Senior Financial Crimes Compliance Specialist

Vanguard; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard seeks a Senior Financial Crimes Specialist to identify, investigate, and mitigate financial crimes risks across the organization. The role partners with compliance, legal, and risk teams to support robust control environments and regulatory adherence.

The successful candidate will lead complex investigations, mentor junior staff, and contribute to evolving global programs within Vanguard's financial crimes program. A hybrid work model and cross-region collaboration are emphasized.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in financial crimes compliance, AML, or related fields.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience analyzing complex data, conducting investigations, and making risk-based decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead investigations into potentially fraudulent or high-risk activity and recommend actions per regulations and policies.
• Conduct enhanced due diligence on individuals, entities, and transactions to identify financial crimes risks.
• Review alerts and monitoring outputs, resolve complex exceptions, and escalate when needed.
• Collaborate with compliance, legal, risk, and business teams across regions to support risk management.
• Prepare and maintain regulatory and internal reporting documentation with accuracy.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen controls and monitoring frameworks across the organization.
• Provide guidance on emerging risks, global trends, and regulatory developments.

Skills

Financial Crimes compliance

AML

Investigations

KYC/CDD/EDD

Sanctions compliance

Regulatory knowledge

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Protect Investors. Strengthening Trust. Make an Impact.

At Vanguard, safeguarding our clients and protecting the integrity of the financial system is at the core of what we do. As a Senior Financial Crimes Specialist, you will serve as a subject matter expert in identifying, investigating, and mitigating financial crimes risks. You'll partner across the organization to detect suspicious activity, enhance compliance programs, and help ensure adherence to regulatory requirements while protecting shareholder assets.

This role offers the opportunity to lead complex investigations, influence risk management strategies, partner with key business partners, mentor, and contribute to the continuous evolution of Vanguard's Global Financial Crimes program.

What You'll Do

• Lead investigations into potentially fraudulent, suspicious, or high-risk activity and recommend appropriate actions based on regulatory requirements, jurisdictional considerations, and internal policies.
• Conduct enhanced due diligence and risk assessments on individuals, entities, and transactions to identify potential financial crimes risks across business lines.
• Review and analyze alerts, reports, and monitoring activities, resolving complex exceptions, and escalating matters when appropriate.
• Partner with compliance, legal, risk, and business teams across regions to support effective risk management and regulatory compliance.
• Prepare and maintain required regulatory and internal reporting documentation with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen financial crimes controls, processes, monitoring frameworks, and share best practices across the organization.
• Serve as a trusted resource and consultant on financial crimes matters, providing guidance on emerging risks, global trends, and regulatory developments.
• Stay current on industry trends, emerging threats, regulatory developments, and financial crimes typologies.
• Support regulatory examinations, audits, and external inquiries as needed.
• Mentor and provide guidance to less experienced team members while fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and development across a geographically diverse organization.
• Participate in strategic projects that enhance Vanguard's financial crimes prevention, detection, and risk management capabilities.

What We're Looking For

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Financial Crimes compliance, AML, fraud investigations, KYC/CDD/EDD, sanctions compliance, risk management, or related field.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.
• Experience analyzing complex data, conducting investigations, and making risk-based decisions.
• Strong understanding of financial crimes regulations, compliance frameworks, and industry best practices.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to effectively manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders and influencing outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, or lead projects and initiatives preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• CAMS, CFE, CFCS, or similar financial crimes certifications are a nice-to-have, but not required.
• Experience within financial services, investment management, banking, or brokerage environments.
• Knowledge of AML transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, customer due diligence, and suspicious activity investigations.

Special Factors

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission. To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

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.