Research Support Director

About the Wharton School

Founded in 1881 as the world’s first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With campuses in both Philadelphia and San Francisco, Wharton has over 850 staff, a faculty population of more than 235 renowned professors, and 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education’s individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day.

About Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS)

Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS) is a comprehensive research platform operated by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania that provides research tools and access to a wide range of financial, economic, and business research datasets. It is widely used by academic institutions, researchers, and professionals for data analysis, empirical research, and financial modeling.

Role Overview

The Research Support Director - WRDS will work with a team of Ph.D.'s in Finance or Accounting and IT professionals with expertise in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Statistics, and Computer Science to help the WRDS Community by providing high quality research programs, analytics, applications, research database evaluations, research replications and related research tools using Python, SAS and Machine Learning in big data environments. Advance on best practices of conducting empirical research with WRDS data. Act in a leading role in creating and delivering new financial and analytical products to academics and corporate customers that are specialized, complex, and based on academic research. Present analytics in a user-friendly format; assist WRDS users on research and data-related issues; and conduct academic and corporate training sessions for WRDS users around the world, including scholars in finance, accounting, economics, and other business disciplines. Stay abreast of research at the frontier to help identify new finance research directions and trends. Advise the WRDS, Data, and IT teams on data integrity processes to enhance current products and to contribute to the design of new products and services that facilitate research accuracy and reliability. Conduct research and data-related academic training seminars for WRDS users. Provide content support for research using academic databases, including CRSP, Compustat, and/or IBES.

Responsibilities

• Provide to WRDS Academic Research Community and Corporate Clients high quality Analytics, Research Programs, Applications, Financial engines and related research tools to improve their research productivity.
• Provide support to faculty and PhD users by offering consultative guidance on empirical research best practices, troubleshooting data and tool issues that may affect research results, and conducting site visits and training sessions to promote the effective use of WRDS for academic research.
• Keep track of the evolution of top academic research in finance and accounting to help WRDS both creating their own signature research products and providing new data sources to the research community.
• Construct and enhance existing data-research products by refining analytics, research tools, and applications using WRDS data to improve data usability, research accuracy and efficiency.
• Evaluate and recommend new datasets based on their potential to advance new research and enhance WRDS data offerings.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Ph.D. (or foreign equivalent) in Finance or Accounting. The requirement of a Ph.D., usual for faculty recruiting, means that an applicant must have received the degree or be at least "ABD," meaning all requirements for the degree except the dissertation have been completed, with an understanding that the dissertation would be completed in the same academic year.

Must have 1 year of post-bachelor's experience (may be gained pre-Ph.D. degree), in the following:

• Providing high-quality research programs, analytics, applications, research replications, and related research tools.
• Constructing and enhancing data-research products by evaluating research datasets focused on new research and providing new data sources to the research community.
• Performing academic research through the WRDS system on finance or accounting using Python and/or SAS programming skills in big data environments and Textual Analysis using Machine Learning.
• Performing empirical academic research with CRSP, Compustat, IBES and/or Household-Finance datasets.

Location & Travel

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It could require 15% national and international travel.

Pay

$80,891.00 - $145,000.00 Annual Rate. Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits. Flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition: Exceptional tuition benefits for you, your spouse, and your dependent children at Penn, and dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Generous retirement plans including Basic, Matching, and Supplemental plans on a pre-tax or Roth basis with investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Substantial time away during the course of the year for vacations, personal affairs, illness, injury, or family time.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: Coverage for long-term care services received at home, in the community, or in a nursing facility through Genworth Financial. Newly hired applicants may apply without proof of good health or underwriting requirements.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Wide variety of programs and resources to support health, family, and work-life balance.
• Professional and Personal Development: Array of resources to advance yourself personally and professionally.
• University Resources: Access to libraries, athletic facilities, arboretum, art galleries, Penn Museum, Annenberg Center performances, Penn Relays, and many other cultural and recreational activities.
• Discounts and Special Services: Free and discounted admission to Penn arts and cultural centers and museums, plus savings on new cars, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and theme park admissions.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options including non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, for closing costs or home improvements.
• Adoption Assistance: Reimbursement on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, for up to two adoptions in your household.