[2] He started his career as an associate at the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York City.
He also worked at Goldman Sachs where he was the co-head of the tax-exempt energy group.
He was also Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Resource Management and Chief Financial Officer by which he led assessment teams to Iraq and resulted in a $18.4 billion Iraq reconstruction program.
[3][4] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 16, 2006, by voice vote.
[8] Higgins currently serves as president and chairman of the board of JumpStart International, a humanitarian aid organization that has conducted extensive efforts in Iraq and is currently operating in Gaza.