Announcement for FinCEN's Unpaid Student Volunteer Program

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is now accepting applications for the Unpaid Student Volunteer Program in Washington, D.C. and Vienna, VA. The opportunity seeks to provide valuable work experience to students interested in experiencing the work and mission of FinCEN.

The following information provides a brief introduction to four of our program areas, basic qualification information, instructions on how to apply, application deadlines, what to expect next, and who to contact for more information.

Internship Opportunities: Selected student interns will work in an office within one of the following three program areas:

Regulatory Policy and Programs Division (RPPD). This organization issues regulations, regulatory rulings, and interpretive guidance; assists and oversees Federal and State regulatory agencies to more consistently and robustly examine financial institutions for Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) compliance; takes enforcement action against financial institutions that demonstrate systemic non-compliance; conducts sophisticated "data mining" and complex analyses of BSA filing information; performs strategic studies and prepares reports on money laundering trends and patterns related to BSA regulatory policy issues; and, undertakes outreach activities to help ensure that institutions subject to the BSA are aware of the BSA requirements applicable to them. The Division's activities span the breadth of the financial services industry, including - but not limited to - banks and other types of depository institutions, money services businesses, securities broker-dealers, mutual funds, futures commission merchants and introducing brokers in commodities, dealers in precious metals, stones, or jewels, insurance companies, and casinos.

• Projects: The Regulatory Policy and Programs Division is currently seeking a law school student, under the student volunteer program to conduct research on global standards and impediments to sharing financial information across international borders, in support of high-profile FinCEN initiatives to better facilitate enterprise-wide risk management and promote the design and implementation of more efficient and effective anti-money laundering programs by global financial institutions. In addition to focusing on the financial sector, the intern would be expected to identify other paradigms in which legal and policy issues arise with respect to information and information-related activities that may be subject to the jurisdiction of more than one country by virtue of remote access via routes such as the internet or other electronic communication links that cross borders.

The Office of Outreach Resources: The office is seeking a student volunteer to perform general research support. The projects are not required to be related to the students' academic or career goals. The projects are as follows:

• Projects: The intern will conduct limited research assistance on specific projects in support of Office of Outreach activities. The intern will provide support for analysis of interactions with covered financial institutions, including for speaker fact sheets, analytical reports, and other related activities. The intern will assist with other projects and activities as assigned.

Analysis and Liaison Division (ALD). This organization is comprised of Office of Law Enforcement Support (OLE), Office of Liaison Services, Office of Intelligence Support, Office of Special Programs Development (OSP) and Office of Trend and Issue Analysis (OTI), assists its primary customer groupings with investigative support, access to Financial Crimes Enforcement Network data, and development of investigative capacity. Analytic products range in complexity from straightforward customer request-driven research to policy-level assessments of financial crime threats. Consistent with the FinCEN's strategic plan, analytic resources are increasingly directed toward complex investigations and sophisticated analysis of BSA data. Reference products range from short overviews of emerging technologies to in-depth manuals on specific payment mechanisms.

The Office of Law Enforcement Support:

• Projects: The OLE has a number of important support roles for one or more student volunteers. Student Volunteer(s) will assist staff members with the administrative burdens associated with the Mortgage Fraud Perpetrator and Suspect lists which are examples of important efforts that unacceptably undermine the Office's readiness and ability to complete substantive analytical work. In addition, OLE is developing performance tracking mechanisms for internal use that would benefit the interns with solid and moderately advanced skills in Microsoft Office (including critically Word, Excel, and Access). The interns will be exposed to training events that OLE will coordinate with regard to upcoming initiatives, substantive analytical work, and to the extent possible and appropriate, law enforcement support efforts.

The Office of Special Programs: The OSP manages several unique FinCEN programs serving FinCEN's law enforcement, regulatory, and intelligence community customers. The Office's multi-faceted range of products and services combines elements of both analysis and liaison, and includes Reference Manuals, technical training programs, direct field assistance on significant cases and unique inquiries, and project assistance. OSP is seeking student volunteer(s) to assist with current and upcoming projects.

