Associate Chief Counsel

Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB)•Washington, DC

58d•$222,400 - $304,380•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) is seeking an Associate Chief Counsel for a full-time, regular position within the Office of the Chief Auditor (OCA) at its Washington, DC (Headquarters) office. This role involves working in a collegial group of attorneys, with primary responsibilities focused on the proposal and adoption of standards and other rules governed by the PCAOB. The position reports to the Senior Associate, Chief Counsel and requires interaction with OCA staff and senior staff within OCA. The PCAOB is a nonprofit organization established by Congress to oversee the audits of public companies and SEC-registered brokers and dealers, aiming to protect investors and promote accurate and informative audit reports. The organization is committed to modernizing audit standards, enhancing inspections, and strengthening enforcement, with a focus on investor protection and a mission-driven approach to its work.

Requirements

Juris doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school in the United States.
Active member of the Bar.
Minimum of 12+ years of progressively responsible experience with a government agency, regulatory body, or law firm (or combination).
Experience in an environment related to auditing, accounting, or financial reporting (or combination).
Knowledge and experience relating to federal securities laws or administrative rulemaking.
Excellent analytical and technical abilities, regulatory knowledge, and leadership skills.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.

Responsibilities

Advise and counsel the Chief Auditor and staff of OCA on major standard-setting activities and related projects.
Scrutinize the presentation of facts, analysis, and arguments in draft materials, including draft economic analyses, to ensure accuracy, analytical consistency, and persuasiveness.
Draft material for releases and other policy documents, particularly those of a legally sensitive nature.
Assist OCA with technical regulatory drafting issues to ensure logical internal consistency and alignment with existing or revised standards/rules for clarity and enforceability.
Assess the applicability of legal precedent to the standard-setting process, including court cases related to accounting, auditing, and regulatory procedures.
Perform or guide legal research of judicial decisions, statutory law, administrative regulations, and other authoritative sources.
Anticipate areas of legal risk to OCA and the PCAOB, such as legal challenges to adopted standards, and coordinate with the Chief Counsel for OCA and others to address these risks.
Coordinate and help lead special projects with a legal component or requiring inter-office coordination.
Review and analyze the applicability of academic economic literature to research and standard-setting projects.
Coordinate with the Office of General Counsel to review standard-setting and research projects.
Participate as a team member in meetings and interactions with staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Participate in consultation teams addressing questions in accordance with the External Consultation Policy, including information gathering, analysis, elevation, and response development/documentation.
Participate in inter-divisional PCAOB meetings to assess developments in accounting and auditing and the potential need for amendments to PCAOB standards and rules.
Participate in OCA's review of proposed actions by other PCAOB divisions (e.g., Registration and Inspections, Enforcement and Investigations, International Affairs) involving the interpretation and enforcement of Board's professional standards.
Promote trust in the accuracy and integrity of OCA's work and the PCAOB's standard-setting documents.
Conduct training on legal issues for OCA staff and other PCAOB staff.

Benefits

Highly competitive compensation and benefits package
Compensation transparency, equity, and fairness
Reasonable estimate of salary range provided
Potential for performance-based discretionary awards
Generous paid time off (up to 6 weeks annually)
12 federal holidays
2 floating holidays
Year-end break (December 28 – 31, 2026)
Highly competitive 401(k) match and savings options (immediate vesting, dollar-for-dollar match up to 7%)
Roth in-plan conversion available
Comprehensive and competitive health benefit offerings (Medical, dental, and vision plans)
Supportive paid family leave benefits (up to 16 weeks paid parental leave, up to 16 weeks paid caregiver leave)
Life insurance benefits (Basic life and AD&D insurance provided; supplemental insurance available)
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program eligibility
Student loan repayment assistance
Staff college tuition assistance
College coach program support
Mental health and well-being resources
Paid volunteer time
Emergency child/adult dependent back-up care services
Family-forming assistance
Discounted gym memberships
Employee assistance program (EAP)
Health advocate program
Commuter benefits (Tax-free employer subsidy and pretax employee deductions)