Lead Senior Advisor, PCG Branch Exams

Job Description Summary

Under general supervision uses knowledge and skills obtained through experience, specialized training and/or certification in securities industry to conduct remote and onsite branch examinations of retail brokerage offices throughout the U.S. Exams include reviews of various supervisory systems, setting and circumstances of the physical location, onsite files, related documentation, and employee interviews to ensure adherence with firm policies, procedures, and guidance, as well as federal and state rules and regulations. The Team Lead is responsible for detailed documentation of all testing activities, as well as communication of the testing results to the branches. In addition to branch exam responsibilities, the Team Lead participates in the training of new examiners, both in the classroom setting, as well as providing ongoing support to their assigned new hires. May provide guidance to fellow teammates and assist their manager with exam packets reviews and other projects, as assigned. This position is encouraged for those interested in a management career path and may serve as a feeder pool as Exam Manager positions become available.

Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Executes the risk-based branch exam program in FINRA-registered and non-registered Private Client Group branches across the country.

• Provides detailed documentation of testing in branch exam system and related work papers.

• Ensures prescribed sample methodologies are used and resulting sample sizes provide an adequate reflection of the activity being tested.

• Uses professional judgement to know when to “ask the next question” as potential risk areas are identified.

• Applies the appropriate risk weight to a given testing activity and/or finding level.

• Clears communication of all exam findings to branch management, exam managers and compliance leadership

• Provides reporting of exam findings and complete any related follow up in a timely manner.

• Ensures risks and adverse trends are identified and escalated.

• Provides compliance guidance to business partners, as needed and with guidance from exam managers and/or senior members of the exam team.

• Maintain regular interaction with Compliance and Supervision partners

• Participates in training and giving general direction to new hires, as well as fellow teammates, as needed.

• Assists managers with exam packet reviews and provide necessary feedback to assigned examiner.

• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Advanced Knowledge of:

• Concepts, practices, and procedures of securities industry and/or banking compliance reviews.

• Rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC); Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA); and state securities regulatory agencies; and/or Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC); Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC); Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS); Federal Reserve System; and state banking regulatory agencies.

• Fundamental investment concepts, practices and procedures used in the securities industry.

• Principles of banking and finance and securities industry operations.

• Financial markets and products. 

Skill in:

• Overseeing compliance programs. 

• Integrating and aligning compliance processes and procedures with business processes.

• Coordinating complex compliance activities.

• Providing support and guidance for compliance efforts. 

• Identifying and implementing controls and quality assurance processes. 

• Reviewing materials for compliance with rules and regulations.

• Researching compliance issues.

• Developing compliance training programs.

• Gathering information and preparing oral and written reports.

• Preparing and delivers written and oral presentations. 

• Investigating relevant irregularities.

• Making rule-based and analytical decisions.

• Operating standard office equipment and using required software applications.

Ability to:

• Partner with other functional areas to accomplish objectives.

• Facilitate meetings, ensuring that all viewpoints, ideas, and problems are addressed.

• Attend to detail while maintaining a big picture orientation.

• Gather information, identify linkages and trends, and apply findings to assignments.