Senior Manager, Fraud Analytics & Operations

We are seeking a seasoned fraud professional to lead strategy and execution of fraud controls across Vanguard’s Workplace Solutions (VWS) business, including employer-sponsored retirement plans and participant transaction journeys. This role is accountable for protecting participant accounts, contributions, withdrawals, loans, and distribution activity through modern, real-time fraud detection and prevention capabilities. The leader will own the end-to-end decisioning ecosystem—including rules, analytics, and risk strategies—while ensuring an appropriate balance between client protection, seamless participant experience, and regulatory expectations. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in account takeover, social engineering, and transaction fraud risks within retirement and workplace channels, along with strong technical acumen in real-time decisioning platforms, analytics, and fraud models. This role requires close partnership across Product, Engineering, Operations, and Risk, and the ability to clearly communicate complex fraud risks and trade-offs to senior leadership.

Global Risk and Security (GR&S) at Vanguard enables business strategy, protects client and Vanguard interests (e.g., assets and data), and stewards a strong risk culture. Our teams leverage enterprise-wide insights, deep expertise, and trusted advice so that across Vanguard leaders and crew drive faster, stronger, risk-informed decisions.

Within GR&S, the Enterprise Security and Fraud (ES&F) sub-division is responsible for the global protection of Vanguard crew, property, data, and client assets. We are the trusted advisors that protect the pride of Vanguard with state-of-the-art security and fraud capabilities. We are a world-class destination of highly engaged, passionate, and diverse talent expected to continuously learn and develop in an ever-changing security landscape.

Our crew are our greatest resource – by joining our team you will build collaborative long-term relationships and enjoy a suite of benefits that includes comprehensive health and wellness care, work-life balance, and an investment in your future at its core.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Set Fraud Strategy & Coverage: Define fraud prevention strategy across real-time payment channels, including risk appetite and control coverage.
• Own Real-Time Decisioning: Design and manage fraud rules, decision logic, and detection strategies within real-time decisioning platforms.
• Lead Platform & Capability Build: Drive enhancements and implementation of fraud rules engines and decisioning platforms in partnership with engineering.
• Optimize Performance Outcomes: Monitor and improve fraud detection, false positives, and client friction through ongoing control tuning and performance management.
• Leverage Data & Models: Use analytics and model insights to identify trends, refine strategies, and improve detection effectiveness.
• Partner Cross-Functionally: Collaborate with Product, Engineering, Risk, and Operations to embed fraud controls into customer journeys and new product launches.
• Influence Senior Stakeholders: Communicate fraud risk, performance, and trade-offs clearly through strong executive storytelling.
• Lead & Develop Team: Build and manage a high-performing team of fraud strategy and analytics professionals.
• Ensure Strong Governance: Maintain disciplined control testing, monitoring, and adherence to risk and regulatory standards.

Qualifications

Required Experience

• 10+ years in fraud risk, payments risk, or financial crimes
• Deep expertise in: Account takeover, social engineering, and transaction fraud risks within retirement and workplace channels
• 6+ years of people management experience leading high-performing teams
• Proven experience managing real-time fraud decisioning environments and rules strategies
• Strong experience partnering across Product, Engineering, Risk, and Operations
• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Finance, Computer Science, or a related field. Graduate degree preferred.

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Expertise in fraud rules engines / decisioning platforms
• Strong analytical capabilities (data analysis, segmentation, performance optimization)
• Working knowledge of fraud models / machine learning concepts and model governance
• Ability to translate data into actionable fraud strategies and business decisions
• Strong experience with analytical tools such as Python, R, SAS, SQL, and platforms such as Tableau or Power BI.

Leadership & Communication

• Strong stakeholder management with ability to influence senior leaders
• Excellent communication and executive storytelling skills
• Highly collaborative with a track record of driving alignment across teams

Special Factors

Sponsorship

Vanguard is 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.