The SEC has a budget of $1.9 billion in support of 4,554 full-time-equivalents to support the agency’s mission. Under the current structure, the chairman has more than 20 direct reports and is responsible for setting the budget and managing the leadership agenda of the organization.
The SEC’s headquarters are in Washington, D.C., and the agency has 11 regional offices throughout the country. The regional offices are responsible for investigating and litigating potential violations of the securities laws. The offices also have examination staff, who inspect regulated entities such as investment advisors, investment companies and broker-dealers.
• Enforces federal securities laws and the regulation of the securities industry
• Sets the agency’s enforcement policy
• Shapes SEC action in other important divisions and offices of the agency including:
• Division of Corporation Finance (disclosure filings)
• Division of Enforcement (investigates and brings civil charges)
• Division of Trading and Markets (oversees exchanges, broker/dealers)
• Division of Investment Management (oversees asset management industry)
• Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (provides economic analyses as part of the Commission’s rulemaking process)
• Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (conducts examinations of registrants)
• Develops and manages a transparent and accountable regulatory process that imposes rigorous, consistent economic analysis to determine the economic impacts of proposed rulemakings, including effects on growth and net job creation
• Coordinates with international regulators as a member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions, and provides training assistance
• Serves as a member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council created by Dodd-Frank