Senior Surveillance Analyst
Chicago, IL - USA
Job Summary
Department: Compliance
Reports To: AML Compliance Officer tastytrade
Employment Type:Full-Time
Salary: $101000-$120000
About the Role:
tastytrade is a FINRA-regulated broker-dealer and NFA member offering equities futures crypto and prediction market products to retail clients. We are seeking a Senior Surveillance Specialist to help build out operate and continuously improve our cross-asset trade surveillance and AML transaction-monitoring program. This role spans both the design and day-to-day execution of surveillance: developing and tuning detection logic investigating alerts and customer escalations monitoring cryptocurrency and blockchain activity and preparing regulatory reporting not simply administering an existing vendor tool.
The role supports surveillance coverage that satisfies FINRAs supervisory and anti-manipulation requirements (e.g. Rules 3110 and 3310) the parallel NFA/CFTC framework governing futures (e.g. NFA Compliance Rules 2-4 and 2-9 and CFTC Rules 180.1/180.2 and CEA Section 4c(a)) and the firms BSA/AML and KYC/KYT obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act and USA PATRIOT Act.
What Youll Do:
- Design build and test surveillance scenarios/alerts across equities options futures crypto and prediction markets covering manipulative and abusive trading patterns (e.g. spoofing layering wash trading front-running marking the close insider trading cross-product/cross-market manipulation uneconomical trading).
- Tune and validate surveillance thresholds and models; document methodology coverage and testing/back-testing results to demonstrate reasonable design under FINRA Rule 3110 and NFA Compliance Rule 2-9.
- Conduct first- and second-level review of surveillance alerts and customer escalations; investigate potential violations of FINRA SEC NFA Compliance Rule 2-4 (Just and Equitable Principles of Trade) CFTC Rules 180.1/180.2 CEA Section 4c(a) and internal policies.
- Conduct thorough investigations into suspicious transactions or activities collaborating with Compliance Legal and Operations to gather necessary information and evidence.
- Monitor cryptocurrency transactions and blockchain activity for signs of suspicious or illicit behavior using blockchain analytical software to satisfy the firms Know Your Transaction (KYT) requirements and identify potential risks.
- Draft review and file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) arising from trade surveillance in accordance with BSA/AML requirements; maintain SAR documentation and related recordkeeping.
- Report and escalate suspicious activities to appropriate regulatory or law enforcement agencies as required; prepare regulatory reporting and respond to inquiries exams and requests for information from FINRA the SEC and the CFTC/NFA.
- Communicate with customers on monitoring and surveillance-related matters.
- Partner with Compliance Legal and Technology teams to define requirements for new or enhanced surveillance tools including vendor system implementation or in-house build.
- Maintain and update Written Supervisory Procedures (WSPs) covering trade surveillance market manipulation and associated SAR filing across all product lines including futures-specific procedures required under NFA Compliance Rule 2-9.
- Monitor for emerging manipulation typologies specific to newer product types (e.g. crypto market abuse prediction market-specific manipulation such as outcome manipulation or coordinated wash trading).
- Coordinate with the CAT reporting team as needed to support surveillance investigations that rely on CAT data (CAT reporting itself is owned by a separate team).
- Track and report key surveillance metrics (alert volumes false-positive rates SAR filing statistics case aging) to senior management and committees.
- Stay current on regulatory developments across FINRA SEC and CFTC/NFA affecting surveillance and AML obligations and translate them into program and procedural updates.
- Support general compliance initiatives including procedural review and ad hoc projects.
Who You Are:
- 25 years of trade surveillance and/or AML transaction-monitoring experience at a broker-dealer FCM exchange or regulator; experience building or materially enhancing a surveillance program is a strong plus (versus solely operating an out-of-the-box tool).
- Active licenses: Series 7 Series 63 (or 66) and Series 3 (National Commodity Futures) required; Series 24 preferred.
- Sound working knowledge of relevant rulebooks and regulations including FINRA Rules 3110/3310 SEC Rule 15c3-5 NFA Compliance Rules 2-4 and 2-9 CFTC Rules 180.1/180.2 CEA Section 4c(a) the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) the USA PATRIOT Act and AML/KYC requirements for broker-dealers and NFA introducing brokers plus awareness of applicable crypto/digital asset regulatory frameworks.
- Demonstrated experience writing and filing SARs including familiarity with FinCEN SAR forms and BSA/AML narrative-writing standards.
- Experience with surveillance platforms (e.g. NICE Actimize Nasdaq SMARTS Eventus Validus or similar) and blockchain analytical/KYT software; comfort partnering with engineering on custom/in-house surveillance logic including hands-on experience with data stored on/processed via AWS S3 strongly preferred.
- Strong SQL and data analysis skills; ability to query large trade/order datasets to investigate alerts and validate surveillance logic.
- Strong analytical and investigative skills with the ability to identify suspicious patterns conduct detailed investigations and make sound judgments based on available information.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively interact with internal stakeholders regulatory authorities external parties and customers.
- Collaborative and team-oriented approach capable of working with cross-functional teams and building strong relationships across the organization.
- Experience with multi-asset class surveillance a strong plus particularly any exposure to digital assets or novel/event-contract products.
- Bachelors degree required; advanced degree or certifications (e.g. CAMS Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist CFE) a plus.
- Performance Bonuses
- Stock Purchase Options
- Medical/Vision/Dental Benefits
- 401k Plan
- 20 Paid Vacation Days (plus an additional paid vacation day the month of your birthday!)
- 10 Paid Sick Days
- Gym Membership Reimbursement
- Commuter Benefits
- Pet Insurance
- Wellness & Mental Health Programs
- Charitable Donation Matching
- Two Paid Volunteer Days Off
- Daily catered lunch when in the office
- Full kitchen with snacks and beverages
- In-building gym
- Shuttle to/from Metra
IG North America is home to tastytrade tastylive and tastyfxa family of brands built to democratize trading and empower individual investors. Founded in Chicago by the creators of thinkorswim acquired by London-based IG Group in 2021 we combine startup innovation with the backing of a FTSE 100 fintech operating across five continents serving over 1.3m customers and handling billions of dollars in transactions built on scale trust and proof.
From our headquarters in Chicagos Fulton Market our team builds award-winning trading platforms produces live financial education content daily and creates technology that makes complex markets accessible. tastytrade is our retail brokerage for self-directed investing and trading with tastylive providing content to educate our customers. tastyfx is the fastest-growing forex broker in the US.
Were a lean collaborative team that values autonomy pragmatism and impact. Whether youre building technology creating content serving customers or supporting operations youll work alongside people who are passionate about disrupting traditional finance and genuinely care about helping traders succeed. Our culture rewards initiative embraces experimentation and measures success by the value we create for our users. The bar is high bring a curious and forward-thinking mindset and well give you the platform to define what comes next. Join us at IGtasty the future gets built here.
Location:Our office is in the West Loop - Chicagos growing center of tech great cuisine and high-end bars.
tastytrade tastylive tastyfx
1330 W Fulton Market Chicago IL 60607
*Dont meet every single requirement Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they have every single qualification. Our team is dedicated to building a diverse inclusive and authentic workplace so if youre excited about this role but your experience doesnt align perfectly we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!
Required Experience:
Senior IC
About Company
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