Director of Compliance

About the role

Wealthfront is seeking an experienced and strategic compliance leader to oversee the company's risk management and ensure adherence to all relevant regulatory standards. This role is essential in maintaining the integrity of the organization's financial products and services, fostering a culture of compliance and ethical operation. You will be responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining compliance programs across various business units, working closely with legal and operational teams to embed compliance into the company's core strategies. The successful candidate will play a key role in managing regulatory relationships, overseeing compliance policies, and ensuring timely and accurate regulatory filings. This position offers an opportunity to lead compliance efforts in a fast-paced, innovative financial services environment, supporting Wealthfront's mission to provide transparent and trustworthy financial solutions.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead and manage the compliance risk management team to ensure all business lines and regulated entities operate within the legal and regulatory frameworks applicable to their activities.
• Assist the Chief Compliance Officer in designing, developing, and executing the company's ethics and compliance programs, including supervising staff and providing ongoing training to promote a culture of compliance.
• Oversee the Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) program to identify, assess, and mitigate regulatory risks, ensuring that all processes are well-documented and compliant with applicable laws and regulations.
• Manage the company's policy management system, including creating, reviewing, and updating policies and procedures to reflect current regulatory requirements and best practices.
• Establish and maintain a comprehensive framework for the responsible and compliant use of artificial intelligence systems within the organization, ensuring adherence to ethical standards and regulatory guidelines.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee monitoring, testing, and risk assessments related to broker-dealer supervisory policies, ensuring ongoing compliance and identifying areas for improvement.
• Lead the annual control evaluation process and prepare reports for regulated entities, including broker-dealers and investment advisers, to demonstrate compliance and identify potential gaps.
• Partner with legal counsel to interpret new and evolving regulations, analyze their impact on the organization, and develop compliant operational solutions.
• Oversee compliance activities related to the Wealthfront Treasury Money Market Fund (WLTXX), ensuring adherence to applicable regulations and internal policies.
• Improve record-keeping processes and organizational workflows to facilitate efficient handling of regulatory inquiries and audits.
• Ensure the accurate and timely submission of regulatory filings such as ADV Part 1, ADV Part 2A, ADV Part 2B, Form BD, 17H, and 13F, maintaining compliance with all filing deadlines and requirements.
• Stay current with regulatory developments and industry best practices, providing guidance to internal teams to adapt policies and procedures accordingly.
• Collaborate with various departments to embed compliance considerations into product development, marketing, and operational processes.
• Manage relationships with regulatory agencies and external auditors, representing the company during inspections and inquiries.
• Develop and implement training programs to educate staff on compliance policies, regulatory changes, and ethical standards.
• Lead efforts to enhance compliance technology systems and tools to improve monitoring, reporting, and record-keeping capabilities.

Requirements

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in compliance, with direct experience at a broker-dealer or investment advisory firm.
• Hold FINRA Series 7 and 24 licenses, or Series 14, with a willingness to acquire any additional licenses required for the role.
• Deep knowledge of financial regulations, including SEC, FINRA, and MSRB rules, especially those related to public communications and record-keeping.
• Proven leadership skills in managing compliance teams and implementing compliance programs across multiple business units.
• Strong analytical skills for assessing regulatory risks, developing mitigation strategies, and solving complex compliance issues.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing and collaborating effectively with internal teams and external regulators.
• Experience managing regulatory filings and reporting processes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and deadlines efficiently.
• Familiarity with compliance management systems and documentation tools.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and implement regulatory changes, translating them into operational procedures.

Nice to have

• Experience working with mutual funds, money market funds, ETFs, margin products, and 529 plans.
• Knowledge of investment advisory, financial planning, banking, and insurance sectors.
• Prior experience working in a fintech or innovative financial services company.
• Exposure to artificial intelligence and its regulatory considerations within financial services.
• Experience working with compliance software and automation tools to streamline processes.

Skills & tools

• Strong understanding of FINRA, MSRB, and SEC rules, particularly concerning public communications, record-keeping, and supervisory requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and influencing skills to drive compliance culture across the organization.
• Superior organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Analytical mindset with the capacity to identify compliance risks, quantify their impact, and develop effective solutions.
• Interest in leveraging technology to improve compliance monitoring, reporting, and record-keeping processes.
• Proficiency in compliance management systems, document management tools, and regulatory reporting platforms.

Practical notes

• Wealthfront is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all employees.
• Candidates are encouraged to review our candidate privacy notice before submitting an application.
• This role is based on-site in Palo Alto, CA, with consideration for US-based remote candidates.
• The position involves working closely with legal, operational, and product teams to ensure compliance across all aspects of the business.
• The successful candidate will be expected to stay current with evolving regulatory requirements and industry best practices, adapting policies and procedures accordingly.