Careers at the OCC:
Bank Examiner Careers
The OCC offers bank examiner career opportunities for both entry level and experienced individuals.
Assistant/Associate Examiner positions offer the main avenue of entry to a bank examiner career.
Assistant/Associate Examiners join a staff that reviews and evaluates all of the activities of a
national bank, which may include commercial and asset management functions, compliance with consumer
regulations, and bank information systems. These positions lead to commissioned National Bank
Examiner status. To obtain this status, Assistant/Associate Examiners must pass the OCC's Uniform
Commission Exam (UCE). This testing process determines if an individual has the requisite
knowledge, skills, and abilities to lead safety and soundness and/or specialty examinations.
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:
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Work in a financial institution reviewing, analyzing, and recommending or approving loan
applications or investments;
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Accounting or auditing work related to the internal operations of a financial institution;
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Reviewing, analyzing, and recommending or approving investments or other actions involving
the property or monies of others held in trust by a financial institution. |
If you have a business-related master's degree or additional experience as a bank officer, financial
analyst, financial institution regulator, bank accountant or auditor, or similar experience, you may
qualify for a higher-level bank examiner position.
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
The OCC stresses continuing education for its staff and provides
generous career training and development programs for
employees, including enrollment in certification programs.
OCC Careers Page
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