Senior Derivatives Compliance Consultant

JW Michaels & Co.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

JW Michaels & Co. in Chicago seeks a Senior Derivatives Compliance Consultant with deep NFA/CFTC experience and hands-on exposure to DCMs and DCOs.

The role combines SME leadership with practical implementation for clients across futures, options on futures, and cleared derivatives. You will lead engagements, perform risk assessments, design control frameworks, and help prepare for regulatory exams and audits.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in derivatives compliance with strong NFA/CFTC focus.
• Direct exposure to DCMs or DCOs, or to an FCM, swap dealer, or prop trading firm with exchange/clearing exposure.
• Experience drafting policies, procedures, and supervisory frameworks.
• Experience supporting regulatory exams, inquiries, or enforcement matters.

Responsibilities

• Lead engagements involving CEA/CFTC/NFA compliance and market structure for DCMs/DCOs.
• Advise on development and documentation of compliance programs and supervisory frameworks.
• Perform risk assessments, gap analyses, and control testing.
• Draft and refine compliance documentation (rulebooks, SOPs, surveillance procedures).
• Evaluate compliance technology and vendor solutions.
• Prepare clients for exams, inquiries, and enforcement matters.
• Deliver training on rules and regulatory developments.

Skills

NFA/CFTC experience

DCM/DCO compliance

Regulatory risk assessment

Policy development

Training delivery

Education

Advanced degree (JD, MBA) or relevant master's

Job description

Senior Derivatives Compliance Consultant (NFA/CFTC, DCM/DCO Focus)

We are a specialized compliance consulting firm focused on derivatives, digital assets, and broader capital markets. We partner with FCMs, swap dealers, proprietary trading firms, DCMs, DCOs, and fintech start-ups to design, implement, and enhance robust compliance and risk management frameworks.

We are seeking a Senior Compliance Consultant with deep NFA/CFTC experience and hands-on exposure to designated contract markets (DCMs) and derivatives clearing organizations (DCOs). This role is ideal for a seasoned professional who can operate as both a subject-matter expert and a practical implementation partner for our clients.

Role Overview

The Senior Derivatives Compliance Consultant will lead and support client engagements involving CEA/CFTC/NFA compliance, exchange and clearinghouse rule requirements, and market structure issues related to DCMs and DCOs. You will advise clients on regulatory obligations, conduct risk assessments, design and test control frameworks, and help prepare for regulatory exams and audits.

You will work closely with senior business, risk, legal, technology, and operations stakeholders across a range of market participants, including exchanges, clearinghouses, FCMs, proprietary trading firms, broker-dealers, and emerging fintech platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject-matter expert on CFTC and NFA rules applicable to futures, options on futures, and cleared derivatives, with a particular focus on DCM and DCO requirements.
• Advise DCMs and DCOs (and their participants) on the development, enhancement, and documentation of compliance and surveillance programs, including policies, procedures, and supervisory frameworks.
• Lead regulatory risk assessments, gap analyses, and control testing related to:
• Core Principles for DCMs and DCOs
• Trade practice and market surveillance programs
• Financial integrity, margin, and default management frameworks
• Governance, conflicts of interest, and self-regulatory responsibilities
• Support clients in preparing for and responding to CFTC and NFA examinations, inquiries, and enforcement matters, including document requests, remediation plans, and follow-up testing.
• Draft and refine compliance documentation, including rulebooks, manuals, written supervisory procedures, surveillance procedures, incident/escalation playbooks, and board/committee materials.
• Evaluate and help implement compliance technology (e.g., surveillance, trade monitoring, position limit and margin tools, reporting/recordkeeping systems) and vendor solutions.
• Advise on new product and market structure initiatives (e.g., new DCM/DCO applications or expansions, innovative clearing models, digital asset futures/options, cross-margining and portfolio margin programs) from a regulatory and compliance perspective.
• Provide practical guidance on market access models, member and participant compliance obligations, and the interplay between DCM, DCO, FCM, and customer requirements.
• Deliver training to client staff and leadership on applicable NFA/CFTC/DCM/DCO rules, industry best practices, and emerging regulatory developments.
• Contribute to internal thought leadership (client alerts, white papers, webinars) and assist with business development activities, including scoping engagements.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in derivatives compliance or regulatory roles with a strong focus on NFA/CFTC matters.
• Direct experience working at or closely with at least one of the following:
• A DCM or DCO (compliance, surveillance, legal, regulatory affairs, risk)
• An FCM, swap dealer, or proprietary trading firm with significant exchange/clearing exposure
• A regulatory body or SRO (e.g., CFTC, NFA, exchange/clearinghouse compliance or enforcement)
• Strong working knowledge of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations, including DCM and DCO Core Principles and associated rules (e.g., Parts 37-40, 38, 39, and related guidance).
• Demonstrated experience with market surveillance and trade practice programs, financial integrity and margin frameworks, or default management and clearing risk controls.
• Proven track record of drafting and implementing policies, procedures, and supervisory/control frameworks in a regulated derivatives environment.
• Experience preparing for or supporting regulatory exams, inquiries, or enforcement matters involving the CFTC, NFA, or exchange/clearinghouse regulators.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into practical, business-friendly guidance and documentation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; comfortable working with trading, risk, and operational data and collaborating with technology teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with new DCM/DCO applications or expansion initiatives, including interactions with the CFTC staff and rule certification or approval processes.
• Exposure to digital asset derivatives, innovative clearing structures, or alternative market access models.
• Familiarity with related regulatory regimes (e.g., SEC, FINRA, EMIR, MiFID II) and cross-border issues impacting derivatives trading and clearing.
• Prior consulting, advisory, or internal "project-based" experience managing multiple stakeholders and workstreams.
• Advanced degree (JD, MBA, or relevant master's) or professional certifications (e.g., NFA Series exams, CRCM, FRM) a plus.