Chief Economist and Director, Office of Economic and Risk Analysis

Join us and make a difference in global investor protection.

Who We Are

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a nonprofit organization established by Congress, oversees the audits of public companies and SEC-registered brokers and dealers to protect investors and to further the public interest in the preparation of independent, accurate, and informative audit reports.

Our investor protection mission is focused on modernizing audit standards, enhancing audit inspections, and strengthening enforcement of PCAOB rules and standards and other related laws and rules. People are at the heart of our mission at the PCAOB.  As we carry out that mission, we strive to uphold the highest standards in audit quality with investors’ families, savings, and futures in mind. 

We are hiring mission-driven professionals interested in a career with purpose, competitive benefit offerings, and work-life flexibility. If you are interested in working with a group of talented professionals to protect investors and drive audit quality and innovation while adhering to the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct, join us.

What We Offer

At the PCAOB, we offer a highly competitive compensation and benefits package with a focus on the health and financial well-being of our valued team members. Some of the features of our comprehensive Total Rewards package include:

• Compensation – We support transparency, equity, and fairness in our compensation programs and provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range, based on data-driven market analysis, for each job posting. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range, a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role in Washington, DC (Headquarters) or New York, NY is $334,800/year - $400,000/year. Team members may also be eligible for performance-based discretionary awards.

• Work Location – Staff will be assigned to the Washington, DC (Headquarters) or New York, NY office or another office as approved by the PCAOB.

• Generous paid time off – Up to 6 weeks annually, in addition to 12 federal holidays, and 2 floating holidays and a year-end break December 28 – 31, 2026.

• Highly competitive 401(k) match and savings options – Immediate vesting and contributions matched dollar for dollar, up to 7 percent of eligible compensation. Roth in-plan conversion available. 

• Comprehensive and competitive health benefit offerings – Medical, dental, and vision plans

• Supportive paid family leave benefits – Up to 16 weeks paid parental leave and up to 16 weeks paid caregiver leave

• Life insurance benefits – Basic life and AD&D insurance provided; supplemental insurance also available

• Education benefits – PCAOB staff qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. We also offer student loan repayment assistance, staff college tuition assistance, and college coach program support.

• Well-being and family resources – Mental health and well-being resources, paid volunteer time, emergency child/adult dependent back-up care services, family-forming assistance, discounted gym memberships, employee assistance program (EAP), health advocate program, and more  

• Commuter benefits – Tax-free employer subsidy and pretax employee deductions 

Position Summary

The Chief Economist and Director, Office of Economic and Risk Analysis (OERA) position is located in the Washington, DC (Headquarters) or the New York, NY office and serves as the PCAOB’s economic and risk analysis leader.  This key role reports to the Chairman and is primarily responsible for advising and assisting the Board by conducting economic and risk analyses to inform its oversight activities. The Chief Economist and Director, OERA interacts with the Board and PCAOB Divisions and Offices to provide meaningful, independent, data-driven economic analyses to help inform and support standard setting and rulemaking. In addition, this role will provide risk monitoring and analyses to inform our inspections and investigations. This role will assess and develop mission critical programs, act as a change agent, and help to lead the continued improvement of the organization. 

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the overall strategic direction, leadership, and management of OERA.

• Responsible for effectively leading teams of economists, accountants, and financial analysts who perform the activities of OERA.

• Responsible for proactive identification, assessment and resolution of critical economic, data and risk analysis matters for the PCAOB.

• Interact with and advise the Chairman, Board members, leadership, and staff from other divisions/offices within the PCAOB as well as staff of the SEC.

• Plan, direct, and monitor OERA operations to improve program execution, promote increased efficiency of operations, and ensure the appropriate utilization of resources.

• Overall responsibility of OERA’s administrative functions, including but not limited to: budget, information technology, and risk management, compliance, and security activities.

• Perform the full range of supervisory duties, including but not limited to: evaluating employee performance, making recommendations for appointment and promotion, hearing and resolving complaints, and identifying growth and development and training needs of employees within OERA.

• Recruit, maintain, and develop staff consistent with business needs.                              

Qualifications

Education/Technical Expertise

• Advanced degree in Economics, Finance, or related field.

• Minimum of 15+ years progressive experience in financial economics, economic consulting, or in academia specializing in Economics, Finance or Accounting.

• Experience identifying, considering, and resolving a variety of complex financial policy questions and problems.

• Demonstrated understanding of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the regulatory landscape of financial markets.

• Demonstrated understanding of the role of economic analysis in rulemaking.

• Experience leading project teams and developing complex reports and recommendations.

• Ability to design and execute research and analysis activities that are relevant to the Board’s strategic objectives and priorities.

• Ability to leverage data and analysis to develop and communicate relevant insights to the Board, other PCAOB Divisions and Offices, and other stakeholders.

• Recent experience leading innovation to include, but is not limited to digital transformation and other emerging technologies.

• Ability to communicate complex and technical matters in a clear, concise, and non-technical manner.

• A self-starter able to administer a number of open, ongoing assignments at any one time, where some assignments are unstructured, requiring autonomy and independent judgment.

• In-depth experience successfully harmonizing diverse and competing interests.

• Ability to clearly articulate a position with sound logic and conviction.

• Ability to effectively represent the organization to a variety of both internal and external constituencies.

• Superior verbal and written communication skills.

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.

Leadership/Management Skills and Abilities

• Ability to drive a positive “tone at the top” of the organization and hold others accountable for doing the same.

• Ensures that own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with the highest ethical standards and aligns with the values of the organization.

• Must be able to motivate and inspire employees at all levels of the organization in order to enhance team commitment and individual performance.

• Proven ability to develop, coach, and mentor staff, providing constant feedback and clear direction.

• Experience supervising diverse teams including economists, analysts, accountants, auditors, and other researchers.

• Ability to promote collaboration by unifying teams, setting common goals, and incentivizing collaborative behavior.

• Demonstrated success in establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.

• Strong ability to build credibility, organize effectively, delegate responsibility, solve problems quickly and communicate clearly.

• Possesses the balance and emotional intelligence required to meet the diverse needs of the division/office.

• Proven ability to navigate and resolve various types of conflict in a timely and productive manner.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All PCAOB employees are entitled to equal opportunity and a professional work environment, free of discrimination and harassment. A workplace free of discrimination and harassment is fundamental to professional success and to the PCAOB's mission. The PCAOB will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law.