General Counsel

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

29d • Onsite

About The Position

The General Counsel position is located in the Washington, DC (Headquarters) office and will serve as the PCAOB’s chief legal advisor. This key role is an officer of the PCAOB, reports directly to the Chairman, and is primarily responsible for representing, advising, and assisting the five-member Board and staff on all internal and external legal matters. This role will assess and develop mission critical programs, act as a change agent, and help to lead the transformation of the organization.

Requirements

• Juris doctor (JD) from an accredited law school in the United States.
• Active membership of the Bar in good standing in any State, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• At least 15 years of progressively responsible relevant legal experience with either a law firm, corporation, federal government agency or regulatory body, or combination thereof; experience in an environment related to financial or securities regulation, accounting, or public company auditing preferred.
• Knowledge and experience relating to corporate and securities laws; rulemaking and administrative law; contract law, labor/employment law, and commercial law at the federal and state levels strongly preferred.
• A self-starter able to administer a number of open, ongoing assignments at any one time, where some assignments are unstructured, requiring autonomy and independent judgment.
• In-depth experience successfully harmonizing diverse and competing interests.
• Ability to clearly articulate a position with sound logic and conviction.
• Ability to effectively represent the organization to a variety of both internal and external constituencies.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills.
• A self-starter able to administer a number of open, ongoing assignments at any one time, where some assignments are unstructured, requiring autonomy and independent judgment.
• In-depth experience successfully harmonizing diverse and competing interests.
• Ability to clearly articulate a position with sound logic, supporting jurisprudence and impartiality.
• Ability to effectively represent the organization to a variety of both internal and external constituencies.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.
• Ability to drive a positive “tone at the top” of the organization and hold others accountable for doing the same.
• Ensures that own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with the highest ethical standards and aligns with the values of the organization.
• Must be able to motivate and inspire employees at all levels of the organization in order to enhance team commitment and individual performance.
• Proven skill as a leader capable of building, managing, and retaining a talented staff.
• Proven ability to develop, coach, and mentor staff, providing constant feedback and clear direction.
• Ability to promote collaboration by unifying teams, setting common goals and incentivizing collaborative behavior.
• Demonstrated success in establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.
• Strong ability to build credibility, organize effectively, solve problems quickly and communicate clearly.
• Possesses the balance and emotional intelligence required to meet the diverse needs of the other PCAOB Divisions and Offices.
• Proven ability to navigate and resolve various types of conflict in a timely and productive manner.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise the legal function of the PCAOB.
• Advise and counsel Board and staff on the exercise of the program responsibilities under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as amended.
• Oversee the preparation of draft opinions for disciplinary sanctions that are appealed to the Board, and the defense of PCAOB decisions that are appealed to the SEC.
• Advise and counsel the Board, management, and staff on all legal issues.
• Draft and supervise the drafting of legal memoranda to the Board opining on the legal sufficiency of actual or proposed exercise of the PCAOB’s statutory and/or regulatory authority across all Divisions and Offices.
• Advise on organizational compliance with pertinent laws and regulations, including by providing legal support to the PCAOB’s Chief Compliance Officer.
• Advise on PCAOB compliance with SEC requirements.
• Oversee the legal review of all contracts entered into by the PCAOB.
• Oversee and manage relationships with outside counsel.
• Advise the Board and staff on the maintenance of PCAOB employment policies in conformity with applicable federal and state requirements.
• Lead and provide direction to teams of attorneys within the Office of General Counsel.
• Plan, direct, and monitor the operations of the Office of General Counsel to improve program execution, promote increased efficiency of operations, and help ensure the appropriate utilization of resources.
• Have overall responsibility of the Office of General Counsel administrative functions, including budget, information technology, risk management, compliance, and security activities; and other administrative support.
• Perform the full range of supervisory duties, including evaluating employee performance; makes recommendations for appointment and promotion; hears and resolves complaints; identifies development and training needs of employees; other related supervisory tasks.
• Recruits, maintains, and develops staff consistent with business needs.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off – Up to 6 weeks annually, in addition to 12 federal holidays, and 2 floating holidays and a year-end break December 28 – 31, 2026.
• Highly competitive 401(k) match and savings options – Immediate vesting and contributions matched dollar for dollar, up to 7 percent of eligible compensation. 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 and up to 16 weeks paid caregiver leave
• Life insurance benefits – Basic life and AD&D insurance provided; supplemental insurance also available
• Education benefits – PCAOB staff qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. We also offer student loan repayment assistance, staff college tuition assistance, and college coach program support.
• Well-being and family resources – 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, and more
• Commuter benefits – Tax-free employer subsidy and pretax employee deductions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees