Why This Role Matters
At Vanguard, we’re transforming how Corporate Finance delivers insight, speed, and strategic impact. As the Head of Corporate Finance, Data & AI, you will define and lead a bold strategy to embed data, analytics, and AI across Finance—reimagining how decisions are made and how value is delivered.
This is a high-impact leadership role at the intersection of Finance and technology. You will build and scale the capabilities that power Finance’s next chapter—unlocking step-change improvements in transparency, efficiency, and insight—while ensuring a disciplined, risk-aware approach aligned with our enterprise standards.
What You’ll Do
Set the Strategy and Deliver Impact
- Define and execute the Corporate Finance Data & AI strategy, establishing a clear roadmap aligned with enterprise priorities
- Drive adoption of modern analytics and AI tools across Finance to improve speed, accuracy, and decision-making
- Identify capability gaps and design scalable, integrated solutions to advance Finance maturity
Lead and Scale High-Performing Teams
- Build and lead world-class teams across data analytics, data engineering, governance, and AI
- Establish a high-performance culture with clear goals, coaching, and talent development
- Operate across direct and matrixed environments to scale impact across Corporate Finance
Enable Data-Driven Decision Making
- Partner with senior Finance leaders (e.g., BU CFOs, FP&A, CAO) to deliver actionable, data-driven insights
- Translate complex analytics and AI outputs into clear business recommendations
- Position the team as trusted advisors to Finance and enterprise stakeholders
Accelerate Adoption Through Partnership & Enablement
- Collaborate with Finance and business partners to design intuitive, self-service analytics and AI capabilities
- Develop frameworks, guardrails, and training to enable responsible and sustainable adoption
- Build Finance-wide data and AI literacy through targeted enablement programs
Drive Innovation with Strong Governance
- Embed governance, controls, and monitoring across data and AI workflows to ensure quality, transparency, and compliance
- Balance innovation with risk management, auditability, and regulatory expectations
- Stay ahead of industry trends and represent Vanguard within the broader analytics and AI community
Manage Investments and Partnerships
- Lead budget planning and prioritize technology investments aligned to strategic objectives
- Oversee vendor relationships and partnerships, ensuring delivery accountability and value realization
What It Takes
Experience & Leadership
- 12–15+ years of experience in senior Data & AI leadership roles, delivering enterprise-scale transformation
- Proven ability to define strategy and execute with measurable business impact
- Demonstrated success building and scaling high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams
Finance & Business Acumen
- Strong understanding of Corporate Finance processes (e.g., FP&A, reporting, controllership)
- Track record of applying data, analytics, and AI to improve efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making
Technical Expertise
- Deep experience in modern data architecture, including data products, semantic layers, and scalable pipelines
- Hands-on experience deploying AI solutions at scale, including generative AI and advanced orchestration frameworks
- Familiarity with enterprise data and AI ecosystems (e.g., cloud platforms, modern data platforms, AI copilots)
Governance & Operating Model Design
- Proven ability to establish data and AI governance frameworks (data quality, lineage, model monitoring, access controls)
- Experience designing operating models that balance centralized governance with decentralized innovation
Transformation & Change Leadership
- Experience leading enterprise-wide adoption and enablement initiatives
- Strong background in process transformation, automation, and workflow redesign
Influence & Communication
- Exceptional ability to communicate complex technical concepts to senior business leaders
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across executive audiences
Additional Qualifications
- Experience managing technology vendors and external partners
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred
Special Factors
Sponsorship
Vanguard is not 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.
Skills Required
- 12-15+ years of experience in senior Data & AI leadership roles
- Proven ability to define strategy and execute with measurable business impact
- Demonstrated success building and scaling high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams
- Strong understanding of Corporate Finance processes
- Deep experience in modern data architecture
- Hands-on experience deploying AI solutions at scale
- Proven ability to establish data and AI governance frameworks
- Experience leading enterprise-wide adoption and enablement initiatives
- Exceptional ability to communicate complex technical concepts to senior business leaders
- Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred
Vanguard Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Vanguard and has not been reviewed or approved by Vanguard.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support appears unusually strong through a 401(k) design that includes a match plus an additional employer contribution, which can materially lift long-term total rewards. HSA seeding and an enhanced employer match further strengthen the savings-and-benefits value of the package.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing and lifestyle support is reinforced by a sizable annual FlexFund stipend that can be applied across many day-to-day categories such as fitness, childcare, and other personal expenses. On-site or virtual clinics and fitness options add practical health and wellness convenience.
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Affordable Benefits — Healthcare and related benefits are positioned as comparatively affordable via heavily subsidized medical plans and broad coverage options. This affordability can offset moderate base pay for employees who place higher value on out-of-pocket cost reductions.
Vanguard Insights
What We Do
We are a community of 30 million who think – and feel – differently about investing. Together, we’re changing the way the world invests. Since our founding in 1975, helping our investors achieve their goals is our sole reason for existence. With no other parties to answer to and therefore no conflicting loyalties, we make every decision—like keeping investing costs as low as possible—with only your needs in mind. Vanguard is one of the world's largest investment companies, offering a large selection of high-quality low-cost mutual funds, ETFs, advice, and related services. Individual and institutional investors, financial professionals, and plan sponsors can benefit from the size, stability, and experience Vanguard offers. As of April 30, 2019, we managed more than $5.6 trillion in global assets. In addition, we have 189 funds in the United States and 225 funds in global markets. For Commenting Guidelines & Important information, visit here: http://vanguard.com/linkedin Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.
