Principal Data Analyst

Essential Job Functions:

Perform accurate data analysis in non-complex enforcement matters

• Conduct advanced analyses and establishes and maintains consistent methodology
• Serve as the quantitative research analyst in building sophisticated models, determining proper empirical methodology, organizing data collection, writing unique programs, preparing written reports, and summarizing the results of analytic studies in formal and informal presentations
• Identify and resolve questions about the best approach to data analysis to ensure consistency in matters across FINRA
• Support senior team members in more complex analytics projects for investigation
• Identify new investigative or analytics techniques as needed and assess the model for consistency with accepted approaches
• Design of quantitative reviews for detecting securities law and rule violations leveraging large volumes of equity, options and fixed income data
• Provide efficient quantitative support for market studies and investigations
• Effectively describe data analysis and findings, noting exceptions or assumptions embedded in analysis
• Identify interpretive or novel issues, and participate in discussions with other departments regarding interpretive issues
• Communicate with other investigative units across FINRA to problem-solve and resolve conflicts in investigative approaches or inconsistent findings and leveraging senior analytics team as needed

Efficiently complete data analysis in all types of enforcement Investigations and reviews to achieve timely results

• Establish timelines and achieve them in a timely fashion
• Identify and escalate matters or issues that require re-prioritization, and recommend next steps or alternative approaches
• Prioritize risks and needs appropriately
• Provide work product that requires minimal change or re-direction
• Perform peer review for analytics projects produced by the team to ensure consistent methodology and accurate output

Collaborate with investigative team, including attorneys, to produce a sound factual record supported by a clear legal framework in all types of matters

• Partner with legal staff to plan investigation and fully develop the record in all matters, with respect to data analytics
• Accurately and succinctly discuss case or issues in meetings with supervisor and other stakeholders
• Provide clear and accurate factual analysis findings to legal staff, and provide insight from industry experience and/or subject matter expertise to help objectively assess the sufficiency of evidence
• Proactively identify and discuss relevant and accurate factual findings with legal staff including areas of weakness or factual ambiguity
• Provide effective testimony in litigation

Demonstrate ability to perform analysis in non-complex investigations

• Identify opportunities to work with staff in other departments or leverage other matters for more efficient results
• Support management and others to inform internal and external constituents on overall program vision, strategy, operations, processes, and implementation status
• Counsel other staff on efficient ways to leverage collective knowledge and work across the organization
• Ensure that team members’ contributions result in a consistent and coherent record and analysis
• Works with team members to achieve more efficient results. Keep managers informed and incorporate feedback into planning and execution
• Provide feedback and/or deliver training to other team members

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics/Data Science/Analytics, or Economics/Finance/Accounting, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Advanced degree highly desirable.
• Minimum of six (6) years of related experience, with two (2) years of experience and knowledge in the field of quantitative analysis as it relates to the securities industry.
• Must have strong financial and risk analytical skills; experience in operations and risk modeling fields; and demonstrated ability to analyze large amounts of data in an efficient manner.
• Experience in advanced statistical methods, pattern recognition, outlier detection algorithms, and/or building predictive models preferred.
• Experience in one or more tools: SQL, Python/R, Strata, Power BI, Spark, Dataiku.

Working Conditions:

• Hybrid or remote environment.  At times, may work outside of normal business hours and overnight travel may be required.

For work that is performed in CA, CO, HI, MN, VT, IL, Jersey City, NJ, NY, NY, MD, Washington DC, and WA the chart below outlines the proposed salary range for the corresponding location. 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 internal peer compensation comparisons.

CA: Minimum Salary $106,400, Maximum Salary $200,200

CO/HI/MN/VT*: Minimum Salary $92,500, Maximum Salary $166,800

IL*: Minimum Salary $101,800, Maximum Salary $183,900

Jersey City, NJ/NY, NY: Minimum Salary $111,000, Maximum Salary $200,200

MD/Washington, DC: Minimum Salary $106,400 Maximum Salary $191,800

WA: Minimum Salary $92,500, Maximum Salary $191,800

*Including positions performed outside the state but reporting to an office or manager in that state.

Candidates can expect salary offers that range from the minimum to the mid-point of the salary range. FINRA provides full pay ranges so that the candidate can consider their growth potential while at FINRA.

#LI-Hybrid

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.

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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 EmployeeRelations@finra.org. Please note that this process is exclusively for inquiries regarding application accommodations. 

Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. 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 and many other benefits. 

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 of 15 days of paid time off, 5 personal days and 9 sick days (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.

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 and Affirmative Action Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, citizenship status, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status or any other classification protected by federal state or local laws as appropriate, or upon the protected status of the person’s relatives, friends or associates.

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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