Risk Assessment Analyst I

Interactive Brokers; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match

Health, dental, and vision benefits

Wellness program

Parental leave

Life insurance & AD&D

Disability coverage

FSAs

Education reimbursement

Care.com support

Lunch allowance

Job summary

Interactive Brokers is seeking a Bad Actor Analyst for a hybrid role in Chicago. You will screen account applications against OFAC, PEP, and other watchlists, and escalate true positives for action.

You’ll partner with Compliance, Legal, and New Accounts teams to resolve alerts and maintain watchlists. Requires 1–3+ years in AML compliance or brokerage operations, strong research, and excellent documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in finance or related field.
• Strong research skills for adverse media investigations.
• Excellent written documentation for case notes and escalations.

Responsibilities

• Perform initial screening of new account applications against OFAC, SSI, UN, EU and other sanctions lists.
• Manage second-level review of alerts against PEP/Negative News databases.
• Collaborate with New Accounts, Compliance and Legal for alert disposition and escalation write-ups.
• Review and maintain internal watchlists in partnership with Compliance.
• Conduct adverse media searches to identify red flags.
• Disposition risk escalations from New Accounts Document Processing Team.

Skills

Strong research

Excellent documentation

Brokerage account experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance or related field

AML/KYC experience 1–3 years

CAMS certification

FINRA SIE/Series 7/99

Knowledge of BSA/AML & OFAC

Tools

LexisNexis

World-Check/Refinitiv

Job description

This is Hybrid role (4 days in office /1 day remote)

About Your Team:

The Bad Actor Analyst at Interactive Brokers LLC is responsible for screening individuals and entity applicants against Sanctions lists (e.g. OFAC), Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) databases, internal watchlists, and adverse/negative media sources during the account opening process. This role ensures the firm meets its Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), USA PATRIOT Act, and FINRA Customer Identification Program (CIP) obligations by identifying high-risk clients, resolving list-match alerts, and escalating true positives for further action.

Your Responsibilities with IBKR:

Screening & Alert Resolution

• Perform initial screening of new account applications against OFAC SDN, Sectoral Sanctions (SSI), UN, EU, and other global sanctions lists
• Manage second-level review of applicant alerts against PEP/Negative News databases (e.g. domestic and foreign officials, state-owned enterprise affiliates, family members/close associates, regulatory disclosure lists)
• Collaborate with other New Accounts teams, Compliance, and Legal for alert disposition and in some cases escalation write-ups that are reviewed by IB Management
• Review and maintain internal watchlists in partnership with Compliance
• Conduct adverse media searches to identify reputational, criminal, or regulatory red flags associated with an applicant
• Disposition risk escalations that are sent by New Accounts Document Processing Team

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Business, Economics or related fields (or equivalent relevant experience)
• Strong research skills for conducting negative news/adverse media investigations
• Excellent written documentation skills for case notes and escalation memos

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1–3+ years of experience in AML compliance, KYC/CIP, sanctions screening, or brokerage new accounts operations
• Working knowledge of BSA/AML, USA PATRIOT Act, and OFAC regulations
• Hands-on experience with list-screening/watchlist tools (e.g., LexisNexis, World-Check/Refinitiv)
• CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) or working toward certification
• FINRA SIE, Series 7, or Series 99 (Operations Professional) are a plus
• Experience with brokerage account types (individual, joint, entity, trust, retirement) and associated CIP nuances

Company Benefits:

• Competitive salary, annual performance-based bonus, and stock grant awards
• 401(k) retirement plan with competitive company match
• Excellent health and wellness benefits, including medical, dental, and vision benefits. 100% employer-paid medical premiums, with generous employer contributions to dental & vision plans as well.
• Wellness screening and assessments, health coaches, and counseling services through an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous paid parental leave (up to 16 weeks paid parental leave for eligible employees)
• Company-paid basic life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D), and short- and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care, and Commuter FSAs)
• Quarterly fitness stipend to offset costs associated with traditional gym and fitness memberships or fees
• Education reimbursement and professional development opportunities
• Legal services, telehealth access, and voluntary insurance options
• Backup child and adult care support through Care.com
• Daily lunch allowance and fully stocked kitchen with healthy breakfast and snack options