Examiner/Senior Examiner (Capital Markets)

Summary This position is for an Examiner/Senior Examiner (Capital Markets) located in the Division of FHLBank Regulation (DBR), Office of Capital Markets and Financial Risk (OCMFR), Capital Markets Branch. In this role, the incumbent will perform examinations and ongoing monitoring of the FHLBanks' highly complex financial-risk activities. Learn more about this agency Duties Division of FHLBank Regulation The Division of FHLBank Regulation (DBR) is responsible for carrying out the FHFA's statutory duties for ensuring that: 1) the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) and the Office of Finance (OF) operate safely and soundly, and 2) the FHLBanks remain adequately capitalized. These functions are performed through on-site examinations and off-site monitoring of the FHLBanks and the OF. DBR also is responsible for policy and regulatory analysis, formulating and planning strategic goals, and conducting and evaluating long-range projects and proposals for all Agency programs relating to the FHFA's supervision and oversight of the FHLBank System. DBR monitors and analyzes the financial condition and performance of the FHLBanks and the market, credit, liquidity, operational, and model risks facing the FHLBanks. DBR collects financial and other data from the FHLBanks to support the Division's regulatory, policy, supervisory, monitoring, and examination functions. Monitoring and analysis staff participate in on-site examinations at the FHLBanks/OF and provide analyses of issues affecting the FHLBanks/OF as requested by the Deputy Director. Position Overview The Examiner/Senior Examiner (Capital Markets) will be responsible for performing examinations and ongoing monitoring of the FHLBanks' highly complex financial-risk activities. They will provide guidance on very complex and/or controversial issues on FHLBank and OF liquidity, earnings, capital, and sensitivity to market-risk activities and other supervision matters that may have broad implications; analyze the implications and impact of current and proposed supervision policies, programs, and practices; and may examine other component areas as assigned. Major Duties & Responsibilities The Examiner/Senior Examiner (Capital Markets) duties listed below are at the EL-13 grade level. Depending on the grade level selected, the incumbent will perform the following duties with varying levels of supervision and difficulty: Conduct complex regulatory safety and soundness examinations (including targeted assessments and horizontal reviews) and on-going monitoring of FHLBank and OF financial risks; coordinate resources and activities; and provide support to examination teams and OCMFR staff. Lead the design and implementation of new and innovative examination strategies or work plans for the Branch or Office. Ensure strategies and/or work plans are in full compliance with Division/Agency program goals and objectives as well as with Federal statutes and regulations. Follow supervisory guidance such as the examination manual, operating procedure bulletins, advisory bulletins, examination guidelines, and policy statements to ensure that the examination scope and technical analyses are fully developed and completed according to prescribed FHFA regulatory and supervisory policy and program guidelines and standards. Adapt and/or creatively modify standard procedures and techniques to efficiently identify and thoroughly evaluate highly complex, novel, or unique issues/risks. Maintain knowledge of a wide range/complexity of issues, trends, and advances in financial-risk management, industry guidance, regulatory expectations, capital market activities, and risk-based examinations of large, complex financial institutions. Keep abreast of significant issues or events and all types of emerging risks that may affect the continued safe and sound operations of the FHLBanks and the OF. Maintain effective communications, internally and external to the Agency, to ensure that appropriate coordination and follow-up activities take place. Convey important meaning and qualifying details of technical analysis on more complex or novel topics in concise oral and written presentations. Prepare communications to document activities; respond to requests; and provide support to broader supervision efforts. Prepare supervision reports and examination deliverables, providing thoroughly researched evaluative, factually accurate, and relevant commentaries that convey and support highly technical, unusual, and/or very complex conclusions. Perform other duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of employment Must be a U.S. Citizen. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. May be required to successfully complete a probationary period. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered. Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply). If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. FHFA participates in e-Verify. All new hires must complete the I-9 Employment Verification form either on or before their first day of employment. If a discrepancy arises, you must take affirmative steps to resolve the matter. This position is eligible for inclusion in the bargaining unit. The union that represents employees in this position is the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 343. The salary for this announcement reflects the EL-12/13 pay range in Washington, DC. Candidate's pay range is based on FHFA's geographical salary structure for their current duty station. If the selectee’s duty station is their private residence, it must be situated more than 50 miles from FHFA Headquarters in Washington, DC. Individuals residing within a 50-mile radius must follow the Agency’s Return to In-Person Work requirements. Selectees generally must reside within 50 miles of a major airport that have routes to the locations of the eleven Federal Home Loan Banks and the Office of Finance that are efficient based on flight times and costs. Please refer to the additional information section for a list of major metropolitan airports. Travel is required to the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Office of Finance in Reston, VA, and the Agency headquarters in Washington, DC. Salary will be based on location. Current FHFA employees who are designated as out-stationed may retain their approved out-stationed duty station if selected. Employees who are not designated as out-stationed will be required to report to Constitution Center in accordance with the Agency’s Return to In-Person Work requirements. The successful candidate will also enroll in the FHFA Housing Finance Examiner (HFE) Commission Program, unless the person holds a commission from another Federal banking agency. Qualifications You may qualify for your desired series and grade level if you meet the following qualification requirements: BASIC REQUIREMENTS: To be eligible for the 0570 series, you must meet one of the following requirements: A. Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- accounting, banking, business administration, commercial or banking law, economics, finance, marketing, or other fields related to the position. -OR- B. Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Work requiring a thorough knowledge and the application of commercial accounting or auditing principles and practices (but less than full professional accounting knowledge) with a financial institution. Examining or auditing such financial institutions as savings and loan associations, savings or commercial banking institutions or trust companies, farm credit associations, or Federal or State credit unions. Professional accounting or auditing work that provided a broad knowledge of the application of accounting or auditing principles and practices. Work that provided a thorough knowledge of Federal and State laws applicable to the type of financial institution involved (e.g., savings and loan associations, Bank for Cooperatives, savings or commercial banks, investment institutions, etc.), and of the operations and practices of such institutions. -OR- C. Certificate: A certificate as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) obtained through written examination in a State, territory, or the District of Columbia meets the EL/GS-5 level requirements. Applicants with such certificates may also qualify for higher grade levels based on their education and or experience. In addition to meeting the above basic education, experience, or certification requirements, applicants must also meet the following minimum qualifications for their desired grade level: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Minimum Qualification EL-12: Applicants must have 52 weeks (one-year) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level as described below. Experience: I qualify for the EL/GS-12 because I have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the EL/GS-11 or equivalent demonstrating work experience with one or more of the statements described below. Examples of specialized experience include: Participating in safety and soundness examinations and ongoing monitoring activities to analyze financial records, regulatory reports, institutional policies, and internal controls, and to support the execution of risk-based examination scopes, work plans, or targeted assessments; AND/OR Analyzing moderately complex financial activities to assess compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and supervisory guidance; identifying irregularities or control weaknesses; and supporting recommendations to address identified risk management issues; AND/OR Preparing or contributing to examination and monitoring deliverables, such as workpapers, risk assessments, or findings memoranda, to ensure technical accuracy, alignment with examiner guidance, and effective communication of risk observations to internal or external stakeholders Minimum Qualification EL-13: Applicants must have 52 weeks (one-year) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level as described below. Experience: I qualify for the EL/GS-13 because I have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the EL/GS-12 or equivalent demonstrating work experience with one or more of the statements described below. Examples of specialized experience include: Leading or conducting complex safety and soundness examinations and ongoing monitoring activities to assess complex or emerging risks and to develop and execute risk-based examination strategies, scopes, or work plans; AND/OR Analyzing complex or novel financial activities to determine compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and supervisory guidance; identifying significant deficiencies or weaknesses; and developing or recommending corrective actions to strengthen risk management practices and internal controls; AND/OR Preparing, reviewing, and authoring complex examination and monitoring deliverables, such as workpapers, findings memoranda, or risk reports, to ensure conclusions are well-supported, technically accurate, policy-aligned, and clearly communicated to internal or external stakeholders. *Audit or safety and soundness examination experience strongly desired. Commissioned examiners strongly encouraged to apply* **Failure to provide your transcripts, when required, for any of the options above will remove you from the hiring process** Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Additional information An Overview of FHFA's Benefits provides a summary of benefits for the current fiscal year. Out-stationed Locations/Duty Station: Selectee is eligible for establishing their home residence as their duty station based on the examiner job requirement to spend a minimum of 25 days annually to conduct on-site examinations of the FHLBanks and the Office of Finance in Reston, Virginia. Selectees generally must reside within 50 miles of a major airport. Major airports include those that the FAA designates as a Large Hub (L) airport (see https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2024-06/cy23-commercial-service-enplanements-preliminary.pdf) and have routes to the locations of the eleven Federal Home Loan Banks and the Office of Finance that are efficient based on flight times and costs. FHFA Employees: Out-stationed employees may retain status if selected. All others report to Constitution Center. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx). Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp. FHFA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability (physical or mental), age (40 years of age or over), genetic information, parental status, marital status, prior protected EEO activity, political affiliation, or other non-merit factors. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: FHFA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, except when doing so would pose an undue hardship on the Agency. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify FHFA. The Agency's decision on granting a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. [email protected] Ethics: FHFA employees are subject to government-wide ethical standards of conduct, financial disclosure requirements, and post-employment prohibitions. In addition, certain FHFA employees are prohibited from accepting compensation from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for a two-year period after terminating employment with FHFA. Furthermore, to avoid financial conflicts-of interest or the appearance of conflicts-of-interest, FHFA employees may need to divest or sell certain assets they, their spouse, or minor children own or control, including securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Federal Home Loan Banks. Employees who work on Federal Home Loan Bank issues may need to sell or divest financial interests with any of the Federal Home Loan Bank members, which may include stock in bank holding companies, insurance companies, and other financial services firms. Questions regarding these requirements and prohibitions should be directed to the Office of General Counsel at (202) 649-3088. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.