President-elect Donald Trump's transition team has interviewed Paul Atkins, a veteran financial regulator and eminence grise of conservative financial circles, as a candidate to lead the US Securities and Exchange Commission, according to people familiar with the matter.

Atkins is a top contender for the job to replace outgoing SEC Chair Gary Gensler, the people said, who weren't authorized to speak publicly. Trump is expected to make a pick in the coming days, and no decisions have been made, they said.