Financial Crime Team Leader (Hybrid)

Overview

Join to apply for the Financial Crime Team Leader (Hybrid) role at Zopa Bank.

Hello there. We’re Zopa. We started our journey back in 2005, building the first ever peer-to-peer lending company. Fast forward to 2020 and we launched Zopa Bank. A bank that listens to what our customers don’t like about finance and does the opposite. We’re redefining what it feels like to work in finance. Our vision for a new era of banking puts people front and centre — we’ve built a business that empowers everyone to aim high, every day, to move finance forward. Find out more about our fantastic offerings at Zopa.com.

Role purpose: In this position, you will lead a dedicated team of financial crime analysts and investigators, ensuring the organisation’s compliance with AML regulations and implementing effective financial crime prevention measures.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: Lead and manage a team of financial crime analysts and investigators, providing guidance, support, and performance feedback.
• KPI Management: Ensure the team achieves key performance indicators (KPIs) for financial crime prevention, detection, and reporting.
• Collaborative Environment: Foster a culture of collaboration, encouraging the sharing of best practices and knowledge within the team.
• SAR Oversight: Oversee the investigation of suspicious activity reports (SARs) and ensure timely submissions to regulatory authorities.
• Transaction Monitoring: Monitor daily transactions to identify red flags related to money laundering, fraud, and terrorism financing.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Work closely with other departments to facilitate seamless communication and case resolution.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all financial crime activities comply with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.
• Regulation Updates: Stay informed about changes in financial crime regulations and adjust policies and procedures as needed.
• Risk Assessment: Proactively identify and assess financial crime risks, developing strategies for effective mitigation.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including regulators, law enforcement agencies, and industry peers.
• Training and Awareness: Conduct training sessions for non-specialised teams to raise financial crime awareness.
• Continuous Improvement: Review and enhance processes and systems for monitoring, detection, and investigation of financial crime.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks, including AML, KYC, and sanctions screening requirements, with a focus on transaction monitoring and mule activity.
• Proven ability to lead and motivate a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent analytical, investigative, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex information to senior stakeholders.
• Proficiency in relevant tools and technologies, such as transaction monitoring systems, data analytics tools, and case management platforms.
• Experience using advanced data analytics or machine learning for financial crime detection.
• Familiarity with international regulatory environments and cross-border financial crime investigations.
• Strong knowledge of emerging risks in the fintech, cryptocurrency, or digital payments space.

Working Pattern

This is a hybrid role, with the team working in the office three days a week.

Your working week will consist of 7.5 hour shifts scheduled between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm, Monday to Friday. You will also be required to work one day of the weekend every other week, from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, which will be worked remotely. If you work a weekend day, you will receive a day off during the week in lieu. In addition, you will be required to work on two bank holidays per year, for which you will receive time off in lieu.

From September 2025, Zopa will be opening a brand-new office in Manchester at WeWork, Dalton Place, 29 John Dalton Street, M2 6WF. This hybrid role requires you to come to our Manchester office 2-3 days a week. You’ll also have the option of working from abroad for up to 120 days a year, with appropriate rights to work in the country you choose.

Subject to having the right to work in the country of choice.

Diversity & Inclusion

Zopa is proud to offer a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds leads to better products for our customers and a unique company culture for our people. We are made up of nearly 50 nationalities and support a DE&I forum for employees. If you require reasonable adjustments in our hiring process, please let us know.

Additional

We’re expanding our presence and inviting flexible working arrangements while maintaining collaboration and work-life balance.

Location: Manchester, United Kingdom

Employment type: Full-time