Job Description:

The Vice President, Membership Application Program (MAP) & Statutory Disqualification, provides key executive and strategic leadership to two significant FINRA functions within Member Supervision – the Member Application Program and the Statutory Disqualification process. The VP leverages critical analytical and strategic thinking to address MAP and Statutory Disqualification risks and challenges, further building MAP and Statutory Disqualification’s credibility and trust with internal and external stakeholders. The VP is essential to leading the efficient and effective operation of the MAP and Statutory Disqualification processes, attracting, developing and retaining a talent, and providing key executive level representation on critical initiatives driven by senior leadership throughout FINRA.

Essential Job Functions:

• Responsible for leading and overseeing the efficient and effective operations of MAP and Statutory Disqualification in support of FINRA’s regulatory and investor protection responsibilities to effectively reduce risks to investors and the markets.  


• Integrate, coordinate and balance both strategic and tactical MAP and Statutory Disqualification activities affecting the internal and external environment.  This requires an ability to understand, triage and address a wide range of complex, and often novel, MAP and SD applications. Adapts quickly to changing circumstances with effective and innovative responses. Considers and champions innovative solutions to problem solving and makes appropriately informed, risk-based decisions.


• Work with executives from other key areas in Member Supervision and FINRA to validate top MAP and Statutory Disqualification related risks and priorities, ensuring that FINRA remains focused on its most critical risks.


• Provide leadership and input on key initiatives, emerging or complex issues, and associated risks across Member Supervision and FINRA.


• Stays abreast of innovations in the industry, the risks posed by such innovations, and changes in the regulatory environment.  Adapts policies, processes, controls, systems and training to address such risks and changes.


• Responsible for managing FINRA’s exposure to significant regulatory, operational, legal, or financial risk in MAP and Statutory Disqualification while understanding the impact of MAP and Statutory Disqualification decisions on FINRA’s performance.


• Responsible for building a diverse team of highly skilled staff by attracting, developing, motivating, and assessing talent.  Actively seeks and responds, as appropriate, to staff feedback and concerns.


• Act as a key member of the senior management team who represents the SVP in executive level meetings or working groups, to advance critical initiatives, communicate perspectives, influence change, and commit to new courses of action relevant to MAP and Statutory Disqualification. Draws from perspectives throughout the organization, but always remains guided by the long-term strategic goals of Member Supervision and FINRA. Strong communication skills and collaboration with leaders throughout Member Supervision and FINRA is essential.


• Serve as a primary liaison with the Office of General Counsel to provide strategic input on behalf of Member Supervision on investor protection rule making and other legal guidance initiatives related to MAP and Statutory Disqualification. Represent Member Supervision and/or the SVP with executives within FINRA, and SEC staff and other regulators, which may occur as part of the development of these initiatives, and coordinate Member Supervision input at such meetings.


• Partner with Corporate Communications to develop a MAP and Statutory Disqualification communications strategy designed to create and disseminate clear, consistent and effective communications within Member Supervision, to other areas of FINRA, to the Board, and externally.  


• Develop operating metrics and management reporting to, at a minimum, track the progress of applications, aging, trends, and risks.  Leverage data to identify trends, patterns, and risks warranting attention.

Other Responsibilities:

• Lead or shepherd implementation of special projects as identified and prioritized by the SVP or EVP.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably with a major in Finance, Accounting, or Business. JD, MBA, or other graduate degree preferred.


• Minimum of fifteen years’ financial industry experience either at FINRA or another regulator, at a member firm, or with a law firm or consulting practice specializing in regulatory matters, in positions of increasing responsibilities. 


• Excellent leadership and management skills, including the ability to transform and motivate a team, deal with conflicting perspectives, influence without authority, and deal effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds and working styles.


• Proven record of being able to make timely informed decisions and manage conflicting perspectives to reach a decision or recommendation.  


• Strong collaborator and team builder, with excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, confident to interact regularly with executive leadership and member firm executive leadership.


• Strong working knowledge of, and experience with, the regulation and operation of U.S. broker-dealers and the variety of business activities and business models, as well as familiarity with the broader landscape of financial regulation.


• Strong working knowledge of, and experience with, the regulation and operation of self-regulatory organizations, including the applicable legal constraints helpful.


• Proven record of acting independently in an unstructured environment to identify and address challenges, seize opportunities, develop new initiatives, and strengthen existing programs.


• Exceptional organizational skills, with an ability to administer multiple complex assignments concurrently and execute against tight deadlines in multiple areas with different requirements.

Working Conditions:

• Work is normally performed in an office environment.


• Occasional travel is required.


• Extended hours are required.

To be considered for this position, please submit an application.

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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In addition to a competitive salary, comprehensive health and welfare benefits, and incentive compensation, FINRA offers immediate participation and vesting in a 401(k) plan with company match. You will also be eligible for participation in an additional FINRA-funded retirement contribution, our tuition reimbursement program and many other benefits. If you would like to contribute to our important mission and work collegially in a professional organization that values intelligence, integrity and initiative, consider a career with FINRA.

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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