SEC Reviews

Pros

The intern program was overall a really good experience. I learned a lot and enjoyed the other interns I would routinely work with.

Cons

There was no compensation unfortunately. There is a lot of stubbornness where everyone thinks they are right. There is a strict ladder of command.

Advice to Senior Management

Increase the training for interns. Try to get more money from congress so there can be more incentive for other interns to work there.

Pros

My particular organization was very relaxing and inviting to work for. The chief was always giving jokes not to make us feel that our duties are always serious.

Cons

Some colleagues were not very friendly and because you are mostly around lawyers they make you feel that you are nothing.

Advice to Senior Management

I would not change anything with the leadership of the way Mary Schapiro conducted her business with the SEC and the staff. They are always looked out for.

Pros

Resourceful and supportive team enviroment and managment style. Project orientated and self driven orientated. A great team with sophiscated team members with rewarding projects.

Cons

Low turnover rate of Staffing possibility due to the remarkable stabilities of current employees.

Advice to Senior Management

Great team envionment with insightful knowhow and plentful resources. Warm leadership style.

Pros

Best training possible for accounting professionals bar none. There is tremendous on the job training and great formal training at least once per on emerging financial issues. The benefits package is the best, including 20 vacation days after 3 years of employment, generous 401K plan, health care, wellness center, child care, you name they pretty much have it.

Cons

Pay is good but less than in industry. It is difficult to fire poor performers. The meager bonus plan can be subjective.

Pros

Work life balance is excellent. Rewarding to be able to protect investors and the integrity of the marketplace on a daily basis.

Cons

Overall talent of human capital is mixed between "lifers" who lost motivation long ago and the young and hungry looking to do great work. Technology is severely behind. Lack of concrete budgeting and limited funding from Congress is severely undermining the Commission's mission.

Pros

market microstructure, working on exams

Cons

bureacracy, slow on technology upgrades

Pros

Policy, rule-making, and interpretations are the mainstays of what gets done at the SEC. Being on the front lines is exciting and watching the changes being made in the interest of investor and public protection is extremely interesting. It is very different from working in the private sector and knowing that you are working towards a common goal and a "greater good" is both motivating and unifying. I got exposure to many different accounting issues and loved the people I worked for. The SEC has interesting seminars and workshops for the interns, but what was even better were the trainings available to all employees that took place multiple times a week and were about many different topics.

Cons

The pace is slower so if you want to be in a faster moving, higher pressure environment, then the government is not the place to look. It is also frustrating when certain initiatives are dropped without warning and hard work over the past couple of months ends up being all for naught.

Advice to Senior Management

The SEC's Division of Investment Management had stellar leadership and Buddy Donohue did an excellent job. Hopefully his replacement will be equally visionary.

Pros

The SEC provides good work/ life balance, decent benefits, and a fair amount of autonomy in completing work assignments and projects.

Cons

Requirements necessary to achieve certain promotions are obscure at best. Performance based pay is even less transparent. Generally requires travel, which is only a con if you do not like to travel.

Advice to Senior Management

The SEC needs to define rolls for management and hold them accountable. Especially in providing leadership and support for staff.

Pros

Federal work benefits are excellent.

Cons

Management does not care for the individual and his personal development. Any development is done at the initiation of the employee

Advice to Senior Management

The staff needs fewer lawyers who just want a nice bullet on their resumes;
and they need more non-attorney professionals who are career-minded.

Pros

great colleagues, common values, belief in the mission

Cons

lack of career advancement, lack of visibility into headquarters

Advice to Senior Management

develop ways to have a career path at the commission