Senayet Meaza, Acting Associate Commissioner for Securities
The Securities Bureau:
- regulates securities professionals in the District of Columbia;
- licenses broker-dealer firms and their agents, agents of issuers, and investment advisers and their representatives;
- protects investor/consumers by enforcing the legal requirements applicable to securities entities and representatives operating in the District;
- conducts investor education through outreach activities in the community; and
- is a member of the North American Securities Administrators Association Inc. also known as NASAA. The association is the voice of state securities agencies responsible for grass-roots investor protection and efficient capital formation.
The Securities Bureau has one office and three divisions:
- Office of Securities Associate Commissioner
- Licensing Division
- Corporate Finance Division
- Examinations Division
Office of Securities Associate Commissioner:
- oversees the daily operations of the Securities Bureau;
- plans and directs a refined and well-coordinated securities regulatory program;
- makes final determinations on the licensing status of regulated securities entities and individuals;
- plans and maintains creative outreach programs to meet the informational needs of DC investors; and
- recommends securities programs and courses to develop and train Securities Bureau personnel.
Licensing Division:
- administers the licensing requirements applicable to investment advisers, investment adviser representatives, broker-dealers and broker-dealer agents, and agents of issuers operating in the District of Columbia; and
- monitors the Continuing Education program applicable to licensed securities professionals.
Corporation Finance Division:
- administers registration filings and notice filings of securities offerings; and
- reviews and analyzes financial statements of issuers to achieve full disclosure in DC-registered securities offerings.
Examinations Division
- conducts on-site inspections of investment advisers and broker-dealers to ensure compliance with applicable rules and statutes;
- investigates and resolves complaints regarding allegations of misconduct by Securities Professionals operating in the District of Columbia; and
- refers suspected illegal activities to the Enforcement and Consumer Protection Division for investigation.