Our People

Molly
Vaughan

Senior Director

Europe, Middle East & Africa | London office

+44 (0)20 7079 5900

mvaughan@nardelloandco.com

Headshot of Molly Vaughan

Molly Vaughan of Nardello & Co.’s London office, has over a decade of experience leading compliance matters as well as complex financial investigations focused on fraud, bribery and corruption, and money laundering.

A qualified accountant, member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and Certified Fraud Examiner, Molly advises clients on sensitive, high‑risk investigations involving financial crime, regulatory exposure, and governance failures. She holds a BA (Hons) in History from the University of Oxford.

After working at HM Revenue & Customs’ Fraud Investigation Service, she joined the Serious Fraud Office, where she conducted criminal and civil investigations under the Proceeds of Crime Act, overseeing inquires in multiple industries, including financial services, telecommunications, and property development.

Prior to joining Nardello & Co., Molly worked for global financial and risk advisory firms, supporting law firms, corporations, and financial institutions on forensic investigations in emerging and frontier markets.

Molly supports anti-corruption and business integrity initiatives as a Committee Member and Co-Events Lead for Transparency International’s Professional Supporters Network.

Representative matters

  • Investigated a Ponzi scheme based on purported mortgage‑backed investments that operated for more than 15 years and caused losses in excess of £100 million. Her forensic analysis of financial records illuminated the transfer of funds through multiple accounts, identified asset dissipation patterns, and quantified individual investor losses for compensation purposes.
  • Conducted a forensic audit into the use of more than £150 million in a pharmaceutical manufacturing program. After analyzing financial records, procurement documentation, and production data to assess alignment with contractual obligations, Molly and her team showed how a weak internal controls environment led to significant overspend and limited production output relative to funding. Her findings were used to inform commercial negotiations regarding potential recovery of funds and to strengthen oversight mechanisms for future funding.
  • Investigated a £20 million procurement fraud at an energy company. Combining digital forensics work with an analysis of procurement records and employee and counterparty interviews, Molly quantified financial loss, identified conflicts of interest and collusive practices, and supported subsequent enforcement action.

Certifications

  • Qualified Accountant
  • Member, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
  • Certified Fraud Examiner

Professional affiliations

  • Committee Member, Transparency International’s Professional Supporters Network
  • Co-Events Lead, Transparency International’s Professional Supporters Network

Education

  • BA (Hons) in History from the University of Oxford

Related

Article

6 min read

A Decade of Partnership in the Fight Against Financial Crime: the Joint Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce Ten Years On

In 2015, the UK undertook a bold experiment: the creation of a public-private taskforce that would enable real-time intelligence sharing…

Article

7 min read

When Lifestyles Don’t Match Paychecks: An Analysis of the Serious Fraud Office’s First Unexplained Wealth Order

In the press

1 min read

Conducting Anti-Corruption Due Diligence on Third Parties

In the press

1 min read

How Federal Crackdown on Bribery Hurts Business and Enriches Insiders

Article

4 min read

World Bank Group’s Revised Integrity Compliance Guidelines: Evolving Standards for Integrity and Compliance

Article

6 min read

From Pledges to Prosecutions: Can London’s 2026 Illicit Finance Summit Deliver?

Article

6 min read

The First “Failure to Prevent Tax Evasion” Charge Signals a Shift in Enforcement