Principal Investigator

The Principal Investigator independently conducts complex, high-risk investigations, developing strategies, identifying regulatory risks, and producing well-documented findings under limited supervision. This role serves as a team knowledge resource, mentors less experienced staff, and identifies emerging trends. The Principal Investigator collaborates with Enforcement, Risk and Intelligence, Examinations, and other RegOps partners to advance FINRA's mission.

• Lead Complex Investigations — Independently lead high-risk investigations involving complex fact patterns, multiple respondents, and varied products; develop and execute risk-based strategies under limited supervision.
• Build Factual Records — Gather evidence through document review, data analysis, correspondence, and testimony; ensure findings are thorough, accurate, and well-documented.
• Perform Data Analysis — Conduct advanced analysis using established methodologies; clearly articulate findings, exceptions, and assumptions.
• Collaborate with Enforcement & Partners — Partner with Enforcement attorneys to develop factual records, assess evidence sufficiency, and support potential charges and sanctions.
• Document & Communicate Findings — Prepare clear, persuasive reports, referrals, and recommendations; communicate effectively with staff, respondents, and regulators; provide litigation testimony as needed.
• Identify & Escalate Risks — Proactively identify emerging trends and regulatory risks; escalate matters requiring reprioritization; stay current on rule changes and industry developments.
• Serve as Knowledge Resource — Provide guidance to fellow investigators; help identify and resolve inconsistencies in investigative approaches.
• Mentor Staff — Support less experienced investigators in techniques and processes; review work product and provide constructive feedback.
• Contribute to Initiatives — Lead or participate in special projects, thematic reviews, and development of new analytics, tools, and processes; support program strategy and continuous improvement.
• Represent FINRA Professionally — Engage professionally with member firms, regulators, and stakeholders; participate in compliance and education events.
• Demonstrate FINRA's values and collaborate in furtherance of investor protection and market integrity.

4 positions available at FINRA:

VAST team: Investigate financial exploitation of "Specified Adults" under FINRA Rule 2165 (individuals 65+ or adults 18+ with impairing conditions). Serve as a subject matter expert, advising staff and stakeholders on elder exploitation red flags, diminished capacity, prevention practices, and policy development.

Recommendations team: Investigate suitability, Reg BI, and recommendation-related misconduct; evaluate whether firms and representatives acted in customers' best interests. Analyze accounts, trading activity, fees, and disclosures to quantify harm and assess regulatory risk, including supervisory controls and conflicts of interest.

Market Conduct, Trade/Order Reporting & Reg Disclosure team: Lead investigations into broker-dealer reporting, disclosure, and filing obligations (U4/U5, Rule 4530, Form CRS, etc.). Analyze market and transaction reporting across equities, options, and fixed income (CAT, TRACE, RTRS/MSRB, etc.), and investigate communications violations including advertising, off-channel communications, and digital engagement practices.

Outside Business Activities/Private Securities Transactions team: Investigate OBA and PST violations under FINRA Rules 3270 and 3280, covering undisclosed employment, conflicts of interest, and selling away. Assess firm supervisory failures and apply securities law principles — including the Howey test — to complex and emerging transaction types such as digital assets.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. Advanced degree (MBA, JD) or professional certification (e.g., CFE, ACAMS, CPA) preferred.
• Minimum of seven (7)years of progressive experience in the securities, financial services, or financial regulatory industry, with substantive knowledge of regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated experience conducting enforcement-oriented, regulatory, or financial investigations of varying complexity.
• Experience contributing to team projects, training, or initiatives in an investigative, examination, or enforcement environment.
• Familiarity with investigative technologies, data analysis tools, and data strategies.

Knowledge Requirements

• Advanced knowledge of relevant FINRA rules, applicable SRO rules, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and federal securities laws, with responsibility for staying current on regulatory rules, practices, and developments.
• Advanced knowledge of securities markets, member firm operations, books and records, firm business models, products, and services relative to area(s) of misconduct.
• Advanced knowledge of risks, products, and emerging threats specific to area(s) of misconduct.
• Strong understanding of regulatory compliance issues and risks associated with firm business lines and customer bases.
• Awareness of industry events, emerging trends, and regulatory developments pertinent to area(s) of misconduct.
• Familiarity with FINRA's organizational structure, departmental mandates, and internal applications and associated data.

Skills Requirements

• Investigative Judgment: Advanced ability to independently assess investigative strategy, develop risk-based approaches, interpret complex data and evidence, make sound decisions, and progress complex investigations to resolution under limited supervision.

• Communication: Advanced written and verbal communication skills, including strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement abilities; demonstrated ability to accurately and succinctly discuss cases or issues with internal and external parties; ability to provide testimony in litigation when required.

• Analytical Capability: Advanced ability to conduct data analysis, identify patterns and anomalies, and apply analytical findings to investigative strategies; experience with analytical platforms, tools, and data-driven decision-making preferred.

• Collaboration: Advanced ability to liaise effectively with internal and external stakeholders; contribute to and build productive working relationships across RegOps and the broader organization.

• Prioritization & Organization: Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail; ability to manage multiple time-sensitive matters simultaneously, establish and meet timelines, and balance independent work with team coordination.

