Financial Crime Investigations, Senior Associate

About Vanguard

More than 45 years ago, John C. Bogle had a vision to start an investment company that did things differently. A company with no external shareholders. Where all the profits were invested back into the business and used to lower costs. Evidently, it was as bold as it was brilliant. To this day, Vanguard Group still has no external shareholders. That means no share prices to protect, and no profits to generate for outside owners.

Today, Vanguard is one of the world's largest investment management companies, serving more than 50 million investors worldwide. For more than 25 years Vanguard Australia has been supporting individual investors, financial advisers, and superannuation members to achieve their long-term financial goals.

Team & Opportunity

To support the Financial Crime Investigations (FCI) team by conducting investigations, performing Enhanced Customer Due Diligence (ECDD) for new and existing high-risk customers, lodging Suspicious Matter Reports (SMRs), and making recommendations to the Financial Crime Management Team (FCMT). The FCI Senior Associate will also be responsible for updating procedures, training others, and assisting with the rollout and operationalisation of any new initiatives and project requirements, including testing. This role requires strong record keeping and governance, ensuring all activities comply with internal procedures, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices. This role works collaboratively within the FCI team and with stakeholders across Financial Crime Operations (FCO).

In this role you will:

• Conduct investigations into potential financial crime, including gathering, reviewing, and analysing information and documentation.
• Perform ECDD for new and existing high-risk customers, ensuring all required information is collected, assessed, and documented.
• Prepare and lodge SMRs with AUSTRAC in accordance with regulatory requirements and internal procedures.
• Make risk-based recommendations to the Financial Crime Management Team and support the Senior Management Approval Process.
• Ensure all investigations, ECDD, and SMR activities are completed accurately, thoroughly, and within required timeframes.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of AML/CTF regulations, investigative techniques, and industry best practices.
• Escalate complex or high-risk cases to the FCI Specialist or management as appropriate.
• Update and maintain FCI procedures, checklists, and controls, ensuring they are current and effective.
• Conduct and support reactive investigations into a broad range of financial crime-related activities that can be referred to the team internally or by external parties.
• Train and coach other team members to uplift team capability and ensure consistent application of standards.
• Support the rollout of new initiatives and operationalise project requirements, including assisting with testing and implementation.
• Ensure all record keeping is accurate, complete, and compliant with documented procedures and governance requirements.
• Participate in training, coaching, and knowledge-sharing activities within the team.
• Support audits, regulatory reviews, and participate in controls testing and special projects as required.
• Foster strong working relationships with internal stakeholders, including Financial Crimes Compliance, Client Operations, and external parties.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Demonstrated experience in financial crime investigations, ECDD, and SMRs.
• Working knowledge of AML/CTF regulations, investigative techniques, and requirements.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to review work for accuracy and compliance.
• Strong record keeping and governance skills.
• Critical thinking, judgment, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and support the Team Leader and Specialist.
• Experience in financial crime, AML/CTF, investigations, or compliance roles preferred.

• Conduct Enhanced Customer Due Diligence (ECDD) for new and existing high-risk customers
• Prepare SMRs for submission to AUSTRAC.
• Make recommendations to the Financial Crime Management Team (FMCT)
• Update and maintain FCI procedures, and train other team members.
• Support the rollout and operationalisation of new initiatives and project requirements, including testing.
• Ensure all activities comply with internal procedures, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
• Ensure all record keeping is accurate, complete, and meets governance standards.
• Escalate complex cases as required.
• Contribute to process improvements and knowledge sharing.
• Support audits, regulatory reviews, and participate in special projects.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in a similar role in a Financial Crime team, preferably within AML/CTF transaction monitoring, screening, intelligence analysis and/or reporting.