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Job Description:

The Economist is a subject matter expert on specific aspects of banking and financial services, with a strong understanding of both practices and policies and regulations pertaining to banks and non-banks and their products and customers.  Rigorous quantitative economic analysis of ongoing trends in banking as well as the broader financial services sector is a requirement, as is familiarity at an expert level with all relevant data sets as well as their limitations. 

Research output includes white papers, blogs, op-eds, testimonies, comments to consultations and rule proposals and presentation decks. In the context of regulatory changes, the incumbent focuses on assessing their impact – qualitative and quantitative – on banks and other financial service providers, their customers and the broader US economy.

The Economist conducts quantitative economic analysis on micro issues pertaining to specific products, for e.g., mortgage loans, small business lending, credit cards, savings and investment products, as well as more macro, systemic issues pertaining to banking and the financial system, for e.g., financial inclusion and access to banking and financial services, systemic risk and financial stability, and more generally, resilience of financial institutions.  

The incumbent conducts research on ongoing trends in banking and financial services, access to financial services, the cost of provisioning these services, competition in the broader financial services sector, and macro issues related to financial inclusion. In addition to the usual research output, the incumbent collaborates with colleagues in the broader ABA Policy team and the Office of Member Engagement to track and study these developments.  

Risk management is core to banking, and the incumbent will be engaged in issues pertaining to interest rate and credit risk, operational and cyber risk, digital assets, and other emerging topics. The incumbent’s research on these issues includes keeping abreast of current developments in terms of industry practices, global standards, regulations and research; communicating these developments to ABA members and the larger public via research notes and presentations; independent research including impact costs. 

The incumbent acts as an advisor to the Chief Economist in developing policy positions, arguments to support them, and research and analyses necessary to inform these positions. 

This position has high visibility with bankers (including key ABA policy committees), policy

makers – members of Congress and their staff as well as various regulatory agencies, the media, and the public.  

The Economist takes on new issues quickly, bringing analytical expertise and economics training to inform ABA’s position on policy issues. This requires working collaboratively with policy and subject experts, both within ABA as well as among ABA membership. Further, the individual develops and maintains strong working relationships with staff in various regulatory agencies, think tanks, and academic experts, both domestic and international. 

As an expert in banking and financial services, the incumbent will regularly present at various ABA-organized conferences and member meetings, and industry conferences. 

In coordination with others in the ABA Policy team and the general membership, the Economist participates in various ABA committees, both leading specific committees and providing quantitative economic expertise. 

Oversee other projects and duties as assigned by business need.  

Position Requirements:

• Master’s OR Ph.D. in economics, finance, public policy, or a related field required
• 10 – 12 + years of economics experience related to financial services practice, research or policy experience required
• Managerial/leadership experience preferred but not required
• Extensive knowledge of financial services practices and regulations
• Effective communications skills, both oral and written
• Excellent presentation skills
• Advanced analytical capabilities and experience
• Strategic and lateral thinker, able to envisage impact of economic developments across businesses and policy areas and work with stakeholders to develop a strategy to embed into actionable deliverables
• Ability to explain economic concepts to non-expert audiences
• Ability to travel (<20%)

Target salary for role: $235,000 - $250,000

Salary Band Range: $168,536.00 - $235,977.00 - $303,419.00

American Bankers Association (ABA) is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected Veteran status, personal appearance, political affiliation, family responsibilities, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.