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. Want to see us in action? Follow us on Instagram @zopalife
We are looking for an experienced Operational risk leader to work closely with our senior leadership to understand and drive decision-making on the risk associated with their areas of responsibility. The role is an exciting opportunity for a senior leader motivated by driving change and contributing to delivering responsible growth and a truly customer centric experience.
A day in the life:
- You'll be the Senior first line risk lead across the multi-product teams who can work closely with our Leadership team, department heads, and 2nd Line of defence to deliver the following:
- Assess complex problems and get to the heart of the matter to identify the types and level of risk in the light of Zopa risk appetite.
- Define solutions in response to risk which are i) smart ii) proportionate, iii) sustainable (eg. Automated controls over manual interventions) and iv) considered (ie not just plugging the gap but thinking more holistically about the issue and what we need to face into to improve the risk environment
- Mobilise and hold accountable teams where there are interdependencies in order to deliver the agreed solutions in a timely and high-quality way
- Improve the quality of discussion and debate around risk – ensuring appropriate escalation, a consistently evolving approach to MI and controls and clear expectation setting within the first line teams
About you:
- You'll be an experienced Operational Risk leader with a passion for enabling teams to deliver better customer outcomes
- Be able to identify complex areas of operational risk, including proven track record of dealing with change, technology, and process-based risks. This also includes engagement with Zopa’s material suppliers and knowledge of 3rd party risk.
- You're highly commercial, and outcome orientated, able to quantify risk vs reward for the business to propose the optimal outcomes for customers and Zopa
- Able to design and lead the implementation of smart solutions across multi-functional teams
- A strong communicator, able to well articulate the issues, trade-offs and solutions in order to gain buy in to your proposals
- Passionate about improving the risk environment by taking a holistic approach to assessing and dealing with risk and by consistently improving the control structures and MI which the teams rely on
- Be a source of subject matter expertise and wise counsel for senior business colleagues to ensure a coherent approach to Zopa risk appetite and an efficient sharing of best practice
- An experienced coach who can help to improve the quality of thought in the first line teams regarding risk assessment and promote a risk-aware culture across the business.
Bonus point for:
- A proven track record of managing first line risk in a financial organisation which is highly technology enabled.
- Financial services experience desirable as you should have experience of working within a Three Lines of Defence model and understand the expectations on someone within the first line of defence
- Hands on experience of delivering business outcomes whilst creating a positive risk environment
- A good knowledge of the regulatory framework in which Zopa operates and specifically the Senior Manager and Certification Regime as you will be supporting the Zopa SMF holders.
#LI-LK1
Flexible working? Yes please!
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 open-plan, riverside London Bridge office 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.
