Inspections Specialist (Audit Regulator) - Houston, Tx

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 diverse 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:

• Life insurance benefits – Basic life and AD&D insurance provided; supplemental insurance also available
• Supportive paid family leave benefits – Up to 16 weeks paid parental leave and up to 16 weeks paid caregiver leave
• Highly competitive 401(k) match – Immediate vesting and contributions matched dollar for dollar, up to 7 percent of eligible compensation
• Commuter benefits – Tax-free employer subsidy and pretax employee deductions
• Hybrid work option – Staff will be assigned to the Houston, TX location. Staff can choose to live and work from anywhere within the United States but will be required to commute to their assigned office or location for occasional intentional gatherings or meetings at the frequency required by their supervisor. Travel to an assigned office or location for commuting purposes will not be considered reimbursable business travel, unless otherwise required by state law. Business travel is reimbursable in an amount not exceeding the cost to travel from the assigned office or location, unless otherwise required by state law.
• Well-being and family resources – Mental health and well-being resources, emergency child/adult dependent back-up care services, paid volunteer time, tuition assistance, employee assistance program, health advocate program, college coach program, and more
• Comprehensive and competitive health benefit offerings – Medical, dental, and vision plans
• 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. Our Inspections Specialist role includes three levels (IS1, IS2, and IS3) based on numerous factors including, but not limited to, job responsibilities and qualification requirements. 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 ranges are as follows: IS1 $88,300 - $128,700; IS2 $110,400 - $160,800; and IS3 $132,300 - $192,900. Team members may also be eligible for performance-based discretionary awards.
• Generous paid time off – Up to 6 weeks annually, in addition to 12 federal holidays, 2 floating holidays, and a year-end break from December 25 –29, 2023

Role Summary
The Inspections Specialist role in our Division of Registration and Inspections will participate in inspections of registered public accounting firms. This role will directly contribute to the PCAOB’s mission of protecting investors.
Responsibilities

• Meeting and interviewing firm personnel to (1) understand the firms' quality control structures, (2) understand the audit approach to audit engagements, and (3) further develop and/or identify quality control and/or audit deficiencies;
• Researching and consulting with other staff inside the PCAOB on technical issues;
• Collaborating with highly skilled inspection teams;
• Using varying degrees of independence, sound judgement, and discretion to drive issues to resolution and to achieve results;
• Inspecting portions of audit work papers to assess the degree of compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the rules of the Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and professional standards in connection with the performance of audits, issuance of reports, and related matters involving public companies and issuers or broker-dealers;
• Participating in the development and/or facilitation of training courses; and
• Participating in inspection projects aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the inspection program;
• Communicating inspection findings to firm personnel in meetings and in comment forms;
• Gathering and organizing information to support identified inspection issues;
• Participating in the PCAOB's recruiting process.
• Ability to travel 20-30% of the time (including some non-U.S. travel);
• Preparing comment forms and assisting with drafting inspection reports;
• Assessing the firms' quality control structures and the related impact these structures have on audit quality;

Qualifications

• Six to fifteen years of recent progressively responsible experience in public accounting, including experience (1) in the audit of companies publicly traded on the U.S. markets, (2) in the areas of IT general controls and application and process controls, and/or (3) in the area of broker-dealer regulations, including Rule 15c3-1 (net capital), Rule 15c3-3 (customer reserve, possession or control, exemptions), and Rule 17a-5 (broker-dealer reporting, including financial statements and supplemental schedules, compliance reports, and exemption reports);
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team; and
• Current Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) license required;
• Bachelor's degree in accounting or in a technology related field;
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
• Strong knowledge of PCAOB standards, generally accepted accounting principles and/or international financial reporting standards;
• Attainment of the senior manager or manager level at a public accounting firm or comparable work experience;

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA/Master's degree; and
• Fluency in a foreign language.

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.