Assistant Vice President, Trade Surveillance

MUFG; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial group is looking for a Trade Surveillance Analyst in London. The role focuses on detecting and investigating trading activities to ensure compliance with market abuse regulations. Candidates should have at least 3 years of experience in trade surveillance and a bachelor's degree in a related field. This position offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment that values innovation and accountability.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of practical experience in a trade surveillance function.
• Experience in detailed market abuse enquiries and investigations.

Responsibilities

• Review and investigate referrals made by the offshore L1 team.
• Collaborate with the L1 team to oversee alert disposition quality.
• Conduct analysis of alert patterns and escalation trends.

Skills

In-depth knowledge of UK / EU Market Abuse Regulation

Knowledge of financial markets across asset classes

Excellent communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, or Business Administration

Tools

KX

Nasdaq SMARTS

Job description

Do you want your voice heard and your actions to count?

Discover your opportunity with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), one of the world’s leading financial groups. Across the globe, we’re 150,000 colleagues, striving to make a difference for every client, organization, and community we serve. We stand for our values, building long‑term relationships, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world.

With a vision to be the world’s most trusted financial group, it’s part of our culture to put people first, listen to new and diverse ideas and collaborate toward greater innovation, speed and agility. This means investing in talent, technologies, and tools that empower you to own your career.

Join MUFG, where being inspired is expected and making a meaningful impact is rewarded.

OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT/SECTION

The Core Compliance department at MUFG plays a critical role in safeguarding the integrity and reputation of the investment bank. It is responsible for ensuring that the firm operates within the framework of applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies.

Within Core Compliance, the EMEA Surveillance Department works closely with sales, trading and business units to identify and manage market abuse risks, executes a comprehensive trade and communication surveillance programme, and promotes a culture of ethical conduct and accountability.

Our Trade Surveillance coverage includes sales and trading activities across multiple asset classes and financial markets within our London Bank and Securities businesses and similar businesses in other EMEA countries. Communications Surveillance covers the UK population and certain EMEA and other overseas operations which affect EMEA business.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The primary purpose of this role is detecting, monitoring, analysing and investigating trading activities of MUFG and its clients, to identify possible violations of market abuse regulatory requirements and MUFG trading and compliance policies. In particular, this involves investigating alert referrals submitted by the Level 1 (L1) offshore surveillance team or escalations from the Front Office, ensuring that each case is assessed promptly and thoroughly. You will be part of the London team in identifying potential indicators of market abuse and escalating cases where appropriate, including those that may lead to the submission of Suspicious Transaction or Order Reports (STORs) to the regulator.

In addition, this role will support the ongoing optimisation of the trade surveillance programme by assisting senior team members in key activities. Responsibilities include helping with the testing and calibration of surveillance alerts, contributing to efforts aimed at improving system efficiency, and providing day‑to‑day support to the Level 1 offshore surveillance team. The individual will work closely with lead stakeholders to ensure effective execution of surveillance processes and contribute to the development of offshore team capabilities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Tasked with reviewing and investigating all referrals made by the offshore L1 team; documenting and analysing all relevant information to determine if any concerns of suspicious activity merit escalation to the Trade Surveillance Senior Manager and EMEA Head of Surveillance.
• Working collaboratively with the L1 team, overseeing the quality of alert disposition and providing feedback to support training efforts.
• Assisting in sample‑based quality assurance testing of the L1 team alert closures to ensure adequacy, completeness and effectiveness.
• As part of BAU work, conducting analysis of alert/referral patterns and escalation trends to identify emerging risks, behavioural anomalies, and potential market abuse issues.
• Giving support to the annual calibration and backtesting review process, contributing to the analysis of results and recommendations for parameter changes that could improve the effectiveness of the overall trade surveillance framework.
• Contributing to the updating of trade surveillance alert procedures to reflect changes in the surveillance programme.
• Building relationships with the Front Office and wider Compliance teams in order to facilitate collating evidence for surveillance investigations.
• Supporting the training of the L1 team in new products/platforms and market abuse risk typologies, specifically how these will impact alert disposition and the wider surveillance framework.
• Developing the ability to use automated communication surveillance systems to compliment the investigation of trade surveillance referrals.
• Maintaining a positive working relationship with external surveillance system vendors as part of effective incident management.
• Demonstrating a proficient understanding of financial markets, covering major asset classes such as equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, repos, and derivatives—including but not limited to futures, swaps, options and structured products.
• Having a thorough knowledge of relevant regulations and international standards, supporting MUFG’s adherence to MiFID II, MAR, FX Global Code, Volcker Rule, amongst others.
• Assisting in the planning and deliver of the Surveillance Team’s annual objectives, the supervision of the L1 team, and supporting the Trade Surveillance Senior Manager / EMEA Head of Surveillance in the delivery of the department’s and wider Compliance Divisions objectives.

WORK EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

• Minimum of 3 years of practical experience in a trade surveillance function within an investment banking environment.
• Experience in contributing to detailed market abuse enquiries and investigations

PREFERRED

None

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Functional / Technical Competencies:

ESSENTIAL

• In-depth knowledge and expertise of the UK / EU Market Abuse Regulation, other relevant global regulations (e.g., MiFID II, Dodd Frank Act) and relevant FCA regulatory requirements and expectations on market abuse surveillance programmes.
• Knowledge and understanding of UK and EU financial markets across major asset classes (including equities, fixed income, FX, and derivatives (options, futures, swaps, structured products)), trading behaviours and market abuse typologies.
• Familiarity with surveillance technologies and optimisation techniques.

PREFERRED

• Proficiency with trade surveillance platforms such as KX, Nasdaq SMARTS, or similar automated tools.
• Experience in data analytics or automation to enhance surveillance effectiveness.

Education / Qualifications:

ESSENTIAL

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.

PREFERRED

• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA) or professional certifications such as CFA, CAMS, or ICA.

PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent communication skills
• Results driven, with a strong sense of accountability
• A proactive, motivated approach.
• The ability to operate with urgency and prioritise work accordingly
• Strong decision making skills, the ability to demonstrate sound judgement
• A structured and logical approach to work
• Strong problem solving skills
• A creative and innovative approach to work
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• The ability to manage large workloads and tight deadlines
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• A calm approach, with the ability to perform well in a pressurised environment
• Strong numerical skills
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills

We are open to considering flexible working requests in line with organisational requirements.

MUFG is committed to embracing diversity and building an inclusive culture where all employees are valued, respected and their opinions count. We support the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion in recruitment and employment, and oppose all forms of discrimination on the grounds of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, race, gender reassignment, religion or belief and marriage or civil partnership.

We make our recruitment decisions in a non‑discriminatory manner in accordance with our commitment to identifying the right skills for the right role and our obligations under the law.

At MUFG, our colleagues are our greatest assets. Our Culture Principles provide a roadmap for how each of our colleagues must think and act to become more client‑obsessed, inclusive and innovative. They reflect who we are, who we want to be and what we expect from one another. We are excited to see you take the next step in exploring a career with us and encourage you to spend more time reviewing them!

Our Culture Principles

• Client Centric
• People Focused
• Listen Up. Speak Up.
• Innovate & Simplify
• Own & Execute