Financial Crime Specialist - SARs (Hybrid)

Our StoryHello 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 ! 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 @zopalifeWe are seeking detail-oriented and highly motivated SARs Financial Crime Specialists within to join our Financial Crime Operations team.The role involves preparing detailed reports on potentially suspicious financial transactions for compliance and regulatory purposes. Key responsibilities include reviewing customer transactions and related information to identify suspicious activity, drafting SARs, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This position plays a crucial role in preventing financial crime, including money laundering and fraud.Working Pattern:This is a hybrid role, with the team working in the office two days per week.Your working week will consist of hour shifts between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday. You will also be required to work one weekend day every other week remotely. If you work a weekend day, you will receive a day off during the week.You will be required to work on some bank holidays each year, for which you will receive time off in lieu.

A day in the life:

• SARs: Prepare, complete, and submit Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) in a timely and accurate manner.
• Track and report the status of ongoing investigations and SAR filings.
• Ensure all SAR filings are properly documented and maintained for audit and regulatory purposes.
• Provide support for internal and external audits related to suspicious activity investigations.
• Use insights from AI outputs to support investigations, identify potential risks or patterns, and escalate findings in line with agreed procedures.
• Share observations to support the ongoing improvement of monitoring tools and controls.
• Transaction Monitoring: Review and analyse customer transactions to identify potentially suspicious activity, including money laundering, fraud, terrorist financing, and other typologies.
• Investigate flagged transactions across the Zopa suite of products using transaction monitoring systems and assess their potential risk.
• Investigate Mule alerts raised through transaction monitoring.
• Use AI-enabled monitoring tools as part of day-to-day transaction monitoring activities, reviewing and assessing AI-generated alerts and recommendations while applying analyst judgment to support accurate decision-making.
• Reporting & Documentation: Prepare detailed investigation reports outlining findings, actions taken, and recommendations.
• Maintain accurate records of monitored transactions and investigations to support audit requirements and regulatory reviews.
• Communication: Handle phone-based interactions with customers as part of daily responsibilities, including engaging with customers, addressing inquiries, and providing support or assistance while ensuring a high level of customer service.
• Demonstrate strong communication skills and the ability to manage calls effectively.

About you:

• Experience in financial crime or fraud, ideally in a SARs/Transaction Monitoring role within the banking or financial services industry.
• Experience leveraging AI tools to support financial crime investigations and produce high-quality investigative summaries, while maintaining strong analytical judgment and regulatory awareness.
• Demonstrated ability to critically assess AI-generated case summaries, applying professional judgment to support sound case decisions while ensuring full regulatory and policy compliance.
• Strong knowledge of UK financial crime regulations, including the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), the Money Laundering Regulations (MLR), and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidelines.
• Familiarity with transaction monitoring systems.
• Strong analytical and investigative skills with keen attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to produce clear, concise reports and communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong understanding of banking products and services, including payments, savings, and investment transactions.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous learning.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority tasks simultaneously under pressure.

Desirable:

• ACAMS (Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists) certification or equivalent ICA qualification.

At Zopa we value flexible ways of working.We value face-to-face collaboration and a good work-life balance. This hybrid role requires you to come to our London office 2 days a week.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 choiceDiversity StatementZopa 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. #LI-LH1We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.