Capital Markets Specialists evaluate a broad array of financial activities and products at the most complex System institutions. Most activities involve serving as a member or leader of an examination team under the direction of a Senior Examiner or the Finance Specialty Program Manager. In addition to routine activities, Senior Capital Markets Specialists serve as agency subject matter experts on complex finance and capital markets related issues.
Ideal candidates have experience in the following areas: Analyzing risk to a complex financial institution's financial condition and performance resulting from exposure to interest rate, market, and liquidity risks. Assessing asset / liability management practices, including the use of sophisticated models, to identify, monitor, and control interest rate and liquidity risk and ensure long-term financial stability. Evaluating capital adequacy and capital management practices including managing capital distributions, utilizing stress test analysis, and the use of complex strategies such as securitization, synthetic securitization, and other credit risk transfer structures. Evaluating financial institution liquidity risk, including experience analyzing funding strategies and contingency funding plans, and evaluating the adequacy of high-quality liquid assets as a secondary source of liquidity. You may qualify at the VH-40 (GS-14) band level if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the VH-39 (GS-13) band in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position which includes serving as a senior leader in the management, examination, or audit of a financial institution's finance and capital markets activities (e.g., capital, earnings, liquidity, sensitivity to interest rate risk, investments, securitizations, derivatives) and related risk management practices under very limited direct supervision, preparing written reports conveying the results of these activities, developing policy or guidance, and providing subject matter expertise to decision makers through briefings, presentations, trainings, or consultation. This experience may have been gained as a financial regulator, consultant, auditor, analyst, or as an employee at a financial institution. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Current and former Federal employees (including VEOA eligibles) must have served one-year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade in the Federal service to meet time-in-grade restrictions per 5 CFR 300, Subpart F, by the closing date of the announcement.
As a Senior Capital Markets Specialist, your duties will include: Leading and participating in examinations and oversight of System institution financial condition and performance (i.e., capital, earnings, liquidity), interest rate risk, loan pricing, funds transfer pricing, derivatives, hedging, fixed-income investments, securitization, and funding through debt capital markets. Such examinations include an assessment of risk, board policies, procedures, financial modeling and model risk management, management and internal control processes, operating practices, and compliance with laws and regulations. Ensuring risks are appropriately identified, measured, monitored, and controlled. Making recommendations that are fully supported and ensuring System institutions take corrective action when weaknesses are identified. Developing reports that summarize examination conclusions and recommendations and presenting them to System institution senior management. Serving as an advisor and trainer for other examiners on System institution finance and capital markets issues; developing examination guidance; developing informational letters to System institutions; analyzing systemic risks; and participating in task forces that develop policy and regulations related to capital markets and finance areas. Advising decision makers as a subject matter expert in the areas of finance and capital markets, including identifying and assessing areas of substantial or systemic capital markets risk. A key distinction between the VH-38, VH-39, and VH-40 is the authority to act and the level of supervision in place.