Director of Financial Crime Risk (MLRO)
London
CRO General – CRO General /
Employee - Permanent /
Hybrid
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
Smart mitigation of Financial Crime Risk is crucial to Zopa Bank, particularly as we are now building a Current Account product. This candidate will act as the MLRO (SMF17) and will be instrumental in overseeing financial crime compliance across all existing products and spearheading the integration of these processes into the new current account offerings. The MLRO will guide a small, senior 2nd line of defence function and will form a productive relationship with the first line of defence to design and implement financial crime frameworks and controls. We are seeking an MLRO who has a drive to get things done, likes working in partnership with smart people and is confident in applying sound risk-based judgment to business problems. Experience in overseeing current accounts or other highly transactional products is important to us.
A day in the life:
- Develop and communicate the Policy – enhance the risk appetite/policy framework to scale with the bank, including the addition of current accounts. Be deliberate in making it both useable for the business and reassuring for stakeholders that we understand and are mitigating financial crime risks (including AML, CTF, Market Abuse and Bribery and Corruption). Be clear on how we apply proportionate thinking to risk management and how the 1LOD and 2LOD work together
- Partner on key pillars of the financial crime approach to ensure they are designed and executed in a smart, risk-based manner, leveraging technology as appropriate. Act as escalation point on change initiatives and high-risk customers.
- Report on financial crime risk profile – provide assessments of Zopa’s risk profile that are consumable by the business and key stakeholders alike, and enable the business to prioritise capability builds appropriately. Lead on horizon scanning to ensure we’re keeping pace with best practice and regulatory change, whilst managing interactions with the FCA.
- Train the business – ensure that the business understands the financial crime risks and our approaches to manage it at an intuitive level. Develop engaging training and be a role model day to day.
- Work with the 1st line of defence, building relationships with Product and Service teams that enables us to design and execute smart, risk-based processes and controls. Develop the conditions whereby 2LOD supports and challenges the 1LOD. Provide independent 2LOD assessments as necessary.
About you:
- Previous experience working in the capacity of MLRO or Deputy MLRO. Including AML/CTF compliance within the financial services industry.
- Ideally, you'll have experience of working in a retail banking environment , with a track record of successfully working with the first line of defence in managing AML/CTF risks.
- In-depth knowledge of AML/CTF regulations and their application to the financial industry, particularly in the UK.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess and mitigate financial crime risks, especially in the context of current accounts.
- Excellent communication to engage with internal stakeholders and regulatory authorities.
- Experience in implementing and managing AML/CTF programs within a financial institution, with a specific focus on current account services.
- Relevant professional qualifications (for example ICA Diploma in Anti-Money Laundering or the ICA Diploma in Financial Crime Prevention)
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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.
