Career Opportunities in DERA

The Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA) provides sophisticated analysis that integrates economic, financial, and legal disciplines. The Division’s responsibilities cover three broad areas: risk and economic analysis; strategic research; and financial innovation. Its responsibilities include providing economic analyses of proposed Commission actions and providing expertise in analytical approaches and methods in support of the Commission’s enforcement and examinations program. In its “think tank” and other roles, DERA is involved across the entire range of SEC activities, including policy-making, rule-making, enforcement, examination, and other matters.

Financial Economists at the Commission provide economic guidance and research expertise to a broad range of activities, including rule-making, enforcement actions, market oversight and monitoring, and other regulatory initiatives. Opportunities exist within the Division to focus on work in specific policy areas, risk assessment and modeling, and litigation support.  In all roles, candidates must have the ability to apply academic research and empirical methods in support of Commission actions and regulatory programs, and are encouraged to engage in independent research directed at top-tier professional journals.

Interested candidates should have a research and policy interest in one of the following areas: market microstructure, derivative securities, clearance and settlement, credit ratings, registered funds such as mutual funds and ETFs, hedge funds and other private funds, municipal securities, corporate governance, securities offerings, financial accounting and disclosure, econometrics, asset pricing, financial markets and systemic risk, game theory, auction theory, industrial organization, and/or an interest in litigation economics.

Note: DERA hires throughout the year. However, DERA interviews extensively for economists, both permanent and fellows, at the ASSA meetings held annually in early January.