Economist Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• PhD in Economics, Finance, Accounting, or Statistics. A doctorate with substantial accounting or auditing expertise is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in financial economics, economic consulting, audit regulation, accounting, auditing, economic or risk analysis, or academia specializing in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Auditing, Statistics, artificial intelligence, or machine learning.
• Demonstrated knowledge of public company auditing, accounting, audit quality, audit firm quality control, or audit-related public policy.
• Experience related to quality control frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience leading interdisciplinary teams and integrating economic, quantitative, accounting, auditing, and risk perspectives into actionable recommendations.
• Ability to leverage economic, financial, accounting, audit, and risk data to develop and communicate relevant, decision-useful insights to a variety of stakeholders.
• Outstanding ability to listen and communicate complex and technical matters in a clear, concise, and non-technical manner to audiences of a variety of backgrounds and disciplines.
• A self-starter able to administer a number of open, ongoing assignments at any one time, where some assignments are routinely unstructured, requiring autonomy and independent judgment.
• In-depth experience or ability to successfully harmonize diverse and competing interests across an organization.
• 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 ability to develop, coach, and mentor staff, providing constant feedback and clear direction.
• Experience supervising diverse technical teams, including economists, analysts, accountants, auditors, data scientists, and other researchers, and building capabilities aligned with evolving business needs.
• 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, delegate responsibility, solve problems quickly and communicate clearly.
• Possesses the balance and emotional intelligence required to meet the diverse needs of the division/office.
• Proven ability to navigate and resolve various types of conflict in a timely and productive manner.

Nice To Haves

• A doctorate with substantial accounting or auditing expertise is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide intellectual and strategic leadership for modeling and risk analysis used to inform inspection and enforcement priorities, integrating qualitative and quantitative information from interdisciplinary teams of economists, data scientists, accountants, auditors, and other specialists.
• Lead teams that develop risk-based analyses and recommendations supporting inspections and enforcement, including the use of modern technology, AI, and the shift toward a more quality control-focused inspections program.
• Develop team capability in analytical methods, accounting and auditing subject matter, executive communication, and the clear presentation of complex findings.
• Advise the Chief Economist on economic, accounting, auditing, risk, audit-related public policy, and other strategic matters relevant to OERA and the PCAOB.
• Engage with Board groups, the SEC, PCAOB divisions and offices, and other stakeholders, as appropriate, to communicate the progress, methods, limitations, and results of key initiatives.
• Work with the Chief Economist and team leads to foster and inspire a positive and inclusive culture that aligns with the PCAOB’s values and facilitates the work of staff.
• Proactively identify, assess, communicate, and support resolution of critical economic, accounting, audit quality, data, modeling, and risk analysis matters for the PCAOB.
• Oversee or advise on analyses supporting the PCAOB’s inspections program, including efforts toward a more QC-focused program.
• Establish and maintain standards for methodological rigor, model governance, data quality, reproducibility, documentation, and effective challenge of significant analytical work products.
• Interact with and advise the Chief Economist and staff from other divisions/offices within the PCAOB.
• Mentor and develop talent to raise the stature of the PCAOB in its competence as an oversight authority.
• Plan, direct, and monitor modeling and risk analysis activities to improve execution, analytical quality, collaboration, and effective use of resources, consistent with OERA’s future-state priorities.
• Perform the full range of supervisory duties, including but not limited to evaluating employee performance, making recommendations for appointment and promotion, hearing and resolving complaints, and identifying development and training needs of employees within OERA.
• Recruit, maintain, and develop staff consistent with business needs.

Benefits

• Highly competitive compensation and benefits package
• Competitive salary range
• 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
• 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
• 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.
• 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