Compliance Advisor, Portfolio Review Department (PRD)

The role will support engagement with Vanguard’s European Product team (PRD), providing proactive and pragmatic advice on governance, regulatory compliance and conduct matters relevant to Vanguard’s strategic and operational priorities, consistent with Vanguard’s board approved risk-appetite.

With a rapidly growing business in Europe, we are seeking a commercially minded, experienced Compliance professional to partner with Vanguard’s Portfolio Review Department (PRD), with a primary focus on product development and ensuring that existing funds remain compliant throughout the funds lifecycle. PRD is responsible for overseeing Vanguard’s 400-plus mutual funds, ETFs, and their investment advisors worldwide. Our European product offering currently consists of more than 100 UCITS mutual funds and ETFs.

Summary of Role

With an ambition of continued growth across Europe and a core objective of delivering superior outcomes to our customers and clients, an exciting opportunity has arisen for a Compliance specialist to join our Product Compliance advisory team. The successful candidate will support engagement with Vanguard’s European Product team (PRD), providing proactive and pragmatic advice on governance, regulatory compliance and conduct matters relevant to Vanguard’s strategic and operational priorities, consistent with Vanguard’s board approved risk-appetite. The Product team is London based; collaboration with colleagues in London and other European offices is essential for the success of the role. The successful candidate will also collaborate and support Compliance colleagues in other teams. This position will report directly into the Head of Investments and Product Compliance and will join an existing team of expert compliance professionals supporting PRD.

Our second line of defence Compliance Advisory team are trusted advisers, and we are proactive in our understanding of the business functions, their strategic goals and initiatives. The role is necessarily broad, and will provide professional compliance advice, support and oversight on all European products (for both Irish and UK funds including ETFs) throughout their life cycle from research through implementation (and beyond by supporting fund changes, product governance and policy and procedure design).

Core Responsibilities

• Provide PRD with guidance and advice in relation to Vanguard products (Vanguard is a product manufacturer for UK and Irish authorized funds).
• Build and maintain stakeholder relationships with colleagues in the Compliance Product Team (PRD), PRD, and other members of the Office of the General Counsel (Compliance, Legal, Investment Stewardship and Government Relations) and other teams supporting the operations of Vanguard’s funds.
• Provide specific regulatory advice at the early stage of research initiatives taking into consideration fund structures, target markets, costs and charges, distribution strategy, information required by distributors and our vulnerable customer and Consumer Duty responsibilities.
• Work with Compliance colleagues and stakeholders to ensure the product governance framework is appropriate, embedded, including ongoing review and enhancements.
• Contribute to the briefing/training of impacted business functions (and Boards) alongside fellow OGC colleagues.

What it takes

• A minimum of 5 years related work experience, within an asset management compliance function.
• A curious mindset, commercial, tenacious, lateral thinking and relationship oriented.
• Strong knowledge of UCITS requirements and familiarity with UK and Irish product requirements (including PROD).
• Understanding of applicable regulations, for example, Consumer Duty, ESG-related regulation (UK Sustainability Disclosure Requirements / EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), and other regulatory regimes such as AiF.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.

Special Factors

Vanguard is not offering sponsorship for this position.

Inclusion Statement

Vanguard’s continued dedication 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.