Head of Financial Crime Operations Execution

Vanguard; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Vanguard UK Personal Investor is seeking a Head of Financial Crimes Operations Execution to lead onboarding, ongoing screening and controls across the client lifecycle, including AML, CDD and transaction monitoring.

You will lead a team of leaders, specialists and professionals, driving risk management, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement through data, technology and automation. This hybrid role requires strong leadership and hands-on delivery.

Qualifications

• Extensive financial crime experience across AML, CDD/EDD, sanctions and monitoring.
• Strong knowledge of UK financial crime regulations.
• Proven history of leading operational teams.
• Experience using data, MI and analytics to improve performance.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Strategic thinker with hands-on delivery approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of financial crime controls across the client lifecycle.
• Support development and delivery of Vanguard's Financial Crime strategy.
• Evolve the onboarding target operating model with data and KPIs.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Drive risk reduction and remediation initiatives.
• Partner with Risk, Compliance and business stakeholders.
• Lead transformation initiatives with new technologies and automation.
• Oversee audits, regulatory reviews and remediation activities.

Skills

AML & KYC

CDD/EDD

Sanctions screening

Transaction monitoring

Leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Data analytics

UK regulations

Job description

The Role

As a key member of the Financial Crime Operations leadership team, the Head of Financial Crimes Operations Execution lead the delivery of financial crime many prevention and detection customer onboarding and in in-life controls across Vanguard's UK Personal Investor business. The role is responsible for overseeing customer onboarding and ongoing monitoring activities, including CDD, sanctions, PEP and adverse media screening, and transaction monitoring.

Leading a team of leaders, specialists and operational professionals, you will ensure effective risk management, regulatory compliance and operational excellence, while driving continuous improvement through data, technology and automation. Working closely with senior leaders and second-line partners, you will help shape a scalable, customer-focused financial crime framework that supports Vanguard's growth and maintains strong risk outcomes.

In this role you will

• Lead the execution of financial crime controls across the client lifecycle, including CDD, EDD, sanctions, PEP and adverse media screening, and transaction monitoring

• Support the development and delivery of Vanguard's Financial Crime strategy, ensuring alignment with business growth, customer experience and risk appetite

• Develop and evolve the target operating model for onboarding and ongoing customer due diligence, using data, MI and KPIs to drive performance and decision-making

• Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and operational excellence

• Drive risk reduction, remediation and quality improvement initiatives, ensuring consistent application of controls and regulatory requirements

• Partner with Risk, Compliance and business stakeholders to identify, assess and mitigate financial crime risks across the investment lifecycle

• Lead transformation initiatives, including the implementation of new technologies, workflow solutions, automation and AI-enabled capabilities

• Oversee key third-party relationships, audits, regulatory reviews and remediation activities to maintain a robust and effective control environment

What it takes

• Extensive Financial Crime experience across AML, CDD, EDD, transaction monitoring, sanctions, PEP and adverse media screening

• Strong understanding of UK financial crime regulations and their application within retail investing and financial services

• Proven experience leading operational teams and delivering large-scale customer lifecycle and financial crime processes

• Experience using data, MI and analytics to improve operational performance and manage risk

• Strong people leadership skills with a track record of developing high-performing teams

• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility at all levels

• Strategic thinker with a strong delivery focus and a practical, hands‑on approach to problem solving

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)

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.

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.