Financial Crime Operations Specialist

Join Vanguard's Financial Crime team and play a key role in strengthening the controls that protect our clients, our business and the wider financial system.

As a Financial Crime Operations Specialist, you'll act as a subject matter expert across Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), Source of Wealth (SoW) assessments and periodic reviews for higher-risk and Politically Exposed Person (PEP) customers. Working closely with stakeholders across Compliance, Risk, Operations and Technology, you'll help shape financial crime controls, provide expert guidance on complex risk matters and contribute to the continuous enhancement of Vanguard's financial crime framework.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced financial crime professional who enjoys solving complex problems, influencing stakeholders and driving meaningful risk outcomes within a purpose-driven, globally respected investment management firm.

Why Join This Team?

• Apply your expertise to complex and high-profile financial crime cases.

• Influence the development and enhancement of financial crime controls and processes.

• Partner with senior stakeholders across Compliance, Risk, Operations and Technology.

• Coach and support colleagues while developing your own leadership capabilities.

• Contribute to strategic initiatives that strengthen Vanguard's risk management framework.

• Build your career within one of the world's leading investment management organisations

In this role you will

• Lead complex CDD, EDD, SoW and periodic review activities, applying sound judgement to identify, assess and escalate financial crime risks where appropriate

• Act as a trusted subject matter expert on customer risk assessments, financial crime controls and regulatory requirements, providing guidance and constructive challenge to stakeholders and colleagues

• Support the design, implementation, testing and enhancement of financial crime controls, identifying opportunities to improve effectiveness and efficiency

• Produce high-quality, evidence-based risk assessments, investigation summaries and management information that support informed decision-making

• Support internal and external audits, regulatory reviews and remediation activities, helping ensure findings are addressed effectively and sustainably

• Build and maintain strong relationships across Financial Crime, Compliance, Risk, Operations, Technology and external partners to deliver effective risk outcomes

• Contribute to the development of policies, procedures and guidance that align with regulatory expectations and industry best practice

• Coach, mentor and share knowledge with colleagues to help build team capability and foster a strong culture of compliance

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance controls, processes and customer outcomes through innovation and automation

• Participate in projects and initiatives that support the ongoing evolution of Vanguard's financial crime framework

What it takes

• Experience in AML/KYC, CDD, EDD, SoW, periodic reviews, financial crime investigations or related financial crime activities within Financial Services

• Strong understanding of Financial Crime regulations and lifecycle, including AML, Sanctions, Bribery and Corruption and Tax Evasion

• Demonstrable experience assessing higher-risk clients and complex financial crime scenarios

• Strong analytical, investigative and risk assessment skills, with the ability to make balanced, evidence-based decisions

• Experience providing guidance and challenge to stakeholders on financial crime risk matters

• Ability to produce clear, concise and well-reasoned holistic risk assessments and recommendations

• Strong communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills

• Proven ability to identify control weaknesses and recommend practical, risk-based solutions

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience

Desirable

• Professional qualification in Financial Crime, AML or Compliance (e.g. ICA, ACAMS, CFCS)

• Experience within financial services, investment management, wealth management, banking or fintech

• Strong knowledge of UK Money Laundering Regulations, JMLSG Guidance, FCA expectations and broader regulatory frameworks

• Experience supporting audits, regulatory engagements or remediation programmes

• Experience using screening, case management and customer risk assessment tools

• Experience coaching, mentoring or developing colleagues

Special Factors 

• Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position

• This is a hybrid position and would require you to work in the office 3 days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday)

• Please note that we review applications on a rolling basis and may close this role early if there is a high level of interest. To avoid missing out, we recommend applying as soon as possible

Why Vanguard? 

Vanguard is a different kind of investment company. It was founded in the United States in 1975 on a simple but revolutionary idea: that an investment company should manage its funds solely in the interests of its clients. 

This is a philosophy that has helped millions of people around the world to achieve their goals with low-cost, uncomplicated investments. 

It's what we stand for: value to investors. 

Inclusion Statement  

Vanguard’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion is firmly rooted in our culture. Every decision we make to best serve our clients, crew (internally employees are referred to as crew), and communities is guided by one simple statement: “Do the right thing.”  

We believe that a critical aspect of doing the right thing requires building diverse, inclusive, and highly effective teams of individuals who are as unique as the clients they serve. We empower our crew to contribute their distinct strengths to achieving Vanguard’s core purpose through our values. 

When all crew members feel valued and included, our ability to collaborate and innovate is amplified, and we are united in delivering on Vanguard's core purpose: to take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.