Operation Analyst - Transaction Monitoring & Swift Screening

Nordea; Viseu; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Nordea in Portugal is seeking a Transaction Monitoring & SWIFT Screening Analyst to detect, investigate, and report suspicious activity and ensure all SWIFT messages comply with sanctions and internal risk policies. You will support onboarding new clients, maintain thorough audit trails, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely, compliant screening across payment channels.

The role requires strong analytical skills, 1–3 years in AML/transaction monitoring, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Data Analysis, or equivalent — considered a plus
• English spoken and written (professional level) — mandatory
• 1 to 3 years in AML, Transaction Monitoring, and/or Sanctions Screening
• Strong knowledge of Transfer Agency activities
• Professional communication and organizational skills
• Intermediate level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft tools suite
• Comfort working in technology-driven environments and across multiple systems
• Strong attention to detail and ability to document findings clearly, accurately, and in an auditable/defensible manner
• High standards of integrity, confidentiality, and ethical conduct, with strong awareness of data protection requirements
• Good understanding of company structures, investment vehicles (e.g., UCITS/AIFs), and the asset management environment
• Team-oriented, flexible, and able to work autonomously while remaining aligned with team objectives
• Proactive and solution-oriented approach to problem-solving

Responsibilities

• Review alerts generated by the automated transaction monitoring system daily
• Investigate unusual or suspicious transaction patterns and high-risk jurisdictions
• Escalate high-risk cases to the Senior Analyst or Manager for SAR/STR filing
• Document investigation findings clearly within the case management system
• Apply risk-based approaches to prioritize and resolve alerts within SLA timelines
• Monitor transactions across multiple channels
• Provide feedback on false positives and system tuning to improve alert quality
• Investigate and disposition SWIFT screening alerts and determine true matches
• Place holds on payments when sanctions matches are confirmed and escalate as needed
• Maintain accurate records of screening decisions and compliance with procedures
• Support reporting tasks and stakeholder communication across functions and locations
• Assist in internal and external audits and regulatory examinations

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Integrity & confidentiality

Banking & payments

SWIFT knowledge

Microsoft Excel

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Data Analysis, or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

At Nordea, we want to do what is right, not just what is allowed. When we do the right things and behave in the right way, our stakeholders will trust and value us. In return, we can all take pride in the company we work for. We are all expected to role model our organisational values, abide by our Code of Conduct, focus on delivering fair customer outcomes across the end-to-end customer lifecycle and protect the integrity of the markets we operate in. It is the responsibility of every employee to follow our Code of Conduct and to prudently manage conduct risks within his/her respective area of responsibility. Purpose of the job

The Transaction Monitoring & SWIFT Screening Analyst is responsible for detecting, investigating, and reporting suspicious financial activity and ensuring all SWIFT payment messages are screened against applicable sanctions lists and internal risk policies. You will also support our Registration team on participating in on-boarding new clients and ensure effective compliance and controls in own area according to administration duties.

Key responsibilities

Transaction Monitoring:

• Review and analyze alerts generated by the automated transaction monitoring system on a daily basis
• Investigate unusual or suspicious transaction patterns, including structuring, layering, unusual volumes, and high-risk jurisdictions
• Escalate high-risk cases to the Senior Analyst or to the Manager for further review and potential Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) / Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) filing
• Document investigation findings clearly and accurately within the case management system
• Apply risk-based approaches to prioritize and resolve alerts within defined SLA timelines
• Monitor transactions across multiple channels
• Provide feedback on false positive reduction and system tuning to improve alert quality

SWIFT Screening:

• Investigate and disposition SWIFT screening alerts generated by the screening system
• Determine whether flagged transactions constitute a true match (hit) or a false positive
• Place holds on payments where a sanctions match is confirmed and **escalate immediately to the Manager**
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements including real-time and retrospective screening
• Communicate with correspondent banks and internal stakeholders to obtain additional information for sanctions reviews
• Maintain accurate records of all screening decisions, including rationale for clearing or blocking payments
• Adhere strictly to internal procedures regarding payment release timelines to avoid regulatory breaches

Reporting & Stakeholder Management:

• Ensure reporting tasks are provided within the agreed deadlines
• Ensure stakeholder communication and reporting across functions and locations
• Build and maintain professional relationships with internal stakeholders
• Assist in internal and external audits and regulatory examinations
• Maintain comprehensive audit trails for all investigations and screening decisions

Skills:

• Strong analytical and investigative skills
• Attention to detail and high level of accuracy
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines
• Sound judgment in risk assessment and decision-making
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with integrity
• Good understanding of banking products, payment systems, and SWIFT messaging standards
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook)
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Data Analysis, or equivalent — considered a plus English spoken and written (professional level) — mandatory Functional/Professional:

Functional/Professional:

• Strong knowledge of Transfer Agency activities
• Relevant experience in AML, Transaction Monitoring, and/or Sanctions Screening (1 to 3 years in a similar position)
• Professional communication and organizational skills
• Intermediate level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft tools suite
• Comfort working in technology-driven environments and across multiple systems
• Strong attention to detail and ability to document findings clearly, accurately, and in an auditable/defensible manner
• High standards of integrity, confidentiality, and ethical conduct, with strong awareness of data protection requirements
• Good understanding of company structures, investment vehicles (e.G., UCITS/AIFs), and the asset management environment
• Team-oriented, flexible, and able to work autonomously while remaining aligned with team objectives
• Proactive and solution-oriented approach to problem-solving

At Nordea, we know that an inclusive workplace is a sustainable workplace. We deeply believe that our diverse backgrounds, experiences, characteristics and traits make us better at serving customers and communities. So please come as you are. #NAM #NAM-Portugal Department: Administration / Back Office / Support