• Projects: The Office of Special Programs Development is interested in acquiring a student volunteer this summer to assist with various special projects. The intern will provide assistance to staff member(s) with research on closed terrorism and money laundering investigations to ascertain trends and patterns and also identify emerging payments systems and related vulnerabilities. Project will primarily involve long term open source research along these lines.

The Office of Trend and Issue Analysis: OTI seeking two summer interns to assist them with the responsibilities of the office.

• Projects: The intern will provide assistance in supporting the work of base-lining all of the BSA forms, exploring the data on topical ideas and issues, and developing trends and patterns with the information provided by the financial institutions. The intern will be introduced to the analysis of the BSA information and development of research, analysis, and presentation skills.

International Programs Division (IPD). This organization works to establish and strengthen mechanisms for the exchange of information globally, and to engage, encourage, and support international partners in taking necessary steps to construct regimes to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes. IPD, through the Office of Global Liaison (OGL) and the Office of Global Support (OGS), responds to requests from Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), as well as acts as a conduit for requests from domestic law enforcement to foreign FIUs. Strategic products on topics of international interest are also produced. IPD offers a wide array of technical assistance to foreign governments, providing policy recommendations and guidance, analytical training, technological advice, and staffs support in order to foster the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regimes worldwide. The Division is seeking two summer interns to assist with current and upcoming projects.

The Office of Global Liaison (GL).

• Projects: The Intern will provide assistance to staff member(s) with the Brazil Political Corruption project and the Mass Marketing Fraud project; Assist staff member(s) with the development of a data set for BSA training modules, to be used both at FinCEN and internationally. Provide assistance to the Strategic Analysis Group and assist with database searches utilizing the commercial, financial and law enforcement databases. Assist with administrative responsibilities, organizing emails, folders, documents, and manage correspondence between IPD/SAG and other FinCEN divisions. Provide assistance on international issues; help support IPD initiatives to conduct TSAPs (Tactical, Strategic and Analytical Projects).

Management Programs Division (MPD). This organization provides all financial, planning and performance measurement, human resources, and logistical requirements, which are critical to the operations of the Bureau. The Associate Director also serves as the Chief Financial Officer, and as such, is responsible for assuring the integrity of the fiscal and property accountability and assuring the implementation of accounting, reporting, and financial management policies.

The Office of Project Management: The Project Management Office is seeking a student volunteer to help the Project Management Staff promote the effective management of various projects.

• Projects: Assisting with the 2011 Priority Planning
  • May
    • Work with Specialist to set up program
    • Visit offices and other divisions for technical assistance and training
  • June
    • Compile and analyze results
    • Present results, obtain feedback
  • July
    Incorporate TFI goals, update list, present, get feedback and update
  • August
    Finalize list

Required Basic Qualifications:
All applicants applying to participate in the Unpaid Volunteer Student Program must meet the following requirements:

• Must be a United States citizen.
• Must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student in an accredited four-year or graduate program.
• Must be in good academic standing, maintaining a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher
• Must have completed at least 60 hours in a four-year program prior to entry on duty

• Work well in a team environment.
• Have very strong communication skills and be detailed oriented.
• Have a working knowledge of computer applications such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel.
• Have excellent writing, reading and interpersonal skills.
• Be able to organize a variety of assignments simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
• International experience (e.g. studying, travel, and working) strongly desired, but not required.
• Ability to speak a foreign language desired, but not required.

How to apply:
A complete application will consist of the following three documents submitted to UnpaidStudentIntership@fincen.gov no later than April 9, 2010.

• A cover letter.
• A resume.
• Your most recent transcript

What to Expect Next:
We will confirm receipt of your complete application. Your application package will be submitted to hiring officials for review. If interviews are required, you will be contacted. We anticipate selections will be completed by May 2010. If selected, you will receive a tentative offer and will be required to submit additional forms.

All applications must be received by: April 9, 2010.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Penny Jackson on (703) 905-3540 or Eileen Brown on (703) 905-3710
Fax: (703) 905-3909
Email:UnpaidStudentIntership@fincen.gov