Program Manager, Chief of Specialty Examinations

Job Description:

Providing Regulatory Oversight for Our Washington State Chartered Credit Unions

Do you enjoy working in a team environment with top notch professionals, performing financial analysis, and making programs better all while working closely with credit unions, who are dedicated to serving their members? If, so this is the perfect job for you!

Why work at DFI?
Our employees work together to make sure that financial institutions comply with our laws – including consumer protection laws. We are here to see that these institutions remain safe, sound, and able to honor your trust in them.

The Department of Financial Institutions is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and offer a respectful, inclusive culture for people with disabilities, as well as members of all protected groups and statuses. We value the contributions of each and every one of our employees and treat them accordingly.

DFI consistently rates very highly on the annual statewide Employee Engagement Survey, which surveys employee satisfaction. Our employees believe the DFI does a good job fulfilling our mission and supporting our workforce.

The Program Manager – Chief of Specialty Examinations oversees all specialty examination activities for the Division of Credit Unions, management of specialty examiners and the proper oversight of the largest credit union in the state, ensuring that statutory examination mandates are met, coordination with federal and state agencies occurs, and that examination quality and consistency are meeting regulatory standards.

Examples of different types of specialty examinations are consumer protection law compliance, information systems and technology (IS&T) of a credit union or its vendor, electronic payment systems, website compliance, credit union service organization (CUSO), applications from credit unions, and limited scope exams of an out-of-state credit union with branch operating in Washington.

The Program Manager is responsible to plan, lead, organize and control the work performed by the organization to ensure appropriate and optimum use of the organization’s resources. These measures enhance the effectiveness of the employees through timely appraisal and professional development opportunities, and supports effective communication throughout the organization. A Program Manager must maintain the highest standards of personal, professional and ethical conduct and support a diverse workforce.

The Program Manager works closely with the Program Manager of Safety and Soundness Exams and the division management team to directly contribute to fulfilling the mission and goals of the agency to protect the public, promote economic vitality, and preserve integrity in the marketplace. The position is responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of strategic plans, operational goals and budgets for the department and division, and for ensuring that adequate resources are available to meet DFI and Division mission, goals, and objectives.

Duties

While working in a collaborative team environment, principal responsibilities include:

• Overseeing and completing the timely analysis of applications for special authority received from credit unions ensuring they meet regulatory and safety and soundness standards.
• Ensuring thorough review, development, and implementation of specialty exam programs (IS&T and compliance), making changes as needed.
• Taking actions to improve the Washington state credit union charter through recommendations to the division’s strategic business plans and budgets, legislation and rules, and interpretations of RCW 31.12 and 31.3.
• Ensuring accurate and timely correspondence and communications to regulated entities, stakeholders, and the public are maintained within the guidelines established by state and the agency.
• Developing, reviewing and implementing policy and procedural changes for the Division and the Agency.
• Maintaining knowledge of regulatory pronouncements, legislative changes, examinations processes, and industry practices, to provide accurate responses to inquiries from regulated institutions, other stakeholders, and the general public.
• Making recommendations for regulations and rules affecting regulated institutions, taking a lead role in certain rule changes.
• Ensuring training and development of staff.
• Reviewing recent consumer complaints to determine if there are systemic problems that need to be reviewed at the next exam.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, accounting, statistics, business management or a related major;  OR Four years of experience in a position, which required finance, account management, or economics AND Five years of management or supervisory experience.

Required Competencies:

• Management/leadership experiences: Influencing and encouraging others to achieve business results, implementing organizational priorities, and balancing competing needs and resource demands. Establishing and implementing a clear organizational vision that results in staff assuming full accountability for their actions, decisions, and results.
• Knowledge of personnel administration policies and procedures: An understanding of compliance with State and Federal employment and recruitment related laws and policies.
• Budgeting and business planning skills: Experience developing and implementing short and long-term goals to achieve measurable business results. Developing a collaborative approach to the planning process that is supported by the budget process.

Preferred/Desired Education, Experience and Competencies:

• Master’s degree in finance, economics, accounting, statistics, business management or a related major or supplemental education from a professional banking school such as Pacific Coast Banking School or CUNA Management School;
• A fundamental understanding of credit union examinations;
• Knowledge of credit union laws and regulations;
• An understanding of depository institution standards and practices.

Key Competencies:

• Supervises regulated credit unions: Through specialty examinations ensures regulated entities are operating within the compliance requirements and ensures that the largest and most complex credit union(s) are operating in a safe and sound manner. Ensures that corrective measures are taken with non-compliant practices are found.
• Regulation of the credit union industry: Ensures regulated entities are in compliance with regulations, rules, policy statements, and enforcement actions.
• Chartering and application processes: Ensures a sound financial marketplace by objective analysis of chartering and application proposals and documenting the approval processes.
• Results Washington: Use Lean thinking and tools to deliver value to customers and employees. Lean is a culture that encourages respect, creativity, and innovative problem solving; continuously improves and eliminates waste from government processes; aligns efforts across stat agencies, and delivers results that matter to Washingtonians. Knows the principals of Lean as applied under the Governor’s Executive Order 13-04 on Results Washington.

Supplemental Information

Duty Station and Travel Requirements:
* Due to the current health pandemic (COVID-19), all work is completed virtually at this time. A hybrid-model of travel and remote work is planned when conditions are safe. We anticipate Program Managers will begin working in the office the equivalent of three days a week beginning in February 2022.  The majority of the program manager’s time is spent at DFI Headquarters located in Tumwater, WA – which will be the official duty station. This position requires some overnight travel.

Application Process:
Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Submitting your application materials electronically will act as confirmation that the information submitted is complete and accurate to the best of your knowledge. Failure to provide all the required application materials and complete the supplemental questionnaire may result in disqualification.

Interested applicants should select the “Apply” button and attach the following materials to their application:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Three professional references* (provide contact name, phone number, email address, company name, and job title)

*A professional reference is someone who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have sufficient professional references, please include non-professional references, such as educators or other professional associates.

Background Investigation:
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal and credit record history will be conducted.  Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.

COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Information:  The DFI is a cabinet agency and is subject to Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14, which requires all cabinet agency employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. All employees hired to the DFI must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and must present documentation to verify their fully vaccinated status.
Medical and religious accommodations will be considered. Please contact Gerri Davis, Human Resources Director at:[email protected] or 360-902-8741 if you need information on medical or religious accommodation.

Contact Information:
Tom Grant
[email protected]

DFI is an equal opportunity employer and vigorously pursues diversity in the workforce. We encourage women, racial and ethnic minorities, people over 40, people with disabilities, Veterans and disabled Veterans to apply.