Distributor Risk Lead

Role Overview

• Own and operate onboarding risk frameworks
• 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.

Requirements

• 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.

Benefits

• Flexible ways of working
• Face-to-face collaboration
• Good work-life balance
• Option of working from abroad for up to 120 days a year