Vendor Management Specialist - Client Operations

Job Description

About Vanguard

Vanguard Australia has been helping investors achieve their long-term financial goals for over 20 years. Serving institutional and individual clients, and financial advisers, we offer investment solutions that are low-cost, diversified and robust through time.

With more than AUD $9 trillion in assets under management Vanguard is one of the world’s largest global investment management companies. In Australia we partner with institutional clients, financial advisers and individual investors to offer low-cost investment solutions. Our comprehensive range of managed funds, exchange traded funds (ETFs) and tailored investment solutions are built to support long-term investment success for our clients.

Our Team & Opportunity

Client Operations forms part of the Finance function within Vanguard Investments Australia (VIA), servicing retail, intermediary and institutional clients invested in our managed fund products and Personal Investor platform. As we outsource our key operational tasks, the team is transitioning to an oversight function. This role is responsible for leading vendor management relationship with those outsourced partners.

What you will do

• Lead the management of vendor relationships for the Client Operations team from an internal and external perspective
• Responsible for vendor oversight in line with Vanguard’s Third-Party Risk Management policy covering key areas such as contracts, SLA’s, service and issue management, invoices, BCP, control/audit reports, financial health and due diligence reviews.
• Establish & manage relationships with vendors, attending periodic meetings to review vendor service and health of relationship. Role will serve as escalation point for operational issues at external vendors or within Vanguard that require escalation and/or immediate resolution
• Analyse data to perform comparative evaluations of vendors, both before and after contract negotiations to ensure that Vanguard obtains the highest value for its investment in vendor contracts.
• Contribute to the development of RFPs for specific services or products
• Perform basic analysis in supporting the evaluation of the financial, operational, and performance reputation of the vendor to ensure that they will make a suitable partner to the organization.
• Conducts reviews of vendor invoices relative to their compliance with agreed contract terms prior to their release for payment.
• Participate in special projects and performs other duties from time to time.

What we are looking for

• Demonstrated experience in a Vendor Management, Sourcing or Operational Risk role(s)
• Prior experience handling large complex third-party relationships
• Ability to review, negotiate and run a range of third-party agreements including the ability to advise internal clients on contract interpretation, identify and address legal and business risks; ensure compliance with regulatory and internal policy requirements
• Ability to demonstrate perspective, flexibility, and judgment to evaluate issues/problems of high complexity and make sound decisions.
• Positive, can-do approach with ability to build positive relationships and collaborate efficiently across the organization.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to partner with and influence colleagues and vendors at all title levels

Specialisations that will make an impact

• Undergraduate degree in a related field, and/or any relevant certifications
• Experience in oversight and risk management would be an asset.
• Willingness to expand knowledge of Risk & Control frameworks/Compliance/ Risk Management/ Sourcing.
• Strong Knowledge of MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint and Outlook).

Inclusion Statement

Vanguard’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion is firmly rooted in our culture. Every decision we make to best serve our clients, crew (internally employees are referred to as crew), and communities is guided by one simple statement: “Do the right thing.”

We believe that a critical aspect of doing the right thing requires building diverse, inclusive, and highly effective teams of individuals who are as unique as the clients they serve. We empower our crew to contribute their distinct strengths to achieving Vanguard’s core purpose through our values.

When all crew members feel valued and included, our ability to collaborate and innovate is amplified, and we are united in delivering on Vanguard’s core purpose.

Our core purpose: To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.

Where to from here?

If you would like to discuss further please contact Richard Maher from our Talent Acquisition team on [email protected]