Research Analyst

FinRegLab is seeking one or more highly-motivated individuals to join our team as research analysts. The analyst(s) will help to manage FinRegLab’s experiments, research, and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders.

FinRegLab is a nonprofit innovation center that independently evaluates new uses of technology and data to inform public policy and drive the financial sector toward a responsible and inclusive marketplace. During the research process and after publishing research, we facilitate discourse among industry, policymakers, academics, and advocates to inform public policy and market practices regarding the responsible use of data and technology. Our work is designed to examine the particular technological, market structure, policy, and regulatory implications that are raised by specific new uses of data and technology in financial services. Our evaluation of the use of cash flow data in credit underwriting is a model for the kinds of research and engagement that the research analyst(s) will support. More examples of our research can be found on our website.

Research analyst(s) will:

• Assist in all aspects of designing and executing empirical and qualitative research projects 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 trendsto 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

Areas of current and potential research include:

• The explainability and fairness of machine learning in credit underwriting
• The range of financial issues that will affect households’ and small businesses’ ability to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic recession and strengthen their long-term financial stability
• The consumer, industry, and policy implications of expanded data access and data portability
• The use of AI in financial services, including in marketing and fraud models, financial crimes detection, and identity verification
• The assessment of cash-flow and other alternative financial data in models used to predict default risk throughout the loan lifecycle, as well as implications of the data and models for policy

• Assist in the design and execution of FinRegLab’s research and experiments to inform public policy
• Research market and policy issues through stakeholder interviews and reviews of academic, industry, and other relevant publications
• Write briefing materials and publications that summarize and assess critical policy and regulatory issues that are raised by the use of new technologies and data in financial services

FinRegLab is searching for highly motivated and skilled analysts at various experience levels. Senior analysts generally have a graduate degree and/or substantial work experience in relevant subject matters and will be expected to organize, lead, and execute significant components of research projects. Commensurate with level and experience, all analysts are expected to have:

• Appropriate educational background in computer science, data science, economics, law, public policy, or other relevant subject matters and/or meaningful work experience in one or more of the same areas
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize and present research findings in a clear and compelling way
• Capacity to investigate technical and quantitative issues and ability to communicate with non- technical audiences about those issues
• Disciplined approach to planning and executing assignments within agreed timeframes
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively with a variety of interdisciplinary stakeholders involved in our research
• Ability to balance, prioritize, and manage competing demands and be flexible to support team outcomes
• Commitment to analytical rigor, attention to detail, and high-quality written work product
• Genuine enthusiasm for learning and building a world-class research organization

Compensation will be commensurate with the overall experience level of successful applicants, including overall financial services experience and prior exposure to innovative uses of new technologies and data. Offers will include a competitive benefits package.

FinRegLab is based in Washington, D.C., and the position(s) will be based there when normal operations resume after the Covid-19 pandemic.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send us your resume and a short writing sample at: careers@finreglab.org.

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.