Associate Director, Fraud & Financial Crime Operations

 

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

At Zopa, we’re building a Fraud and Financial Crime Tribe focused on protecting the bank and our customers across the full customer lifecycle. Bringing together Product and Operations, the tribe is reshaping how fraud and financial crime operations work through smarter processes, AI and automation.

This is a senior leadership role leading the Operations function across Fraud Ops and Fin Crime Ops, overseeing teams across London, Manchester and an outsourced operation in South Africa. You’ll shape the future operating model for the function, influencing how technology, automation and organisational design evolve as the business scales.

You’ll work closely with Product, Engineering, Risk, Compliance, Fraud Strategy and the MLRO, acting as a senior voice in decisions with broad operational, customer and regulatory impact.

Set the strategic direction for Fraud Ops and FinCrime Ops, shaping structure, standards and operating models

Own organisational design, workforce planning and operational budget across the function

Lead operational performance, using MI and insight to drive accountability and improvement

Partner with Product and Engineering teams to shape automation strategy and operational processes

Drive adoption of AI and automation across the function

Represent Operations in senior governance, regulatory and audit discussions where required

Ensure strong governance, controls and regulatory compliance across the function

Build leadership capability, succession plans and long term talent pipelines across Operations

Experienced senior operational leader with a strong track record managing large scale teams within regulated financial services or fintech

Deep expertise across fraud and financial crime operations, including governance, controls and customer outcomes

Proven experience leading operational transformation across technology, processes and operating models

Commercially minded with experience managing budgets, operational investment and third party relationships

Excited by AI and automation, with a clear view on how technology can reshape operational functions responsibly

Strong cross functional leader who influences effectively across Product, Engineering, Risk and Compliance

Strategic, data driven and highly pragmatic, with strong operational judgement

Strong people leader who develops high performing teams and future leadership capability

Experience within digital banking or fast growth fintech environments

Knowledge of APP fraud, SAR obligations, Consumer Duty and vulnerable customer handling

Experience managing outsourced operational teams

Exposure to regulatory engagement with the FCA, auditors or industry bodies

Familiarity with modern fraud tooling and operational analytics platforms