We are seeking a seasoned fraud professional to lead the strategy, execution, and continuous optimization of fraud controls across debit cards, ACH-like products, and real-time payment rails (e.g., Zelle, RTP, Bill Pay). This role will own the end-to-end real-time decisioning ecosystemincluding fraud rules, detection capabilities, risk assessments, and customer experience trade-offswhile partnering cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Risk, and Operations to deliver scalable, modern fraud prevention solutions.

The ideal candidate brings deep domain expertise in debit and real-time payments fraud, strong technical acumen in rules engines and analytics, and a proven ability to lead teams, influence stakeholders, and communicate complex risk narratives to senior leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Set Fraud Strategy & Coverage: Define fraud prevention strategy across debit and 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: Debit card fraud (CNP and CP) Real-time payments (Zelle, RTP, P2P, Bill Pay and other emerging payments)

• 5+ 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

• Bachelors 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 missionwe'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.