• Risk Identification: Advanced ability to identify, prioritize, and escalate risk; recognize priority matters and proactively identify emerging trends, threats, and regulatory issues.

• Mentorship & Guidance: Demonstrated ability to guide and mentor less experienced staff; contribute to training activities and staff development.

• Initiative & Adaptability: Demonstrated ability to work independently with limited supervision; proactively identify needs and opportunities; adapt effectively in uncertain and fast-paced conditions.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work environment with defined in-person presence requirements.

• Extended hours and some travel may be required.

For work that is performed in Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA, CO, CT, IL, PA, MA, MD, VA, WA, DC, NY, NJ, WA please refer to the chart below for the salary range for the corresponding location. FINRA complies with all state and local pay transparency laws and regulations requiring the disclosure of salary ranges for the position. In addition to location, actual compensation is based on various factors, including but not limited to, the candidate’s skill set, level of experience, education, and market considerations. 

Los Angeles, CA: $112,300 - $154,000

San Francisco, CA: $117,200 - $161,000

Boston, MA: $112,300 - $202,500

Chicago, IL: $107,500 - $194,100

Denver, CO: $97,700 - $176,100

Jericho, NY: $112,300 - $202,500

Jersey City, NJ: $117,200 - $211,400

Philadelphia, PA: $107,500 - $194,100

New York, NY: $117,200 - $211,400

Rockville, MD: $112,300 - $202,500

Tysons, VA: $112,300 - $202,500

Washington, DC: $112,300 - $202,500

Woodbridge, NJ: $112,300 - $202,500

Connecticut State: $97,700- $211,400

Washington State: $97,700- $211,400

To be considered for this position, please submit an application. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

The information provided above has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work of the position. It is not a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required.

Please note: If the “Apply Now” button on a job board posting does not take you directly to the FINRA Careers site, enter www.finra.org/careers into your browser to reach our site directly.

Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Non-exempt employees are also eligible for overtime pay in accordance with federal, state, or local law. As part of its dedication to employee wellness, FINRA provides comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance. Additional insurance includes basic life, accidental death and dismemberment, supplemental life, spouse/domestic partner and dependent life, and spouse/domestic partner and dependent accidental death and dismemberment, short- and long-term disability, long-term care, business travel accident, disability and legal. FINRA offers immediate participation and vesting in a 401(k) plan with company match and eligibility for participation in an additional FINRA-funded retirement contribution, tuition reimbursement, commuter benefits, and other benefits that support employee wellness, such as adoption assistance, backup family care, surrogacy benefits, employee assistance, and wellness programs.

Time Off and Paid Leave*

FINRA encourages its employees to focus on their health and wellness in many ways, including through a generous time-off program starting at 15 days of paid time off (increasing with years of service, up to 25 days), 5 personal days, and 9 sick days, unless otherwise required by law (all pro-rated in the first year). Additionally, we are proud to support our communities by providing two volunteer service days (based on full-time schedule). Other paid leave includes military leave, jury duty leave, bereavement leave, voting and election official leave for federal, state or local primary and general elections, care of a family member leave (available after 90 days of employment); and childbirth and parental leave (available after 90 days of employment). Full-time employees receive nine paid holidays.

*Based on full-time schedule

Important Information

FINRA’s Code of Conduct imposes restrictions on employees’ investments and requires financial disclosures that are uniquely related to our role as a securities regulator. FINRA employees are required to disclose to FINRA all brokerage accounts that they maintain, and those in which they control trading or have a financial interest (including any trust account of which they are a trustee or beneficiary and all accounts of a spouse, domestic partner or minor child who lives with the employee) and to authorize their broker-dealers to provide FINRA with duplicate statements for all of those accounts. All of those accounts are subject to the Code’s investment and securities account restrictions, and new employees must comply with those investment restrictions—including disposing of any security issued by a company on FINRA’s Prohibited Company List or obtaining a written waiver from their Executive Vice President—by the date they begin employment with FINRA. Employees may only maintain securities accounts that must be disclosed to FINRA at one or more securities firms that provide an electronic feed (e-feed) of data to FINRA, and must move securities accounts from other securities firms to a firm that provides an e-feed within three months of beginning employment.

You can read more about these restrictions here.

As standard practice, employees must also execute FINRA’s Employee Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement without qualification or modification and comply with the company’s policy on nepotism.

Washington state applicants: click here for required notice(s).

Search Firm Representatives

Please be advised that FINRA is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practice, a valid written agreement and task order must be in place before any resumes are submitted to FINRA. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at FINRA without a valid written agreement and task order in place will be deemed the sole property of FINRA and no fee will be paid in the event that person is hired by FINRA.

FINRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected category, including race, color, age, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, sex, or any other status or classification protected by state or local law.

FINRA strives to make our career site accessible to all users. If you need a disability-related accommodation for completing the application process, please contact FINRA’s Employee Relations team at 240-386-4865 or by email at [email protected]. Please note that this process is exclusively for inquiries regarding accommodations in the application process.

FINRA abides by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-741.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability and requires affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities.

FINRA abides by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified protected veterans and requires affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans.

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