Deputy Chief Economist, Modeling and Risk Analysis

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 - $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 Deputy Chief Economist, Modeling and Risk Analysis position will be located in the Washington, DC headquarters office and report to the Chief Economist and Director, Office of Economic and Risk Analysis (OERA). The Deputy Chief Economist will provide strategic and technical leadership for OERA’s modeling, risk analysis, accounting, and audit-related public policy capabilities. The position will oversee interdisciplinary teams that develop quantitative and qualitative tools, identify and communicate emerging audit risks, and provide analytically rigorous recommendations supporting the PCAOB’s evolving, quality control-focused inspections program, QC 1000, and other organizational priorities. The Deputy Chief Economist will also help align OERA’s staffing, research agenda, and technical capabilities with future-state business needs. The position may be filled either as a regular full-time role or as a two-year fixed- term role to accommodate candidates seeking flexibility in a term-based role.

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.                              

Qualifications

Education/Technical Expertise

• 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.

Leadership/Management Skills and Abilities

• 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.

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.