Last fall, Mr. Grassley asked the Government Accountability Office, Congress's investigative arm, to take a closer look at the commission's enforcement and compliance divisions.

Mr. Jurgielewicz called the compliance division of the United States Department of Agriculture.

But Richard Scribner, an official with the firm's compliance division, has been given increasing authority since the scandal began to unfold.

"The compliance divisions are searching for me even now."

In the old days (before corporate tax departments were converted from simple compliance divisions into profit centers), such an approach was chosen because it was the simplest to administer.

The S.E.C.'s enforcement and compliance divisions have been understaffed and unable to open investigations that officials say are necessary.

The commission's enforcement and compliance divisions have been understaffed and limited in their ability to open investigations.

"Providian has engaged in a pattern of abusing consumers by misleading them," said Daniel P. Stipano, the director of the comptroller's enforcement and compliance division.

But Kevin Conway, vice president of the strategically important compliance division, was dismissed after three years in the post.

A lower-level Citigroup executive working in its compliance division and a former employee who worked in the bank's back office also received notices.