Compliance Analyst – Trade Surveillance

William Blair•Chicago, IL

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

William Blair is seeking a detail-oriented and highly motivated Compliance Analyst to support the firm’s trade surveillance and anti-money laundering (AML) programs across its broker-dealer and market-making operations. The role monitors trading activity, conducts investigations and regulatory reporting, and escalates potential violations of securities laws, FINRA and SEC rules, AML requirements, and internal policies. It operates with a high degree of independence and requires sound judgment in identifying and escalating issues, recommending enhancements to controls and surveillance processes, and serving as a resource to Trading, Operations, Risk Management, Legal, and Compliance. The team currently uses a hybrid working model, with three days a week required in the office. The position supports the firm’s Equity Capital Markets (ECM), equities, and AML compliance programs through testing, surveillance, investigations, reporting, guidance, training, regulatory examination support, and updates to written supervisory and compliance procedures. Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, economics, or a related field.
3–6 years of relevant experience in compliance, trade surveillance, AML, or broker-dealer operations.
Strong knowledge of securities trading, equity market structure, and market-making activities.
Strong understanding of applicable FINRA and SEC trading regulations.
Experience reviewing and investigating surveillance alerts.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with sound judgment in identifying and escalating issues.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Advanced Excel skills.
Detail-oriented and organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Collaborative, proactive, intellectually curious, and comfortable working independently.
Demonstrated commitment to compliance, integrity, and ownership of assignments.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Power BI or other data visualization tools.
Experience in an institutional broker-dealer, market-making, and Equity Capital Markets trading environment.
Experience with trade surveillance and AML monitoring platforms.
Familiarity with Abel Noser or Trading Technologies.
Experience supporting SEC or FINRA examinations.
FINRA Series 7, 24, or 99 registrations, as applicable.
CAMS certification.

Responsibilities

Support key requirements of the firm’s Equity Capital Markets, equities, and AML compliance programs.
Perform compliance testing, surveillance, and monitoring for ECM and equities business lines.
Review equity and market-making activity for potential market abuse, including spoofing, layering, wash trading, marking the open or close, front-running, excessive trading, insider trading, short-sale violations, market-access concerns, and best-execution concerns.
Review surveillance alerts and investigate potential market-conduct concerns and trading irregularities.
Analyze trading patterns using surveillance platforms, order management systems, CAT data, and market data.
Document reviews, investigations, and findings, and escalate potential regulatory violations to Compliance management and Legal.
Help enhance and calibrate surveillance scenarios to improve effectiveness and reduce false positives.
Review customer transactions, cash movements, wire transfers, account behavior, and exception reports for indicators of money laundering, fraud, suspicious activity, or other financial crime risks.
Conduct AML investigations using customer due diligence, transactional analysis, and external research, and prepare well-supported case files.
Assess whether activity may warrant a SAR filing, draft clear and fact-based SAR narratives, and track reporting deadlines.
Prepare surveillance and AML metrics for Compliance management and senior leadership.
Identify emerging regulatory risks and control gaps, and recommend enhancements to policies, controls, and monitoring processes.
Provide guidance to front-office and Operations teams on surveillance, AML requirements, and firm procedures.
Help develop and deliver compliance training on applicable regulatory obligations.
Assist with regulatory examinations, inquiries, audits, and remediation efforts.
Support updates to Written Supervisory Procedures, AML policies, and surveillance procedures.
Perform additional responsibilities as needed.