Senior Operation Analyst - Transaction Monitoring & SWIFT Screening (NAM Portugal)

Job ID: 6982

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 Senior Transaction Monitoring & SWIFT Screening Analyst serves as a subject matter expert (SME) in detecting, investigating, and reporting complex suspicious financial activity, and ensuring full compliance with sanctions screening obligations across all SWIFT payment flows. In addition to handling the most complex and high-risk cases, the Senior Analyst provides technical guidance and mentorship to junior team members, contributes to the continuous improvement of monitoring and screening systems. 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:

• Lead the investigation of complex, high-risk, and escalated transaction monitoring alerts requiring advanced analytical judgment

• Review and validate case dispositions made by junior analysts, providing quality assurance and constructive feedback

• Identify sophisticated financial crime typologies such as trade-based money laundering (TBML), correspondent banking abuse, layering through multiple jurisdictions, and terrorist financing patterns

• Act as the primary escalation point for junior analysts on complex or borderline cases

• Proactively identify gaps in monitoring coverage and recommend new detection scenarios or rule enhancements to the Manager

• Perform retrospective transaction reviews and lookback exercises as required by regulators or internal audit

SWIFT Screening:

• Oversee the end-to-end SWIFT screening process, ensuring all inbound and outbound messages are screened accurately and within required timeframes

• Handle the most complex and sensitive sanctions hits

• Make final disposition decisions on escalated screening alerts, including blocking or releasing payments in strict compliance with regulatory requirements

• Ensure screening systems are properly calibrated, and liaise Manager to address system issues or required updates

• Conduct periodic reviews of screening system performance, including false positive rates, threshold settings, and list update frequencies

Competencies:

• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to make sound, well-documented decisions under pressure

• Expert-level analytical and investigative skills with the ability to handle complex, multi-jurisdictional cases

• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities with a team-oriented mindset

• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to make sound, well-documented decisions under pressure

• Advanced written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare high-quality reports for senior management and regulators

• Deep knowledge of financial crime typologies, red flags, and emerging threats

• Strong understanding of correspondent banking, trade finance, and cross-border payment flows

• Ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements in a practical operational context

• High level of personal integrity and professional ethics

• Proactive, self-motivated, and able to drive continuous improvement initiatives

Skills:

• Educational degrees

  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Data Analysis, or equivalent — considered a plus

• Language qualification

  • English spoken and written (professional level) — mandatory

• Functional/Professional

  • Strong knowledge of Transfer Agency activities
  • Relevant experience in AML, Transaction Monitoring, and/or Sanctions Screening (4 to 7 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

If this sounds like you, get in touch!

Next steps

Please send us your CV in English no later than 30/11/2026. Note that the position might be filled before the application deadline.

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.

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