Join us and make a difference in global investor protection.
Who We Are
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a nonprofit organization established by Congress, oversees the audits of public companies and SEC-registered brokers and dealers to protect investors and to further the public interest in the preparation of independent, accurate, and informative audit reports.
Our investor protection mission is focused on modernizing audit standards, enhancing audit inspections, and strengthening enforcement of PCAOB rules and standards and other related laws and rules. People are at the heart of our mission at the PCAOB. As we carry out that mission, we strive to uphold the highest standards in audit quality with investors’ families, savings, and futures in mind.
We are hiring mission-driven professionals interested in a career with purpose, competitive benefit offerings, and work-life flexibility. If you are interested in working with a group of talented professionals to protect investors and drive audit quality and innovation while adhering to the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct, join us.
What We Offer
At the PCAOB, we offer a highly competitive compensation and benefits package with a focus on the health and financial well-being of our valued team members. Some of the features of our comprehensive Total Rewards package include:
Compensation – We support transparency, equity, and fairness in our compensation programs and provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range, based on data-driven market analysis, for each job posting. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range, a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role in Washington, DC (Headquarters) is $248,100/year - $400,000/year. Team members may also be eligible for performance-based discretionary awards.
Work Location – Staff will be assigned to the Washington, DC (Headquarters) office or another office as approved by the PCAOB.
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
Position Summary
The Chief Hearing Officer oversees and manages the PCAOB’s Office of Hearing Officers (OHO) and its staff to carry out the PCAOB’s adjudicatory functions under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and PCAOB rules. The Board tasks OHO, which is staffed with one Chief Hearing Officer as well as support personnel, with fairly and impartially presiding over disciplinary proceedings against PCAOB registered firms or associated persons as well as hearings regarding registration applications. The Chief Hearing Officer exercises independent decisional authority under the relevant rules of the PCAOB as described in the OHO Charter. The Chief Hearing Officer reports to, and is appointed by, the Board with the approval of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and takes an oath or affirmation to support the U.S. Constitution. The Board has designated the Chief Operating Officer to provide oversight of the administrative functions of the OHO.
Responsibilities
Oversee and manage OHO.
Manage an active docket of cases effectively.
Preside over proceedings in which the Board directs a Hearing Officer to preside.
Conduct pre-hearing conferences and resolve procedural issues that arise during the pre-hearing process.
Preside at hearings, resolving all procedural and evidentiary issues as they arise during the hearing.
Regulate the course of a proceeding and the conduct of the parties and their counsel, with appropriate adjudicative temperament.
Ensure that the hearing record is complete and accurate.
Prepare clear, well-reasoned, and well-supported decisions explaining the findings and conclusions.
Perform the full range of supervisory duties, including, but not limited to: evaluating employee performance; making recommendations for hiring and promotion; hearing and resolving internal complaints; identifying development and training needs of employees; and performing other related supervisory tasks.
Recruit, maintain, and develop staff consistent with business needs.
Qualifications
At least 15 years of legal experience with either a law firm, corporation, government agency, regulatory body, or a combination thereof.
Juris doctor (JD) from an accredited law school in the United States.
Active member of a Bar of a state of the United States.
Substantial experience relating to the conduct of administrative proceedings.
Superior technical abilities, regulatory knowledge, and leadership skills.
Superior verbal and written communication skills, including extensive legal writing experience involving complex technical, legal, and factual issues.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.
Preferred Qualifications
20 years of legal experience with either a law firm, corporation, federal government agency or regulatory body, or a combination thereof.
Experience in an environment related to accounting, financial matters, or public auditing.
Knowledge and experience relating to securities laws.
Leadership/Management Skills and Abilities
Able to drive a positive “tone at the top” within OHO and hold other OHO personnel accountable for doing the same.
Ensure that their own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with the highest ethical standards and aligns with the values of the organization in fulfilling OHO’s duties.
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.
Able to promote collaboration within OHO, as appropriate, by unifying teams, setting common goals and fostering collaborative behavior.
Demonstrate success in establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with others to achieve OHO’s goals.
Strong ability to build credibility, organize effectively, solve problems quickly, and communicate clearly.
Proven ability to navigate and resolve various types of conflict in a timely and productive manner.
Equal Employment Opportunity
All PCAOB employees are entitled to equal opportunity and a professional work environment, free of discrimination and harassment. A workplace free of discrimination and harassment is fundamental to professional success and to the PCAOB's mission. The PCAOB will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law.
Skills Required
- At least 15 years of legal experience with a law firm, corporation, government agency, regulatory body, or a combination thereof.
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited U.S. law school.
- Active member of a U.S. state Bar.
- Substantial experience relating to the conduct of administrative proceedings.
- Superior technical abilities, regulatory knowledge, and leadership skills.
- Superior verbal and written communication skills, including extensive legal writing experience involving complex technical, legal, and factual issues.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.
- Proven leadership and management skills: recruiting, supervising, evaluating performance, resolving conflicts, and developing staff.
- Approximately 20 years of legal experience (preferred).
- Experience in an environment related to accounting, financial matters, or public auditing (preferred).
- Knowledge and experience relating to securities laws (preferred).
What We Do
The PCAOB is a nonprofit corporation established by Congress to oversee the audits of public companies in order to protect investors and further the public interest in the preparation of informative, accurate, and independent audit reports. The PCAOB also oversees the audits of brokers and dealers, including compliance reports filed pursuant to federal securities laws. The PCAOB has four primary duties: - Register public accounting firms that prepare audit reports for issuers, brokers, and dealers. - Establish or adopt auditing and related attestation, quality control, ethics, and independence standards. - Inspect registered firms' audits and quality control systems. - Investigate and discipline registered public accounting firms and their associated persons for violations of specified laws, rules, or professional standards. In support of our mission, we also conduct economic research and risk analysis, engage with our stakeholders and other domestic and international regulators, and manage a talented workforce and the technology and resources we need to perform our duties. The SEC has oversight authority over the PCAOB, including the approval of the Board's rules, standards, and budget. The PCAOB has approximately 800 staff members.[1] We maintain our headquarters in Washington, D.C., and have nine regional offices across the United States. More than 1,700 public accounting firms located in 92 jurisdictions across the globe are currently registered with us. About 560 of those registered firms audit more than 12,000 issuers that file financial statements with the SEC or otherwise play a substantial role in those audits. [1] The data presented in this section is as of December 31, 2020. Note: Individuals who want to submit a tip or complaint can do so at [email protected] and not through social media accounts or posts.
