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 ecosystem—including fraud rules, detection capabilities, risk assessments, and customer experience trade-offs—while 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
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.
Based on 2,468 disclosed Finance salaries on RoleSuite, the role pays a median of $117K/year, with most offers between $88K and $157K (10th–90th percentile: $70K–$199K).
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