Managing Director, Adjudication

Job Description

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 provide a 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 advice in 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 on Motions, Petitions, and Requests in 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 paralegals and 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 maintains policies 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 the Code and Standards, in collaboration with CFP Board’s Continuing Education department.

Provides legal 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.