Financial Crimes Compliance Analyst in Manchester

The Role will report directly to the Head of Anti-Financial Crime, Ireland and serves as a subject matter expert (SME) playing a critical role in safeguarding our European businesses against financial crime risks. Sitting within the second line Anti‑Financial Crime (AFC) function, this role carries significant responsibility in supporting Vanguard's Financial Advisor Services (FAS) business in the execution of the Financial Crime framework (which consists of AML and Terrorist financing, Sanctions, Bribery and Corruption and Tax Evasion) during the distribution of Vanguard UCITS range and oversight of Irish Fund's Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter‑Terrorist Financing (CFT) programme.

Core Responsibilities

• Support the maintenance and enhancement of the European AFC Framework, including methodology updates, documentation improvements, and alignment to group‑wide standards.
• Advise the FAS business in respect to compliance with the Vanguard global financial crime policy requirements including local European obligations.
• Create, update, and manage the Anti Financial Crime policies, procedures, and supplements.
• In collaboration with the UK AFC team execute an assurance program for the areas that Vanguard Europe insources and support the creation of specific financial crime testing programs for oversight of outsourced third‑party relationships.
• Review and analyse escalations in respect to due diligence, screening and transaction monitoring alerts.
• Resolve exceptions, including unusual and complex issues escalated by more junior team members, according to established guidelines.
• Collaborate with managers to resolve the most complex issues.
• In collaboration with the UK AFC team execute the Vanguard Europe annual risk assessments methodology for AML, Sanctions and Bribery and Corruption including detailed data gathering, quantitative and qualitative analysis, drafting of risk narratives, and coordination of validation and challenge with stakeholders across the First and Second line of defence.
• Support the submission of periodic regulatory and internal AFC reporting for Vanguard Europe and the FAS business, ensuring all submissions are accurate, timely, complete, and delivered according to defined governance and regulatory expectations.
• Assist project governance by helping prepare papers, progress updates, risk logs, and milestone reporting.
• Provide formal and informal educational activities, including presentations, staff meetings and training programs.
• Develops and delivers financial crimes related training and education for Vanguard Europe crew members.
• Maintains a comprehensive knowledge of the investment industry and compliance developments with implications for Vanguard's financial crimes program.
• Keeps abreast of the current market, regulatory and industry news.
• Serve as a consultant on compliance related issues.
• Acts as a liaison to regulatory agencies.
• Strong understanding of Anti Money Laundering/Counter Terrorist financing, sanctions and Anti Bribery and Corruption requirements, risk, regulatory expectations, industry practice, business systems and processes in Ireland and the UK.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Significant practical experience delivering or coordinating risk assessments, including data analysis, narrative writing, and validation stages.
• Demonstrated experience managing regulatory or internal reporting cycles, including drafting, coordinating, and quality‑assuring submissions.
• Experience working with policy governance, supporting policy refresh cycles, or maintaining standards frameworks.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with experience drafting governance papers, risk assessments, or policy content.
• High attention to detail, strong organisational skills, and ability to work under pressure in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to interpret regulatory expectations and apply them pragmatically.

Desirable

• Experience operating across multiple European jurisdictions and/or global AFC structures.
• Experience of supporting the distribution of an Irish UCITS range.
• Exposure to transformation or change programmes (e.g., technology enhancements, operating model changes).

Qualifications:

• Minimum 5+ years’ experience in AML/CFT, compliance, audit, or risk within financial services.
• Management Company/Asset Management 2nd Line AFC experience preferred.
• Professional qualification relating to Financial Crime / Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.

Special Factors

This position follows a hybrid working model that will require you to be in our Dublin office three days per week. Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.