General Function

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Managing Director of Adjudication leads the adjudication department and the adjudicatory process in compliance with CFP Board’s Procedural Rules, Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, Fitness Standards, and Sanction Guidelines.The Managing Director will act as lead legal advisor to the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (DEC), serve a decision maker with respect to motions that the parties file in adversarial proceedings, and manage the adjudication process, including all hearings. The Managing Director is accountable for enabling the DEC to prepare well-articulated written decisions that will be released to the public and that elevate the reputation and relevance of CFP Board. The Managing Director also will supervise a team of lawyers and paralegals in fulfilling organizational goals. Beyond these demanding responsibilities, the Managing Director of Adjudication also will be charged with a critical forward-looking responsibility and identifying and implementing a comprehensive evaluation of the adjudication process that meets CFP Board’s increasingly complex needs and demands in an age of constant regulatory developments. This role is part of the Executive Leadership Team. 

Essential Functions

• Ensures enforcement matters are reviewed or heard and resolved in accordance with the Procedural Rules, which providea fair and expedient adjudicatory process.
• Manages, reviews and analyzes filings made in enforcement matters.
• Serves as DEC Counsel to hearing panels and the DEC, providing advicein connection with matters filed with the DEC.
• Administers, organizes, and manages at least six sets of DEC hearings per year, plus additional“off-cycle” and interim suspension hearings, which currently average approximately 10 per year.
• In the role of DEC Counsel, drafts and issues orders onMotions, Petitions, and Requestsin accordance with the Procedural Rules.
• Determines the conduct of hearings and the admissibility of evidence and facilitates hearings as described in the Procedural Rules.
• Drafts and issues decision orders on behalf of the DEC.
• Supervises other adjudication attorneys who also act as DEC Counsel, as well as adjudication paralegalsand other relevant staff who administer the adjudication process.
• Drafts, reviews, and approves press releases and Case Histories with regard to final DEC or administrative Orders.
• Implements and maintains systems to facilitate case filing, tracking, and reporting (including to executive management).
• Evaluates and applies new or revised procedural and substantive rules and guidance adopted by CFP Board and adopts policies, procedures, and systems necessary to implement new or revised rules and guidance.
• Drafts, implements, and maintainspolicies and procedures which promotes the efficiency and effectiveness of the adjudicatory process.
• Recruits, trains, and manages large numbers of volunteers, who are members of the DEC and Hearing Panel Volunteers.
• Provides as-needed assistance to the General Counsel and Assistant General Counsel – Standards in supporting the Standards Resource Commission in developing guidance resources interpreting the Code and Standards.
• Provides as-needed assistance to the General Counsel and the Managing Director,Government Relations and Public Policy in developing policy-related materials.

• Provides as-needed assistance to the General Counsel and the Assistant General Counsel – Standards in reviewing CFP Board Continuing Education sponsor’s ethics program applications for alignment with theCode and Standards, in collaboration with CFP Board’s Continuing Education department.
• Provideslegal research and writing support for issues pertaining to federal and state regulation of broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, insurance agents and other financial professionals.
• Collaborates with other CFP Board Staff to periodically propose revisions to the Procedural Rules.
• Works with the General Counsel on meetings of volunteer groups charged with the responsibility of reviewing the Code and Standards, Fitness Standards and Sanction Guidelines.
• Manages and supervises staff, including writing annual performance evaluations and ensuring staff training and development.
• Serves as a coach and mentor to department staff.
• Oversees, evaluates, and updates department budgets and monitors compliance.
• Participates in and contributes to cross-functional working groups as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Background/Skills/Abilities Preferred

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school; active status licensed attorney in any state; eligible to be admitted in the District of Columbia.
• Minimum of 12years of legal practice experiencein the financial services field,with demonstratedlegal research, analytical, critical thinking, writing, and communication skills.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience managing people and projects, including staff evaluation and development.
• Executive-level verbal and written communication skills including experience working with and presenting information and results to executives.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Excel, and case management systems.
• Experience as an enforcement attorney presenting cases in administrative hearings or similar substantive legal practice experience preferred.
• A working knowledge of broker-dealer, investment adviser, and insurance regulations preferred.
• Robust analytical skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal and collaboration skills with the ability to effectively interface internally and externally.

• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and people simultaneously and follow through on issues in a timely manner.
• Consistently inspires confidence in knowledge, competencies, collaboration, and communication.
• Strong self-awareness/high EQ skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration within department and across organizational functions.
• Outstanding attention to detail, multi-tasking, time management, and organizational skills with ability to quickly prioritize and meet critical deadlines.
• Strong customer service focus and ability to effectively communicate with individuals under duress and resolve conflicts.
• Relationship builder with the flexibility and finesse to ‘manage by influence’.
• High energy, maturity, and leadership with the ability to serve as a unifying force at both the strategic and tactical levels.
• Self-starter, able to work independently and entrepreneurially.

•  Perform other duties as assigned.

About CFP Board

CFP Board is the professional body for personal financial planners in the U.S. CFP Board consists of two affiliated organizations focused on advancing the financial planning profession for the public’s benefit. CFP Board of Standards (501(c)(6)) sets and upholds standards for financial planning and administers the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM certification — widely recognized by the public, advisors and firms as the standard for financial planners — so that the public has access to the benefits of competent and ethical financial planning. 

CFP® certification is held by nearly 100,000 people in the U.S. CFP Board Center for Financial Planning (501(c)(3)) addresses diversity and workforce development challenges and conducts and publishes research that adds to the financial planning profession’s body of knowledge.

This position works on programs which are part of the 501 (c)(3) and 501 (c)(6).

This position is based in the Washington D.C. office and works a hybrid schedule which could be changed at any time.