WSJ seeks a financial regulation reporter

The Wall Street Journal is looking for an enterprising and well-sourced reporter to cover financial regulation and how it protects — or fails to protect — consumers.

The U.S. financial system is a sprawling network of banks, exchanges, asset managers and payment networks. It is governed by a mishmash of federal, state and local regulators. The importance of that matrix was on display in 2023 when three U.S. banks failed in rapid succession, catching their regulators off guard and sparking fears of a 2008-style meltdown.

We’re looking for a reporter who can help our readers understand the complicated interplay between regulator and regulated, and how their actions affect consumers. We need someone who can break news about proposals regulators are considering and how financial institutions are responding to them.

The person should also be a watchdog for consumers, breaking news on novel financial products, highlighting fees and risks and helping set the conversation about where regulation is working and failing.

There’s much ground to cover, and the stakes are high. Last year’s turmoil exposed cracks in the banking business model, especially among the thousands of community banks Americans rely on.

The ideal candidate is deeply familiar with the inner workings of financial markets and the political dynamics that influence the regulatory environment. We also need a sharp writer skilled at finding creative ways to bring complex concepts alive through colorful and deeply reported stories. A desire to collaborate with colleagues in different coverage areas is a must.

You will:

• Break news on the regulatory actions of the biggest financial firms
• Distill complex financial concepts into language that’s easy to grasp for everyday consumers
• Source across the regulatory landscape, consumer groups and lenders
• Find the darker corners and hidden maneuvers of financial firms, big and small

You have:

• Willingness and ability to study, understand and get excited about difficult topics in finance and regulation
• Sharp reporting instincts and strong writing skills
• A keen attention to detail and obsession with accuracy

The position is based in New York and reports to Wall Street Editors Cara Lombardo and David Benoit.

To apply, go here.