The Organization
Join our work to hold Wall Street accountable, and make finance work for us, not against us. Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund (AFREF) is seeking a Policy Analyst or Sr. Policy Analyst to drive this developing area of work.
AFREF played a leading role in winning passage of the Dodd Frank Financial Reform law and the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and we are driving the fight for broader transformations of the financial system to advance economic, racial, and social justice. AFREF’s staff works in collaboration with a coalition of more than 200 consumer, civil rights, labor, community-based, and other organizations, along with academics and policy experts.
Position Overview
This Policy Analyst or Sr. Policy Analyst will work with AFREF staff and partners to analyze and respond to regulatory and legislative proposals related to a broad range of cutting-edge financial technology products and services, ranging from cryptocurrencies to the use of artificial intelligence to app-based consumer lending and money transfer products. The analyst will be expected to examine how fintech companies work with financial institutions, the use of financial technology, including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, by financial institutions in their decision making processes and the products and services they offer, efforts by large commercial entities that seek to engage in payment processing and other bank-like activities, how blockchain-based products affect financial services, and how fintech impacts both consumer protection and financial stability. Duties will include writing materials exploring and explaining these issues for a variety of audiences supporting AFREF’s positions; and working with the AFREF Managing Director of Policy, AFREF staff, and partners to develop and implement strategies to contest concentrated bank and tech monopoly power, protect consumers’ privacy and control of their financial data, and support efforts to develop and institute electronic payment and banking systems with adequate safeguards that serve the public interest. The impact of fintech policies and practices on economic and racial justice will be the key lens for this work.
Job responsibilities include:
● Developing – in collaboration with colleagues – and explaining AFREF policy priorities in these areas
● Analyzing and responding to policy proposals, legislation, and proposed rules.
● Writing regulatory comment letters, letters to the hill, policy memos, reports, fact sheets and other materials for a range of audiences.
● Representing AFREF at meetings with regulators, legislators, and subject area experts, as well as with allies and partners.
● Working with AFREF staff and coalition partners to develop and lay out strategies to advance our policy goals.
● Explaining financial policy issues to non-experts and making connections between financial policy and broader economic, racial, and social justice work.
● Developing relationships with policy experts, academics, and practitioners who can contribute to our understanding of these issues or collaborate with us in advancing our policy goals.
● Communicating AFREF’s perspectives and policy positions to the press in collaboration with our communications staff.
Ideal candidates will have:
● A strong commitment to economic and racial justice
● Excellent policy analysis and research skills
● Ability to write effectively for a broad range of audiences, including both more and less technical readers
● Working knowledge of fintech issues and the intersection with finance and banking
● Experience with the legislative and regulatory processes
● Strong strategic thinking capabilities
● Comfort working both independently and cooperatively with other staff and coalition members
● Experience working with coalitions
● Enjoy the challenge of exploring new issues and subject areas
● An ability to multitask, and to be comfortable in a diverse and fast-moving work environment
● A law degree, an advanced degree in a related field, and/or quantitative research and data analysis skills are desirable, but not required
Compensation:
Annual salary range: $70,000 – $90,000 (Policy Analyst) or $90,000 – $110,000 (Sr. Policy Analyst), commensurate with experience. Generous benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and 401K.
More experienced candidates will be able to play a leadership role, and less experienced candidates will be able to expand and develop their expertise.
How To Apply
Please send a letter of interest and resume and two writing samples to Darrell Diggins, at: employment@ourfinancialsecurity.org. (Enter “Fintech Policy” in subject line and where you found the listing in the body of the email.)
AFREF is committed to a workplace that reflects the diversity of America defined broadly and where the talent, skills and uniqueness of each staff member are respected. We are committed to a policy of equity for all employees and to equal opportunity for all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, family responsibilities, and disability.