Risk Director, Financial Advisor Services - Digital, Data & AI

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Risk Director, Financial Advisor Services - Digital, Data & AI

senior · Risk & Compliance

Overview
 

Financial Advisor Services (FAS) is a critical growth engine, focused on evolving how we serve advisors and clients through expanded digital capabilities, data-driven insights, and innovative solutions. As FAS accelerates its strategy—including digital distribution, AI-enabled tools, and enhanced client engagement—there is a growing need to embed risk expertise directly into these initiatives.

We are seeking a Risk Director to play a pivotal role in transforming how risk partners with the business. This role is not traditional or operational in nature. Instead, you will operate as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, helping them navigate complex decisions, assess emerging risks, and deliver on strategic priorities with confidence. This is a highly visible, high-impact opportunity to shape the future of risk within FAS and contribute to the evolution of a more modern, advisory-oriented risk function.

The impact you’ll make
 

As the Risk Director for Digital, Data & AI, you will serve as the senior risk advisor to FAS leaders responsible for digital experiences, advisor technology, data, analytics, and artificial intelligence capabilities. You will bring deep subject matter expertise and practical judgement to help the business navigate strategic risks while continuing to innovate and grow.

This is not a traditional operational risk or compliance role. We are seeking an experienced practitioner who understands how digital platforms, data ecosystems, AI capabilities, and emerging technologies create both opportunities and risks within a large financial services organization.

The ideal candidate excels at these top capabilities

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders across Digital, Data and AI functions, providing independent challenge and strategic risk insights.
• Identify, assess and communicate the most significant risks associated with FAS digital strategy, data assets, AI adoption, and technology-enabled business transformation.
• Partner with business leaders to ensure risk considerations are incorporated into major strategic initiatives, product enhancements and platform developments from the outset.
• Provide credible challenge on key decisions involving data governance, model risk, AI applications, third-party technology dependencies, cyber resilience, and operational scalability.
• Translate complex risk issues into clear business implications and practical actions for executive decision makers.
• Monitor external developments, industry trends and emerging risks to help business leaders anticipate future challenges and opportunities.
• Strengthen the connection between divisional strategy and risk management by ensuring strategic risks are actively considered in planning, execution and performance discussions.
• Operate in a player-coach capacity, applying your own expertise directly while helping shape a high-performing, lean risk organization.

Responsibilities

• Hire, evaluate, and supervise crew. Provide guidance, training, and coaching 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.
• Partner with key stakeholders to establish and implement risk and control management standards within the division's processes, based on the divisional risk profile and enterprise and divisional policies and standards. Provide vision and leadership regarding existing and emerging risks, in alignment with strategic priorities.
• Provide independent oversight of Line 1 risk activities, with a primary responsibility to challenge completeness, consistency, quality, and judgment in how risks are identified, assessed, and managed. Ensure that the division has an appropriate level of review of key controls, and that key controls are designed in accordance with established standards.
• Partner in risk identification and challenges completeness and consistency of identified risks. Provide industry and enterprise-wide insights to inform the business on current and emerging risks. Performs independent risk assessments for selected high‑impact, critical, or thematic risks.
• Monitor and enable adherence to the enterprise risk governance policies, standards, and procedures. Develop, maintain, and evolve a comprehensive program for monitoring and challenging the risk and control effectiveness in the business.
• Produce independent risk reporting and enterprise‑wide insights for divisional leadership and governance forums to enable the business to make risk informed decisions.
• Lead and oversee a team of risk practitioners in analyzing risks, applying risk methodologies, and considering business context in advising the business on key risks. Accountable for the timely completion of risk projects and initiatives.
• Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge and awareness of industry, risk management practices, and regulatory and/or policy changes. Takes an active role in industry forums and remains current on issues and regulatory events affecting the division, firm, and industry.
• Embed deep, division-specific acumen into risk management. Provide relevant, tailored guidance and advice to strengthen decision-making across the division’s complex business operations and strategic initiatives.
• Participate in special projects and perform other duties as assigned, partnering with enterprise risk, legal, compliance, audit, and internal and external stakeholders as appropriate.

Qualifications: What you’ll bring

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience. Graduate degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in risk management, digital transformation, technology risk, data risk, AI governance, or related disciplines within financial services.
• Deep understanding of digital platforms, data ecosystems, analytics capabilities, emerging technologies and associated risk considerations.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior executives and provide effective challenge in complex, fast-moving environments.
• Strong commercial judgement and a practical, business-oriented approach to risk management.
• Experience supporting large-scale strategic initiatives involving technology, data or AI.
• Ability to operate independently and credibly with senior stakeholders across multiple business functions.

Special Factors

Sponsorship

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.