The Role
We are seeking a highly capable and strategically minded Senior Specialist – Financial Crime Compliance to play a pivotal role in safeguarding our European businesses against financial crime risks. This role sits within the Anti‑Financial Crime function and carries significant responsibility for oversight, framework development, and cross‑functional influence.
You will be responsible for supporting the development, implementation, and continuous enhancement of the organisation’s Financial Crime framework. This includes oversight of governance, policy management, regulatory and internal reporting, enterprise‑wide risk assessments, testing, and monitoring activities. The role ensures the effective identification, assessment, and mitigation of financial crime risks across all business lines, while maintaining alignment with regulatory expectations and industry best practices.
In this role you will
Financial Crime Framework (Europe)
Help evolve and strengthen our AFC Framework, keeping it aligned with global standards and regulatory expectations
Shape and refine our AFC policies, standards, procedures, and guidance materials
Keep our governance engine running smoothly — from committee packs to escalation pathways and decision‑making records
Provide analytical muscle for enterprise and product‑level financial crime risk assessments, including BWRA and thematic reviews
Support oversight of ABAC and Anti‑Tax‑Evasion initiatives as we roll out a refreshed operating model
Play a key role in AFC testing and assurance work: executing tests, spotting control gaps, and driving follow‑up actions
Regulatory & Business Partnership
Be a go‑to specialist for AML/CTF, Sanctions, ABAC, and Anti‑Tax‑Evasion across our European footprint
Help translate regulatory changes into practical, business‑ready processes
Deliver clear, actionable guidance to stakeholders navigating Financial Crime requirements
Build strong partnerships with 1LoD and 2LoD teams, fostering transparency, risk awareness, and effective issue management
Control Environment & Operational Excellence
Support ongoing AFC testing and monitoring to identify gaps, emerging risks, and opportunities for uplift
Maintain accurate, well‑governed documentation across all AFC activities and reports
Track remediation actions and validate completion to ensure long‑term control improvement
Work with precision and pace, championing consistency, quality, and continuous improvement
Programme & Change Delivery
Contribute to AFC change programmes, ensuring deliverables meet regulatory and business expectations
Join cross‑functional working groups to embed Financial Crime considerations into new products, systems, and processes
Prepare materials for AFC forums, board sessions, audits, and regulatory touchpoints
Coordinate project milestones, documentation, and reporting to keep initiatives on track
What it takes
Strong understanding of AML/CTF, Sanctions, ABAC, Anti‑Tax‑Evasion and wider financial crime frameworks
Experience in governance, policy, risk assessments, testing, or monitoring within Financial Crime or Compliance
Ability to interpret regulation and translate it into practical business processes
Sharp analytical skills with the ability to turn complexity into clear insights
Confident communicator with proven stakeholder management experience across teams and geographies
Highly organised, detail‑focused, and comfortable juggling priorities in a fast‑moving environment
Desirable
Experience working across multiple European jurisdictions or global AFC structures
Exposure to cross‑border regulatory frameworks
Familiarity with assurance, audit, or thematic review approaches
Professional certifications (ICA, ACAMS, Int. Dip AML or similar)
Experience supporting AFC‑related transformation, technology, or data initiatives
Special Factors
Vanguard is not offering 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)
This role encompasses activities that fall within the remit of UK Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’) regulation. The successful candidate will therefore be subject to UK regulatory requirements in relation to conduct rules, regulatory references and the assessment of fitness and propriety, knowledge, experience and competence. Where appropriate, the role may also be subject to approval by the UK FCA.
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.
Our commitment to equal employment opportunity
Vanguard is an equal opportunity employer. Vanguard is committed to providing all crew members a working environment that is free from discrimination, prejudice and bias. Through this Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy, Vanguard reaffirms its commitment to equal employment opportunity for all applicants and crew members without regard to race, color, national origin or ancestry, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, veteran or military status. In addition, Vanguard prohibits discrimination based on genetic information, as well as any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on Vanguard. Please inform [email protected] if you need assistance completing this application or to otherwise participate in the application process.
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.
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