MEMORANDUM 


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a ge Commission 

Subject: U.S . Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) FY20 13 Conference Report 

Date: December 18, 20 13 

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) me morandum M-12-12 req uires federal agencies to issue an 

annual report related to its confe re nce-related expenditures for the previous year. This document 

constitutes the SEC's re port for Fiscal Year 2013. 

The SEC has in place po lic ies and procedures govern ing the approval and use of agency funds for 

conference expe nses, to ensure that such spending is legal, reasona ble, and in furt herance ofthe agency's 

mi ss ion. At a high leve l, the major steps in this process are as fo llows: 

I. 	 All SEC di vis ion/office requests to spend money on a conference must be approved by the 

divis ion/office head. Whenever possible, divis ions and offices are required to use SEC 

fac ili ties for s uch events to minimize space rental and equipment costs. In orde r to limi t 

expenses for meals or refreshments, the SEC uses per di e m rates established for the federal 

government as the ceiling for any such costs, except when higher rates are unavo idable or 

otherwise justified. The age ncy also has restricted travel for conference participation to 

essentia l personne l and expanded the use of web conferencing throughout the organization. 

2. 	 When a request for funds is necessary and has rece ived approval from the div is ion/office head, 

it is reviewed by staff in the Office of Financial Management to ensure the expenses are 

permissible a nd reasonable. 

3. 	 Each request must receive fin al approval from designated offici als according to the total 

projected cost. These designations comply w ith OMB Memorandum 12-1 2. 

4. 	 The SEC is reporting conferences which meet thresho lds defined in Section 3003 of Publ ic 

Law 113-6, subsections (a), (b), and (c), to the SEC's Office of Inspector General (IG). 

For Fiscal Year 20 13, the SEC authorized a total o f $762,888 for expenditures related to 42 conferences 

(including tra ining confe rences) which used FY 20 13 fund ing. 

Conferences over $100,000: 

In Fiscal Year 20 13, the SEC authorized two conferences costing over $1 00,000, which are described 

below: 

A. 	 20 13 National Exam Program Leadership Conference, SEC headquarters, Was hington DC, June 

26-28, 20 13 

• 	 Total Cost incurred: $196,040 

• 	 Number of attendees: 276 SEC employees (58 Headquarters and 218 SEC Regional) 

• 	 Expenses inc luded $ 193, 125 for trave l and lodging expenses for 218 SEC Regiona l staff 

me mbers and $2,915 for light refreshments. 

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The mission ofthe Office of Compliance Investigations and Examinations (OCIE) is to improve 

compliance, prevent fraud, inform policy, and monitor risk. In 2013, OCIE held its annual 

Leadership Conference at headquarters in Washington, D.C., which focused on initiatives related 

to increasing OCIE's capabilities in these areas. The conference gathered SEC managers from 

across the National Examination Program to collaborate on strategic planning and organizational 

priorities. It included presentations and discussions on risk assessment tools and procedures; 

implementation of Dodd-Frank Act requirements and rulemaking; and increasing OCIE's 

collaboration with other Commission offices and divisions. 

B. 	 Chief Enforcement Conference, SEC headquarters, Washington DC, September 26-28, 2013 

• 	 Cost incurred: $128,623 

• 	 Number of attendees: 165 SEC employees (73 Headquarters and 92 SEC Regional) 

• 	 Expenses included $127,390 for travel and lodging expenses for 92 SEC Regional staff 

members and $1 ,233 for light refreshments. 

The Enforcement Division conducts investigations, litigates actions, negotiates settlements, and 

coordinates with the Commission and other SEC Divisions and Offices regarding the national 

Enforcement program. The Enforcement Division held its Chief Enforcement Conference at SEC 

headquarters in Washington, D.C. on September 26-27, 2013. The conference provided an 

opportunity for managers and subject matter experts to discuss the Division's current priorities, 

caseload and initiatives, as well as ways to administer a high-quality Enforcement program in the 

context of increasingly sophisticated and dynamic capital markets. The 2013 conference gathered 

SEC managers from across the Enforcement Division to collaborate on strategic planning and 

organizational practices. The conference included an interview with Chair Mary Jo White. 

Commissioners Michael Piwowar and Kara Stein, and Enforcement Co-Directors Andrew 

Ceresney and George Canellos led discussions during the conference. Distinguished panelists 

included former Chairman Harvey Pitt and Justice Raymond J. Lohier ofthe United States Court 

of Appeals for the Second Circuit. In addition to Enforcement-specific topics, breakout sessions 

included discussions ofthe new SEC collective bargaining agreement, hiring, performance 

management, contracting and procurement, space and lease management, document management, 

expert witnesses, and contract support staffing. 

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