At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial crime initiatives and design smarter controls to enhance customer outcomes.
- Company: Join Zopa, a pioneering digital bank redefining finance with a people-first approach.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and the chance to work abroad for up to 120 days a year.
- Other info: Diverse team culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of financial crime strategy at one of the UK's most loved workplaces.
- Qualifications: Experience in financial crime strategy and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 66150 - 80850 £ per year.
Our Story
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!
We’re incredibly proud of our achievements and none of it would be possible without the amazing team here. It’s not just industry awards we’re winning, we’ve also been named in the top three UK’s Most Loved Workplaces.
If you embrace unconventional challenges, are unafraid to think differently and are driven to make an outsized impact, you’ll thrive here at Zopa, so join us, and make it count.
We’re looking for a Financial Crime Strategy Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping and evolving our financial crime framework. Reporting to the Head of Financial Crime, you'll act as a trusted deputy, leading major strategic initiatives, influencing senior stakeholders, and helping build the next generation of financial crime controls across the bank. This isn't a traditional oversight role. You'll work at the heart of the business, partnering with Product, Engineering, Data and Operations teams to design smarter controls, improve customer outcomes and enable safe, sustainable growth.
A day in the life:
- Deputise for the Head of Financial Crime across leadership, product and governance forums.
- Lead major financial crime initiatives from concept to delivery, including transaction monitoring, screening, customer risk assessment and control optimisation.
- Act as a senior decision-maker for complex financial crime matters within delegated authority.
- Design and enhance financial crime controls across KYC, screening, monitoring, SARs and customer risk assessment.
- Partner closely with Product and Engineering teams to embed effective controls into new products and customer journeys.
- Use data, insight and emerging technologies to improve effectiveness, efficiency and customer experience.
- Represent the 1st Line position with credibility and influence, working closely with Risk, Compliance and senior stakeholders.
- Mentor and develop colleagues, helping build capability across the wider financial crime function.
About you:
- Significant experience leading financial crime strategy, controls or operations within banking, fintech, payments or a regulated financial services environment.
- Strong expertise across key financial crime disciplines, including transaction monitoring, KYC/CDD, screening, customer risk assessment and SARs.
- Experience operating as a senior decision-maker and influencing stakeholders at all levels.
- A product-minded approach, with the ability to balance risk management, customer outcomes and commercial objectives.
- Strong understanding of the UK financial crime regulatory landscape.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to simplify complex topics for diverse audiences.
Why this role?
This is an opportunity to help define the future of financial crime at one of the UK's leading digital banks. You'll have genuine ownership, visibility and influence, working on high-impact initiatives that shape how we prevent financial crime while delivering great customer experiences. If you're excited by building, improving and challenging the status quo, we'd love to hear from you.
At Zopa we value flexible ways of working. We value face-to-face collaboration and a good work-life balance. This hybrid role requires you to come to our London office 2-3 days a week. 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.
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.
Our approach to AI in interviews
At Zopa, AI isn't something we're testing out — it's part of how we work every day. As a proud partner of Jobs 2030, we're committed to building AI fluency across our workforce, and we expect Zopians to use AI as part of how they do their jobs. Because of that, we want to be transparent about how we think about AI use during our hiring process.
Behavioural and competency-based interviews: please don't use AI. These conversations are designed to understand you — your experiences, your judgment, and how you've approached real situations. An AI-generated answer can't tell us that. What it can do is get in the way of us finding out whether we're the right fit for each other.
Technical interviews: it depends on the role. Some technical stages actively welcome AI use, others don't. Your Talent Partner will let you know what's expected at each stage. Where AI is part of the assessment, we'll be interested not just in the outcome, but in how you used it – the tools you chose, your reasoning, and the decisions you made along the way.
Financial Crime Strategy Manager in London employer: Zopa
Zopa is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, where employees are empowered to take ownership of their roles in shaping data privacy strategies. With a strong focus on professional development, team members benefit from growth opportunities and the chance to work alongside industry experts in a vibrant London setting. The hybrid work model enhances work-life balance, making Zopa a rewarding place for those seeking meaningful employment in the field of data privacy.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Financial Crime Strategy Manager in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Zopa. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Financial Crime Strategy Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Zopa.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Zopa's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zopa
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Zopa.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Zopa will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Zopa employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
