Legal Counsel, Associate Counsel

About Vanguard

More than 45 years ago, John C. Bogle had a vision to start an investment company that did things differently. A company with no external shareholders. Where all the profits were invested back into the business and used to lower costs. Evidently, it was as bold as it was brilliant. To this day, Vanguard Group still has no external shareholders. That means no share prices to protect, and no profits to generate for outside owners. 

Today, Vanguard is one of the world’s largest investment management companies, serving more than 50 million investors worldwide. For more than 25 years Vanguard Australia has been supporting individual investors, financial advisers, and superannuation members to achieve their long-term financial goals.

Team & Opportunity

We are on the lookout for our next team member to join Vanguard’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC) as a Legal Counsel.  You will be part of a professional and motivated team that is responsible for providing advice, counsel and support to the Funds, Platforms and Financial Adviser Services businesses.  You’ll be critical in supporting Vanguard’s strategic goals while managing legal risk and ensuring the organisation operates within prescribed legal limits.

Core Responsibilities

• Provides legal support to the Product, Platforms and Financial Adviser Services businesses.
• Drafts and negotiates legal documents such as contracts, agreements and correspondence of legal significance.
• Monitors, analyses, and responds to legislative and regulatory developments to ensure they are adequately addressed.
• Leads complex commercial contract negotiations and implements business processes and compliance procedures on a range of complex legal matters.
• May represent the organization in complex or specialized legal proceedings before courts, government agencies, or other authorities to ensure the organization's interests are protected.
• Develops strong working relationships with overseas-based colleagues.
• Coaches junior staff and helps resolve problems.
• Participates in special projects.

What we are looking for

• Law degree (LLB, JD, LLM) coupled with practising certificate in Australia
• Significant legal experience in the Funds Management industry
• An executive stakeholder management skillset with a demonstrated ability to engage, influence and add value to a group of stakeholders.
• Ability to work quickly and independently with attention to detail and sensitivity to deadlines. 
• Ability to adapt to dynamic and evolving environment and think flexibly with a solutions mindset.

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.

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.