Senior Research Analyst

finreglab; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

FinRegLab in Washington, DC is seeking one or more senior research analysts to organize, lead, and execute qualitative and market research, policy analyses, and multi-stakeholder engagements.

Experience with quantitative research is a plus but not required; the role includes collaboration with internal analytics and external academic partners, with hybrid work expectations and a strong emphasis on policy impact.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in relevant fields.
• Familiarity with new technologies and data and regulatory frameworks in financial services.
• Strong critical thinking skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, ability to tailor content for interdisciplinary audiences.
• Ability to work productively with internal staff, collaborators, and external stakeholders.
• Proactive and flexible in managing competing demands and team outcomes.
• Strong project management and independent judgment.
• Ability to mentor junior staff.
• Genuine enthusiasm for learning and building a world-class research organization.

Responsibilities

• Assist in designing and executing qualitative research projects, policy analyses, and stakeholder engagements to inform public policy and the financial sector about new technologies and data.
• Research, examine, and write about market and policy trends to inform FinRegLab’s agenda and communications.
• Support and manage project-level working groups with senior executives and officials from regulatory agencies, banks, fintechs, and academia.
• Serve as a liaison with internal analytics staff and external academic partners to facilitate project design and empirical workstreams.

Skills

Critical thinking

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Project management

Mentoring staff

Independent judgment

Education

Graduate degree in business, economics, finance, law, public policy, computer science, or related fields

Job description

Scope of the Role

FinRegLab is a nonprofit innovation center that advances the safe and smart use of data and technology in financial services to help families and small businesses get the financial products and tools they need to manage their daily lives and build more secure futures. With our research insights, we facilitate discourse across the financial ecosystem to inform market practices and public policy. FinRegLab is seeking one or more highly motivated individuals to join our team as senior research analysts. These analysts are expected to help organize, lead, and execute significant components of FinRegLab’s qualitative and market research, policy analyses, and multi-stakeholder engagements. Experience with quantitative research is a plus but not required.

Core Responsibilities

• Assist in all aspects of designing and executing qualitative research projects, policy analyses, and stakeholder engagements to inform public policy and the financial sector about the use of new technologies and data in financial services.
• Research, examine, and write about market and policy trends to help inform FinRegLab’s research and policy agenda and communications with stakeholders and the media.
• Help to support and manage project-level working groups consisting of senior executives and officials from regulatory agencies, banks, fintechs, technology companies, advocacy organizations, and academic organizations.
• Serve as a liaison with internal analytics staff and external academic partners as needed to facilitate project design and execution of empirical workstreams.

Current and future potential policy relevant research areas

• Use of large language models and other forms of artificial intelligence to deliver tailored advice to consumers and small businesses, facilitate activities by mission-based financial services providers, and in other use cases with significant financial access or customer protection implications.
• The assessment of non-traditional data sources, machine learning algorithms, and other technologies in credit underwriting contexts and implications for policy expectations.
• The potential of new data and technology to improve identity verification, fraud mitigation, and compliance with anti-money laundering/know your customer requirements.
• The policy, consumer, and industry implications of data portability, anonymization, and privacy enhancing technologies.

Requirements Qualifications

• Graduate degree in business, economics, finance, law, public policy, computer science, or related fields.
• Familiarity with the use of new technologies and data and regulatory frameworks in the financial sector, for instance through prior academic research, industry research and development experience, or other professional experience in one or more of the foregoing academic disciplines.
• Strong critical thinking skills, intellectual curiosity, and attention to detail.
• Excellent written language and verbal communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to present research findings by tailoring the style and content to the needs of interdisciplinary audiences and to synthesize, write, and present insightful policy analyses.
• Ability to work productively with other FinRegLab staff, collaborators, and external stakeholders.
• Proactive and flexible approach to managing competing demands and supporting the team's outcomes.
• Strong project management skills and independent judgment.
• Ability to manage teams and mentor more junior staff members.
• Genuine enthusiasm for learning and building a world-class research organization.

Benefits Location, Salary, and Benefits

This position is based in Washington, D.C. and in line with our work hours and location guidelines for hybrid work, the expectation is to come into the office a minimum of 3 days a week. Compensation will be commensurate with the overall experience level of successful applicants. Offers will include a competitive benefits package. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. At this time FinRegLab will not sponsor work visas for employment. FinRegLab is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.