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 $266,700/year - $380,300/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 Head of Strategic Communications to the Chairman serves as the PCAOB’s chief communications strategist and a senior adviser to the Chairman and the senior leadership team of the PCAOB. This role works closely with the Board and senior management in developing and executing a comprehensive communications strategy that advances the PCAOB’s mission, priorities, and objectives across key audiences.
The Head of Strategic Communications to the Chairman has the expertise and experience to message complex concepts and practices to an informed audience as well as a general public audience. This role requires a seasoned professional with proven experience integrating digital communications and social media into the overall communications outreach. The Head of Strategic Communications to the Chairman has a proven ability to build and reinforce trusted relationships with media and external stakeholders and has a solid network of high-level media and public affairs contacts. This position will be based in the PCAOB’s Washington, DC headquarters office and will report to the Chairman.
Responsibilities
Develop and lead the execution of a coordinated communications strategy that clearly conveys the PCAOB’s goals, priorities, and activities to key audiences, including the media and external stakeholders.
Serve as a strategic communications advisor to the Chairman and PCAOB leadership on PCAOB positioning and messaging for various audiences, including preparation for speeches and testimony, and responding to critical situations.
Act as a Board spokesperson; advise the Chairman and PCAOB leadership on all matters relating to media relations and public affairs efforts, including media outreach, responses to inquiries, and other communications, on issues of interest and concern to the Board.
Coordinate with the Director, Communications and Engagement to implement a branding strategy for the PCAOB that establishes and maintains standards of quality and consistency across all communication platforms, including the Board’s publications, website, and digital/social media channels.
Oversee message development, speechwriting, and presentation support for PCAOB leadership, and manager preparation for media interviews and public engagements.
Build and maintain working relationships with key media contacts to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the organization’s activities.
Perform other duties and special projects as needed.
Qualifications
Education/Technical Expertise
A bachelor's degree from an accredited university, preferably in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, or a related field
Minimum of 12+ years of experience in public relations or journalism, with advanced proven skills in leadership and enterprise-wide strategic communications
Experience working with and developing media relationships that further goals of corporate or governmental entities
Excellence in effective, persuasive, and Plain English writing and editing.
Proven ability to develop and execute a comprehensive communications vision and strategic plan for an organization.
Collaborative and team oriented. Experience managing an internal team as well as external consultants and achieving results.
Deep familiarity with both traditional and social/digital media.
Knowledge of the regulators and congressional oversight of auditors.
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 successfully harmonizing diverse and competing interests.
Ability to clearly articulate a position with sound logic, supporting empirical evidence, and impartiality.
Ability to effectively represent the organization to a variety of both internal and external constituencies.
Superior verbal and written communication skills.
Maintain standards of confidentiality with respect to all matters and documents. Exercise discretion and independent judgment on a daily basis.
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
Prior government, public policy, and/or regulatory experience
An advanced degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field
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
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited university (preferably Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, or related field)
- Minimum of 12+ years of experience in public relations or journalism with leadership and enterprise-wide strategic communications
- Experience working with and developing media relationships for corporate or governmental entities
- Proven ability to develop and execute a comprehensive communications vision and strategic plan
- Excellence in effective, persuasive, and Plain English writing and editing (speechwriting, message development)
- Deep familiarity with traditional and social/digital media and integrating digital communications into outreach
- Experience managing internal teams and external consultants
- Ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with media and external stakeholders; solid network of high-level media and public affairs contacts
- Knowledge of regulators and congressional oversight of auditors
- Ability to represent the organization to internal and external constituencies with discretion and independent judgment
- Maintain standards of confidentiality and exercise discretion daily
- Self-starter able to manage multiple, sometimes unstructured assignments autonomously
- Superior verbal communication skills and ability to prepare leadership for media interviews and public engagements
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship
- Prior government, public policy, and/or regulatory experience
- Advanced degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field
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.
