At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive innovation in analytics and shape the future of data at Zopa.
- Company: Join Zopa, a pioneering bank redefining finance with a people-first approach.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Diverse workplace culture with a focus on collaboration and work-life balance.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI-driven analytics and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Deep expertise in analytics and strong technical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ 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.
The Opportunity
Analytics is changing rapidly. AI is transforming how analysts work. Organisations are changing how they think about metrics and self-service. Modern data platforms are creating entirely new ways to generate insight and make decisions.
At Zopa, we don't want to simply react to those changes—we want to shape them. We're looking for a Principal Analyst to help build the next generation of analytics capabilities across the bank.
This is a rare opportunity to operate as a senior individual contributor with broad influence across an established analytics function. You'll help us identify and exploit the opportunities created by AI, raise technical standards, and drive strategically important cross-functional analytics initiatives.
You will remain close enough to delivery to stay credible, personally leading high-impact analytics initiatives. If you're excited by the idea of shaping the future of analytics we'd love to hear from you.
A day in the life
- Drive analytics-wide innovation, identifying practical opportunities created by AI, modern analytics tooling and evolving platform capabilities.
- Help define and execute our strategy for semantic layers, self-service analytics and metric governance.
- Raise technical standards across the analytics community, improving quality, consistency and scalability.
- Partner with Product, Data, Engineering and Analytics leaders to shape the future direction of analytics at Zopa.
- Coach and influence analysts and analytics leaders, helping build capability across the wider function.
- Lead experimentation with emerging technologies and help turn promising ideas into scalable capabilities.
- Own and evolve strategically important analytics products and reporting outputs, including senior leadership reporting and cross-functional metrics.
- Help define and govern critical business concepts and metrics used across the organisation.
- Influence platform, tooling and architectural decisions to maximise value for analytics users.
- Act as a trusted technical and strategic advisor across the analytics organisation.
About you
- You've built deep expertise in analytics, BI, analytics engineering, data strategy or a related field, and understand how these disciplines fit together to create value.
- Highly technical, with strong capability in coding, analytics tooling, data modelling and analytics architecture. You're able to move comfortably between strategic discussions and technical implementation details.
- Proven track record of influencing stakeholders at all levels and driving meaningful change without relying on formal authority.
- You have a strong understanding of semantic layers, metric governance, self-service analytics and modern BI concepts, with a clear point of view on what good looks like.
- An active explorer of emerging technologies and can identify practical opportunities to improve how teams work, access data and generate insight.
- You have a deep personal interest in AI and a well-developed perspective on how it will transform analytics over the coming years. Ideally, you've helped lead adoption of AI-enabled analytics capabilities or worked in an environment that is ahead of the curve.
- You thrive in ambiguity and periods of rapid change, and are able to create clarity, alignment and direction even when the future is uncertain.
- Equally comfortable shaping long-term strategy and getting hands-on to turn ideas into reality.
- Naturally curious, pragmatic and outcome-focused, and enjoy helping others grow and raising the capability of teams around you.
- Experience in financial services is helpful but not essential.
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.
Principal Analyst in London employer: Zopa
At Zopa, we pride ourselves on being a forward-thinking employer that champions innovation and collaboration in the finance sector. Our vibrant London office fosters a culture of inclusivity and flexibility, allowing employees to thrive both personally and professionally, with opportunities for growth through hands-on projects and mentorship. With a commitment to work-life balance and the unique benefit of working abroad for up to 120 days a year, Zopa is an exceptional place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in analytics and beyond.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Analyst 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 Principal Analyst 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.
