This role sits within Zopa’s 1st Line of Defence (1LoD) Risk Function, supporting the business to embed effective and efficient risk management into day-to-day decision making
You will lead the Distributor Risk Team, owning the end-to-end onboarding and ongoing oversight risk frameworks for Auto, Payments and Retail Finance distribution partners.
You’ll build and run proportionate frameworks that protect Zopa’s risk appetite and control environment, while materially improving onboarding speed and partner lifecycle monitoring. You’ll be expected to operate as a domain expert who can set direction, shape clear frameworks, and communicate complex risk analysis effectively to senior stakeholders
A day in the life:
Design, iterate and operate a fast, risk-based onboarding model for Auto, Payments and Retail Finance partners within clear, proportionate end-to-end risk frameworks.
Define and maintain risk appetite guardrails, decision-making authorities, and minimum control standards for partner onboarding and changes to partner operating models, aligned to Zopa’s broader risk management model and appetite monitoring approach
Ensure distributor/partner risks (including failures in onboarding or ongoing management) are clearly captured and managed as part of the bank’s operational risk taxonomy for distribution methods/intermediaries
Translate risk appetite into measurable metrics and high-quality MI for senior governance, using a robust set of KRIs/KCIs/KPIs and clear thresholds/trigger points
Build and calibrate monitoring that provides early warning indicators and actively manages risk exposure across the full partner lifecycle
Provide clear, structured risk analysis and recommendations to support decisions that balance risk and reward within appetite
Partner with Product and Engineering to digitise onboarding and monitoring workflows, converting policy requirements into scalable, system-executable controls (e.g., automated checks, evidence capture, attestations, monitoring triggers).
Help ensure control performance is measurable and evidenced appropriately, aligned with expectations for control ownership, operation, and keeping risk/control data up to date
Proactively identify weaknesses and friction points across onboarding and monitoring; implement enhancements that improve speed, clarity, and resilience.
Use lessons learned (issues, incidents, near misses) to strengthen frameworks and controls, consistent with the “response and learning” cycle in Zopa’s risk model
Provide structured challenge and clear trade-off analysis to enable growth within appetite.
Build strong cross-functional partnerships across 1LoD/2LoD and business teams, influencing outcomes through clear communication of complex topics to senior stakeholders
Own and operate onboarding risk frameworks
Embed data-driven risk management
Drive automation & tooling
Continuous control improvement
Act as a commercial risk partner
About you:
Deep experience designing and operating risk-based onboarding and oversight frameworks for third parties, intermediaries, merchants, brokers, distributors, payment partners, or similar.
Strong capability in risk MI: defining KRIs/KCIs/KPIs, thresholds, and early warning indicators; turning risk appetite into practical measurement and governance-ready reporting
Proven track record of partnering with Product/Engineering to implement automation and system controls, not just writing policy.
Confident communicator who can synthesise and explain complex risk analysis clearly to senior stakeholders and governance forums
People leadership experience: coaching, prioritisation, performance management, and protecting team throughput during high-demand periods.
Bonus points for:
Top Skills
Zopa Bank London, England Office
Tooley Street, London, United Kingdom, SE1 2QG
