Careers at the OCC:
Bank Examiner Careers

The OCC is also looking for experienced individuals from the banking and financial services industries and other banking regulators. If you have such experience, you may qualify for a higher-level bank examiner position. Experienced individuals may be required to pass the UCE to become a National Bank Examiner. This is dependent on the position and qualifications of the job candidate.

Examiners at the OCC may work in several specialty areas. In addition to our generalist positions, we employ people with expertise in asset management, bank information technology (BIT), capital markets, consumer compliance/CRA, credit, retail credit, and other areas. Experts in these specialty areas supplement their generalist skills. Separate commissioning processes for the specialty areas of asset management, BIS, and consumer compliance/CRA may be required. Upon successful completion of the testing requirements for a given specialty area, individuals will receive a specialty commission.

Click here to see general eligibility requirements for bank examiner positions. Specific position qualification requirements are contained in each job announcement listed on the Current Job Openings web page. Recently, the OCC identified six industry certifications that provide significant value to the agency. Certain job opportunities, especially expert level positions, may place emphasis on these certifications when determining the best candidate. While you will not be required to have an industry certification to be selected for such positions, having a relevant certification will benefit your application when you apply for a position that requires a particular expertise.

Generalists

Generalists are the largest group of examiners at the OCC. They engage in a range of analytical activities in evaluating the banking practices and financial soundness of the institutions they supervise. The scope of an examination may embrace every phase of banking activity or may concentrate on specific areas that deserve greater emphasis. Essentially, our supervisory process focuses on the area(s) of greatest risk. That is, we spend our time and direct bank management's attention to those areas which pose the greatest risk to the institution. Our supervision by risk system allows us to analyze and respond to risks across different financial products and activities and across different banks with different specialties. All national bank examinations are designed to determine the condition and performance of banks, the quality of their operations, and the capacity of management to ensure compliance with federal laws.

Asset Management

Asset management specialists evaluate how well a bank controls and manages the risks inherent in its fiduciary and asset management activities, and assess the overall condition of those activities. In evaluating a bank, asset management specialists assess the capability of management, the effectiveness of board supervision, the soundness of policies and procedures, the quality of service to the public, and the effect of the fiduciary and asset management activities on the overall soundness of an institution. Such activities include personal trust services, estate planning and settlement, retirement investment and planning services, custodial services, corporate trust services, investment advisory and management services, private banking, securities lending, transfer agent services, and investment advisory services for mutual funds. Candidates for asset management specialist positions must be familiar with those activities and the pertinent laws and regulations, including applicable state and national banking laws and regulations, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, Securities and Exchange Commission regulations and rulings, and the Internal Revenue Code.

Bank Information Technology

Bank Information Technology (BIT) specialists evaluate technology and bank information systems related functions at national banks. Typical assignments are to evaluate the information systems management structure and effectiveness; the adequacy of audit management, development and acquisitions (the organization's ability to identify, acquire, install and maintain appropriate information technology solutions); and the organization's ability to provide technology services in a secure environment. BIS specialists usually develop their own risk-based strategies and work with significant autonomy. Candidates for these positions need an understanding of bank operations, technology planning, telecommunications, LANs, database, software development, and computer operations. A knowledge of the banking business is essential.

Capital Markets

The capital markets program focuses on assessing risk associated with asset liability management and trading activities. Capital markets specialists will generally characterize both the quantity of risk and quality of risk management practices in several risk areas. Candidates must have a good understanding of the price, credit, liquidity, and operational risks that result from bank participation in those markets. Knowledge of market mathematics, products, and corporate level risk measurement and control techniques is highly desirable.

Consumer Compliance/CRA

The OCC's consumer compliance specialists ensure that national banks comply with consumer protection laws and regulations, including fair lending laws, and maintain an acceptable level of performance with respect to the Community Reinvestment Act. These specialists may participate in community outreach activities and periodically conduct training sessions that address consumer protection, banking secrecy, and CRA issues. In addition to knowledge of those areas, candidates must also have a firm understanding of basic banking principles and operations and general supervisory issues.

Credit

Credit specialists focus their evaluations on the level of credit risk and how well that risk is managed in bank asset portfolios. This is done by reviewing and analyzing various credit transactions and the bank's systems and processes established to measure, monitor, and control credit activities. Candidates for these positions need a high level of expertise in credit-related bank activities. That experience is often gained by working as a loan officer, relationship manager, credit policy officer, loan review officer, or portfolio manager.

Retail Credit

Retail Credit specialists provide expertise on issues relating to capital markets and mortgage banking activities. They maintain specialized product and market expertise, including knowledge of risks, supervisory policies, accounting, regulatory capital requirements, other market participants, and national bank participation, and perform market surveillance to identify systemic market changes, potential supervisory issues, and emerging market developments. Candidates for these positions must have a knowledge of the risk, controls, and management of mortgage bank activities; interest rate risk; hedging; mortgage servicing; asset securitization; liquidity; and funding.

General Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for entry-level bank examiner positions, applicants must have either:

• Four academic years of college-level work with a major field of study in accounting, banking, business administration, commercial or banking law, economics, finance, or another business related field; or
  
  
• At least three years experience that provided a knowledge of accounting or auditing principles and practices, such as:

	Work in a financial institution reviewing, analyzing, and recommending or approving loan applications or investments;
	Accounting or auditing work related to the internal operations of a financial institution; or
	Reviewing, analyzing, and recommending or approving investments or other actions involving the property or monies of others held in trust by a financial institution.

Industry Certifications

The OCC has determined that the following certifications provide value to the banks the OCC supervises by enhancing the overall expertise of its examining workforce:

• Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner
  Enhances accounting, audit, and generalist examiner skills
  
  
• Certified Information Systems Auditor
  Enhances bank information system skills
  
  
• Certified Financial Planner
  Enhances asset management skills
  
  
• Chartered Financial Analyst
  Enhances capital markets, asset management, and credit analysis skills
  
  
• Certified Regulations Compliance Manager
  Enhances consumer compliance skills