Careers at the OCC:
Careers in Accounting

Join the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) as a Senior Policy Accountant and experience an exciting and challenging career opportunity as a member of a small professional accountant cadre. Cadre members participate in developing and interpreting generally accepted accounting principles of 2,000 national banks representing more than 67 percent of our nation's banking assets.

Accounting Duties

Responsibilities include:

• Formulating accounting policy and reporting standards for national banks
• Identifying solutions to complex accounting issues raised by bank examiners, banks and the accounting profession
• Coordinating policy development with the accounting standard-setters including the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other regulatory agencies

Senior Policy Accountants also participate in developing international accounting standards and supervisory guidance through the OCC's representation on the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and its related working groups.

Why Should I Choose the OCC for my Accounting Career?

Excellent advancement potential and opportunities to work with some of the most senior representatives in the accounting profession make the position both rewarding and challenging. This includes meeting with controllers and senior policy professionals of the nation's largest banks and senior partners and managers of the "big four" and other large accounting firms. Senior Policy Accounting Professionals also teach at schools within the agency, present at agency and industry conferences, and interact with accountants and other regulators throughout the world.

Work Life

Quality of life balance and a team-oriented environment also contribute to a rewarding work experience. The cadre size allows the Senior Policy Accountant to be involved in challenging and complex issues while pursuing and developing their areas of interest. Travel is limited and the work hours are both reasonable and flexible.

Salary and Qualifications

Salaries begin at approximately $80,000 for the Senior Policy Accountant positions. Depending on the person's qualifications, experience, and expected contributions to the organization, salaries can reach up to nearly $192,000. Annual merit increases are provided based on performance with bonuses awarded to exceptional performers.

Applicants for positions should refer to the job announcement for the qualification requirement details. Members of the OCC's Chief Accountant's Office are Certified Public Accountants who generally have significant public accounting experience. To view OCC's benefits section, please visit http://www.occ.treas.gov/jobs/benefits.htm for additional details.

Other Accounting Opportunities

Applicants for positions should refer to the job announcement for the qualification requirement details. Members of the OCC's Chief Accountant's Office are Certified Public Accountants who generally have significant public accounting experience.

District Accountant
The OCC's Chief Accountant's office also has opportunities at the district offices as a District Accountant. District Accountants perform many of the same functions as the Senior Policy Accountants in identifying solutions to complex accounting issues raised by bank examiners and banks. See job postings for available opportunities.

Professional Accounting Fellowships and Internships
The OCC's Chief Accountant's office also offers opportunities for two-year professional accounting fellowship programs and internship programs to experience first hand the activities of the Chief Accountant's office and the OCC overall. See Internships, Fellowships and Co-op Programs for further details.

Entry-level Bank Examiner
For recent college graduates with a bachelor's degree in accounting, there are excellent opportunities in the career of a national bank examiner. See Entry-level Bank Examiner Careers for further details.

Administrative Accountant
If you are interested in opportunities in the accounting operations for the OCC's internal financial reporting, please see Careers in Administration for further details.