Program Manager, Chief of Specialty Examinations

Description

Providing Regulatory Oversight for Our State's Financial Service Providers

The Division of Consumer Services is the largest Division at the Department of Financial Institutions, which oversees thousands of licensees that operate in various financial industries.  The Chief of Specialty Examinations role is part of the Division’s Leadership Team and reports directly to the Director of Consumer Services.  The Chief of Specialty Examinations plays an integral role for the Division, overseeing all examination activities for Money Transmitters, Payday Lenders, Check Casher and Sellers, Currency Exchangers, and the newly formed Cybersecurity team for all non-depository financial institutions.   This position is also a member of the Program Manager team at the Agency level.

Duties

Some of What You Will Do:

• Supervise staff in the Specialty Examinations Unit, which includes Financial Examiners, and Administrative Staff that supports this unit and the Lending Examinations Unit.
• Plan, lead, organize, and control the work performed by the Specialty Examinations Unit. 

• Oversee the Unit’s examination caseload, including coordinating, planning, and assigning examinations to subordinate examiners. 
• Oversee the coordination of joint examinations with other department units and other state or federal agencies.  
• Monitor examination findings and makes recommendations to the enforcement unit.

• Assure appropriate and optimum use of the unit's resources and enhance the effectiveness of employees through timely appraisals and professional development opportunities.  
• Budget for the unit and share responsibility for the Division in business planning.
• Conduct technical final reviews of Reports of Examination and other unit-generated work assignments for quality standards, acceptability, accuracy, and timeliness.  
• Monitor all Specialty Examination activity and makes recommendations to the Division Director on appropriate examination activity.
• Provide technical assistance to regulated industries by planning and coordinating technical assistance programs and by conducting seminars and speaking engagements on compliance in program related issues.
• Handle testimony of complex issues and issues of political or public sensitivity.
• Serves as a Program Manager at the Agency level.
• Assist executive management as necessary.

Qualifications

Required Education, Experience, and Competencies.

Knowledge of:

• Financial organization, practices and internal controls of financial institutions or financial services companies.
• Personnel management.
• Federal and state statutes and rules applicable to non-depository and depository financial services companies.
• Federal and state Financial Crimes and Consumer Protection Laws.
• Federal Financial Crimes and Consumer Protection Laws such as Bank Secrecy Act (Anti-Money Laundering), Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures (RESPA), Electronic Funds Transfers Act (Regulation E), and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA).
• Relationship of Washington statutes and regulations to uniform legislation or model rules and guidelines and to federal statutes and regulations and the statutes and regulations of other states.
• Court decisions and regulatory opinions applicable to federal and state financial institutions or financial services companies or issuers.
• Financial institution’s information systems software and hardware and examination techniques and internal controls.
• Economic principles and theoretical principles and practices of auditing and accounting (GAAP).
• The impact of broadening regulatory functions on financial institutions or financial services companies or issuers.
• Advanced investigation techniques.
• Budget processes.
• Financial trends analysis.
• Media relations.
• Administrative Procedures Act.

Ability to:

• Work on and coordinate with multi-state taskforces that include, but are not limited to, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators (AARMR), Money Transmitter Regulators Association (MTRA), Multi-State MSB Examination Taskforce (MMET), National Association of Consumer Credit Administrators (NACCA), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Bureau of Investigations, FinCen, Internal Revenue Service, United States Marshalls and Secret Services, and other state and federal law enforcement agencies as applicable.
• Anticipate and resolve confrontations, disagreements, and complaints in a constructive manner.
• Facilitate a teamwork environment.
• Demonstrate tact and skill in dealing with people, especially in difficult situations.
• Understand, recognize and respond appropriately to individual differences in the workplace.
• Appropriately negotiate, persuade, and use authority in dealing with others to achieve goals.
• Participate, develop or implement agency strategic plans, including vision and mission statements.
• Demonstrate high-level computer skills.
• Plan and direct financial examinations and investigations.
• Analyze complex financial accounting data and reports.
• Interpret financial ratio trends.
• Interpret and apply laws, rules, and standards.
• Examine and solve difficult financial problems.
• Prepare concise, comprehensive, and accurate reports of examinations or investigations outlining deficiencies, concerns and recommended solutions.
• Plan, coordinate, supervise, and evaluate activities and training of subordinates.
• Detect weaknesses in policies and practices of regulated entities.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates, and with personnel of institutions and companies regulated.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Make presentations to small and large audiences.

Desired Knowledge of:

• Personnel management.
• Financial organization, practices, and internal controls of non-depository and depository financial services companies.
• State and federal statutes and rules applicable to non-depository and depository financial services companies including, but not limited to: the Bank Secrecy Act (Anti-Money Laundering), Equal Credit Opportunity Act (EOCA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures (RESPA), Electronic Funds Transfers Act (Regulation E), and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA).  
• Relationship of Washington statutes and regulations implemented by the Agency to uniform legislation or model rules and guidelines and to federal statutes and regulations and the statutes and regulations of other states comparable.
• Non-depository and depository financial services companies' information systems software and hardware and examination techniques and internal controls of those systems.
• The impact of broadening the regulation of non-depository and depository financial institutions or financial services companies or issuers.
• Advanced investigation techniques.
• Budget processes.
• Financial trends analysis.
• Economic principles and theoretical principles and practices of auditing and accounting (GAAP).
• Media relations.

Supplemental Information

Benefits of working for DFI include:

• Medical, dental, retirement, and generous paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Healthy work-life balance.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion where every person is recognized and valued.
• Telecommuting up to two days per week and flexible work hours.
• Professional development and continuing education opportunities, including DFI’s in-house CLE program and other training that ensures employees are successful. 
• You may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

About Our Agency:
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions' (DFI) mission is to protect consumers and advance the financial health of Washington State by providing fair regulation of financial services and educating consumers to make informed financial decisions. Collectively and independently, the Department's 240-plus employees within its 5 divisions - Administration, Banks, Consumer Services, Credit Unions, and Securities - work together to create a stronger economic future and secure financial environment for Washington's consumers and businesses alike. DFI is self-supporting, in that none of its operating revenues come from the state's general tax funds. Its operating revenues are paid by the organizations and individuals it regulates. To learn more about the Department of Financial Institutions, please visit our website at www.dfi.wa.gov.
  
The DFI values diverse perspectives and life experiences.  We employ and serve diverse people of all backgrounds including people of color, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and veterans. This culture of respect promotes a professional and inclusive environment where maximizing potential through opportunity is achievable by everyone.  
  
Official Work Station:
Your official work station will be the Tumwater headquarters office.   A hybrid work schedule is available.  

Application Process:

Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Submitting your application materials electronically will act as confirmation that the information submitted is complete and accurate to the best of your knowledge. Failure to provide all required application materials may result in disqualification.
 
 Interested applicants should select the "Apply" button and attach the following materials to their application:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Three professional references* (provide contact name, phone number, email address, company name, and job title)

*A professional reference is someone who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have sufficient professional references, please include non-professional references, such as educators or other professional associates.
 
Note: Application review may begin immediately. DFI reserves the right and may exercise the option to close this recruitment and make a hiring decision at any time. It may be to the applicant's advantage to submit application materials as soon as possible. Interviews may be conducted in person or virtually after the close of the recruitment.
 
Background Investigation:
Prior to a new hire, a background check including credit history and criminal record history will be conducted.  Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
 
Contact Information:
Tom Grant/360-725-7817 and Guadalupe Canales/360-725-7819Recruiting@dfi.wa.gov