Department: Compliance
Reports To: AML Compliance Officer, Tastytrade
Employment Type: Full-Time
Salary: $101,000-$120,000
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 FINRA's 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 firm's BSA/AML and KYC/KYT obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act and USA PATRIOT Act.
What You'll 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 firm's 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:- 2-5+ 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.
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or certifications (e.g., CAMS - Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, CFE) a plus.
Company Perks + Benefits: - 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
Discretionary Performance Bonus: 8-10% of base salary based on individual and company performance.
Location: Our office is in the West Loop - Chicago's growing center of tech, great cuisine, and high-end bars.
tastytrade | tastylive | tastyfx1330 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
*Don't 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 you're excited about this role, but your experience doesn't align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!
