Trade Surveillance Analyst

mthree; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

mthree is seeking a detail-oriented Trade Surveillance Analyst to join its growing compliance and financial crime team in the UK. You will monitor trading activity, investigate alerts, and support regulatory compliance across asset classes, collaborating with Compliance, Risk, Front Office, and Tech.

You will investigate complex datasets, identify market abuse patterns, and contribute to ongoing surveillance improvements, ensuring alignment with UK MAR and FCA expectations and a strong ethical

Qualifications

• Previous experience in Trade Surveillance or related regulatory function.
• Knowledge of UK financial regulations and market abuse frameworks.
• Ability to interpret complex trading patterns and data.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Review and investigate trade surveillance alerts from automated monitoring systems.
• Analyse trading activity to identify market abuse (insider dealing, manipulation, spoofing).
• Escalate findings and support regulatory reporting.
• Conduct investigations using trading, communications and market data.
• Maintain records of surveillance reviews and case management.
• Help calibrate and enhance surveillance methodologies.
• Produce MI, trends, and regulatory metrics.
• Collaborate with Compliance, Risk, Legal, and Front Office.
• Assist with regulatory exams and internal audits.
• Contribute to policy updates and awareness initiatives.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Excel / data analysis

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Professional qualifications: ICA / CISI / ACAMS

Tools

Nasdaq SMARTS

NICE Actimize

Behavox

SteelEye

TradingHub

Job description

We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Trade Surveillance Analyst to join a growing compliance and financial crime team. This role plays a critical part in maintaining market integrity by monitoring trading activity, identifying potential market abuse, and supporting regulatory compliance across multiple asset classes.

The successful candidate will work closely with Compliance, Risk, Front Office, and Technology teams to investigate alerts, conduct data analysis, and help strengthen the firm's surveillance framework in line with UK regulatory expectations.

This is an excellent opportunity for an individual who enjoys working with complex datasets, investigating unusual trading behaviour, and contributing to a strong culture of compliance and ethical trading.

Key Responsibilities

• Review and investigate trade surveillance alerts generated through automated monitoring systems.
• Analyse trading activity to identify potential instances of market abuse, including insider dealing, market manipulation, spoofing, layering, and other suspicious behaviours.
• Escalate findings and support the preparation of regulatory reports where required.
• Conduct detailed investigations using trading, communications, and market data.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of surveillance reviews and case management activities.
• Support the ongoing development, calibration, and enhancement of surveillance scenarios and monitoring methodologies.
• Produce management information, trend analysis, and regulatory reporting metrics.
• Partner with Compliance, Risk, Legal, and Front Office stakeholders to resolve investigations and strengthen controls.
• Assist with regulatory examinations, internal audits, and compliance reviews.
• Contribute to policy updates, procedural improvements, and employee awareness initiatives relating to market conduct and surveillance.

Skills & Experience

• Previous experience within Trade Surveillance, Market Surveillance, Compliance Monitoring, Market Conduct, Financial Crime, or a related regulatory function.
• Understanding of UK financial services regulations and market abuse frameworks.
• Ability to investigate and interpret complex trading patterns and transactional data.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple investigations simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis techniques.
• Experience with trade surveillance platforms such as Nasdaq SMARTS, NICE Actimize, Behavox, SteelEye, TradingHub, or similar solutions.
• Knowledge of equities, fixed income, commodities, FX, derivatives, or digital assets.
• Experience within an investment bank, broker-dealer, asset manager, exchange, fintech, or regulatory environment.
• Familiarity with FCA regulations and UK Market Abuse Regulation (UK MAR).
• Relevant professional qualifications such as ICA, CISI, ACAMS, or equivalent.