Financial Crime Risk Manager

This position requires a dynamic and analytical thinker who enjoys collaborating with a wide range of first line teams including risk, ops and product to provide effective review, challenge, oversight, and assurance of financial crime risk assessments and decision-making by the business. The role is an exciting opportunity for a financial crime risk manager motivated by driving change and contributing to responsible growth and a truly customer-centric experience.

A day in the life:

• Developing and maintaining Zopa’s AML/CFT and Sanctions policies and standards, ensuring that appropriate measures are in place so that money laundering, terrorist financing and sanction evasion risks are considered in the company’s day-to-day operations.

• Carrying out assurance activities – these could be testing key financial crime controls, carrying out MI validation, customer journey reviews, policy reviews or large, thematic reviews into key areas of the financial crime control framework

• Conducting risk assessments for new and existing products as well as contributing to the annual bank wide risk assessment

• Reviewing methodology documents and proposals from the 1st line of defence and question these proposals where necessary

• Drafting and providing ongoing maintenance of robust policies and procedures to reflect regulatory developments and best practices

• Preparing documentation whether it’s for monthly risk committee meetings, policy and standards updates or information for the regulators

• Ensuring that controls scale with all Zopa’s products by developing effective ongoing review and monitoring processes

• Reviewing and analysing MI from across the suite of controls to identify any areas of concern for further investigation

• Working closely with first line of defence risk team in the development of new controls or improving existing ones across current accounts.

• Demonstratable experience in AML/CTF risk management within the financial services sector, preferably within ahigh-growth fintech, digital bank or EMI.

• Hands-on team player, with experience within a 1st or 2nd line risk function

• In-depth understanding of UK anti-money laundering, countering terrorist financing and sanctions regulations, including the Money Laundering Regulations, the Proceeds of Crime Act and FCA expectations

• Clear communicator with ability to explain complicated concepts in simple terms to a wide audience (both verbally and in writing) and can challenge and influence stakeholders of varying seniority

• Enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, you’re a proactive self-starter and are comfortable with a degree of ambiguity and change

• You can work autonomously and take ownership – you have project management, organisational skills and capability to handle multiple projects at one time

• Critical thinking with a pragmatic, hands-on approach to problem-solving

• Strong analytical and risk assessment skills, with the ability to adapt to new challenges

• Data driven – ability to analyse data to draw insightful conclusions to drive identify practical risk mitigations

• Impeccable report writing skills, with the ability to adapt language and complexity depending on target audience

• High level of integrity, sound judgment and attention to detail

Bonus points for:

• Experience working with product teams, suppliers or regulators

• Knowledge of SQL would be a bonus!

• Exposure to retail current accounts (either personal or business)

• Financial crime qualification(s) – ICA or similar

At Zopa we value flexible ways of working. We understand the benefits of face-to-face collaboration and the importance of a good work-life balance. Our teams work in a hybrid manner, from our vibrant UK offices and the comfort of their own homes, at a frequency that suits the team and the work they do.

Not only that – you’ll also have the option of working from abroad for up to 120 days a year!* But no matter where you are, we’ll make sure you’ve got everything you need to thrive, both in your work and home life, from day one.

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

Diversity Statement

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, have a DE&I forum made up of Zopians wanting to make a difference and we are proud of our culture where everyone can bring their full self to work. Our approach to DE&I is reflected in our hiring process so please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments.