounting review of filings submitted by investment companies to register the companies, their shares, annual updates to their registration statements, proxy statements, annual and semi-annual filings, and other periodic filings in compliance with specified statutory provisions (including the reviews as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of periodic reports filed by investment companies), providing companies with comments on the filings to ensure that the filings comply with applicable securities laws.
• Assist other offices in resolving issues related to specific disclosure documents and the applicability of the regulatory provisions of the Investment Company Act.
• Prepare responses to correspondence, filings, and other inquiries with the Division.
• Keep cognizant of current developments and industry trends as they affect the program area.
• Carry out supervisory duties, such as performance management, training, awards, and recruitment; keeping employees informed regarding the policies, procedures, and goals of the Commission as they relate to their work on assigned projects.

Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
15

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-15.
• SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: This appointment may require completion of a two-year supervisory 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 not 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: Degree: accounting; or a degree in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration that included or was supplemented by 24 semester hours in accounting. The 24 hours may include up to 6 hours of credit in business law. (The term "accounting" means "accounting and/or auditing" in this standard. Similarly, "accountant" should be interpreted, generally, as "accountant and/or auditor.") or Combination of education and experience: at least 4 years of experience in accounting, or an equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional accounting knowledge. The applicant's background must also include one of the following:

Twenty-four semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law;

A certificate as Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination; or

Completion of the requirements for a degree that included substantial course work in accounting or auditing, e.g., 15 semester hours, but that does not fully satisfy the 24-semester-hour requirement of paragraph A, provided that (a) the applicant has successfully worked at the full-performance level in accounting, auditing, or a related field, e.g., valuation engineering or financial institution examining; (b) a panel of at least two higher level professional accountants or auditors has determined that the applicant has demonstrated a good knowledge of accounting and of related and underlying fields that equals in breadth, depth, currency, and level of advancement that which is normally associated with successful completion of the 4-year course of study described in paragraph A; and (c) except for literal nonconformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicant's education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

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

SK-15: Applicant must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/SK-13 level: with respect to registered investment companies and/or business development companies recognizing accounting, auditing, or financial reporting deficiencies in financial statements as well as financial disclosures included in registration statements and other filings of investment companies and/or business development companies registered with the SEC; experience preparing, reviewing, or auditing financial statements for registered investment companies (IC); experience with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Regulation S-X, Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), and accounting rules and policies of federal securities laws and Acts; experience applying accounting, auditing, examining or investigating principles to review records related to the issuance, distribution or trading of securities; preparing reports and presentations on findings and issues.

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

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 well-qualified for this position to receive consideration for special priority selection. CTAP or ICTAP eligibles will be considered well-qualified when receiving an adjudicated score of 80 or higher.

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.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. If it is determined you meet minimum qualification requirements, your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Highly Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, 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):

• Leadership: Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations.
• Auditing and Accounting Compliance Examinations: Knowledge of and skill in the analysis of various types of financial, accounting, and other required books and records for determining compliance with SEC and industry regulations. Ability to evaluate operational and financial condition, and general knowledge of the business or industry related to the assigned entities. Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Generally Accepted Auditing Standards, and federal and industry regulations.
• Financial Reporting Procedures: Knowledge of auditing, accounting and financial reporting requirements (e.g. SEC rules, regulations, and guidance, FASB accounting standards, and/or GAAP and GAAS broadly), and skill in the preparation or review of financial statements and regulatory filings.
• Accounting Disclosure Examinations: Knowledge of statutes and rules outlined in Securities Act of 1933 and Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and related rules, regulations, and Commission and Division positions and interpretations. Skill in applying this knowledge to the review and evaluation of disclosure documents and in the preparation of relevant documentation (e.g. review reports, memos, procedure documents, or referral memos), including the recommendation of appropriate course(s) of action based on the results of reviews.

The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete. To preview the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10502387 .

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, if you meet qualifications based on education: 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.