Senior Compliance Director

Financial integrity from the inside out

Vanguard’s core purpose is to take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.  Known for our strong ethical business practices and client focus, Vanguard has a vibrant and multi-faceted business.  In support of our innovative and highly regulated business lines, Vanguard’s Compliance Department encounters a wide range of complex and compelling issues while providing exceptional, high-value business partnership and compliance support.  In addition, Vanguard is an employer of choice that continually invests in the growth, development, and success of its employees over the course of their Vanguard careers.

To support its growing and evolving service offerings, Vanguard seeks a highly skilled broker-dealer compliance professional to lead strategic compliance activities related to business initiatives, firm supervision, new product launches, and to collaborate with business partners on assessing and enhancing risk management controls. The ideal candidate will have experience in scaling and future-proofing firm compliance programs to protect Vanguard’s reputation and a minimum of 10 years of leadership experience supporting retail brokerage and wealth management businesses. Broad knowledge and experience with broker-dealer regulations is required, while familiarity with investment adviser, investment company and state regulations will complement the required skills.

As a trusted leader, the Head of Brokerage Oversight Compliance, will also provide strategic direction to a dynamic team of compliance professionals focused on Vanguard’s Personal Investor and Advice & Wealth Management divisions, along with support of areas where brokerage product and services intersect with other financial advisory businesses.  The team is charged with building, maintaining, and enhancing an evergreen and comprehensive compliance program for Vanguard’s broker-dealer business. Working for the Chief Compliance Officer, this compliance leader, directly and through a team, will support business operations and initiatives, identify, and respond to ongoing regulatory changes, and implement required policies and procedures inclusive of appropriate operational and supervisory oversight within the business. 

Core Responsibilities:

• Serve as a trusted advisor to Vanguard’s retail brokerage, financial advisor, advice, and wealth management businesses. Work collaboratively with the businesses, including centralized supervision, to further develop policies, procedures and controls designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations
• Act as a strategic leader to a team of compliance professionals to provide compliance thought leadership, partnership, and guidance within the implementation and support of business initiatives, supervision, new product launches, and corresponding regulatory framework design and implementation.
• Maintain and cultivate a team-oriented culture for efficiently and effectively managing regulatory risks, by fostering strong relationships between, and with, business leaders, the Legal Department, Compliance Department colleagues, global partners including Risk, and other control/oversight groups like Supervision.
• Adopt and implement best practices to ensure optimal effectiveness of management and mitigation of regulatory and compliance risks, including driving collaboration and efficiencies between relevant compliance teams and partners throughout the enterprise.
• Lead, manage, and participate in compliance oversight efforts and projects within Vanguard’s ecosystem to protect Vanguard’s reputation and clients.  Utilize risk management techniques and business area knowledge to develop, maintain and periodically test relevant policies and procedures.
• Represent the Compliance Department in various committees and lead discussions related to effective supervision, conflicts of interest management, risk identification, control design, and issues remediation as well as apprising of newest industry / regulatory developments.
• Develop, maintain and demonstrate detailed understanding of all regulations that are applicable to Vanguard’s brokerage, and partner, businesses; monitor developments, proposed rule changes and amendments in applicable rules and regulations, assess the potential impact to Vanguard’s practices, and coordinate implementation of rules that are adopted or finalized.
• As appropriate, act as a liaison with regulators and impacted business areas by preparing for meetings and coordinating the gathering and production of requested documents in connection with examinations or other regulatory inquiries.
• Hire, evaluate, and supervises crew. Provides guidance and training as necessary to develop crew. Sets performance standards, reviews performance, and makes informed compensation decisions in accordance with all applicable Human Resources policies and procedures.
• Seeks to continually assess and enhance compliance practices specific to the business unit. Directs team activities and partners closely with business unit leaders during the implementation of compliance standards and practices with respect to business initiatives and new product launches.

What it takes:

• A deep and varied understanding of financial markets and products.
• Advanced knowledge of FINRA, SEC, state, banking, and trust company regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to investment advisers, broker-dealers and trust services holding retail investor securities.
• Ability to work under pressure on multiple tasks concurrently and meet deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.
• Mastery of appropriate interpersonal styles and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with all levels within the enterprise.
• Ability to provide leadership and professional guidance to a geographically dispersed team, with the ability to attract, retain, and advance top talent.
• A partnership-focused philosophy to accomplish objectives.

• This job may require regulatory license and/or registration (e.g. FINRA, state). These will be determined by Compliance based on role-specific duties. (Series 7, 14, 24 or 65, 66). (must obtain within 6 months if not currently held).
• Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP) designation is a plus

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.