Hybrid Risk & Control Manager – Core & Complex

at Starling Bank

• Job title: Risk & Control Manager – Core & Complex
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Mid level, Senior
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: No Education Requirement
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Cardiff, United Kingdom

About the role

• Risk & Control Manager in hybrid role at Starling Bank, focusing on risk management frameworks and controls. Collaborating across teams to drive effective risk ownership and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist risk and control expertise to strengthen first line ownership.
• Partner with Risk and Control Owners to provide challenge and input on key decisions, ensuring clear accountability and effective risk management.
• Drive ownership of risks and controls across Financial Assistance and Business Banking Operations, enabling teams to articulate and manage their risk profile confidently.
• Contribute to developing a strong risk culture within Core and Complex Servicing, including supporting relevant training.
• Engage with 2LOD, 3LOD, and other stakeholders to ensure policies are embedded and adhered to.
• Validate action closure rationale and evidence from the 1LoD working with the 3 lines of defence on timely closure of actions.
• Work with Business Heads and Risk Champions to identify emerging risks and ensure they are escalated and addressed.
• Ensure risks and controls are clearly defined, documented, and maintained.
• Lead periodic independent testing of control effectiveness within the first line.
• Identify and track remediation of control deficiencies.
• Manage operational events, including root cause analysis, lessons learned, and read-across.
• Own departmental RCSA and control framework, ensuring risks are tested, mitigated, and aligned with appetite.
• Lead small-scale improvement initiatives and contribute to wider change programmes that strengthen risk management practices.

Requirements

• Strong understanding of non-financial risk management frameworks.
• Knowledge of Conduct Risk and Consumer Duty.
• Understanding of CONC, BCOBS
• Experience of first line control testing within Collections / Banking operations.
• Strong ability to build trusted stakeholder relationships across business and risk functions.
• Inquisitive and analytical mindset to assess risks, controls, and processes, identifying gaps and recommending improvements.
• Proactive, with a “can do” attitude; able to take ownership and see initiatives through.
• Comfortable challenging the status quo to drive best-in-class practices in financial services operations.
• Capable of independently leading small initiatives and delivering results with minimal supervision.
• 3–5 years of risk and control experience within collections/financial assistance, SME lending, and banking operations.
• Exposure to working within First Line risk management or as a risk champion.
• Proven ability to lead small initiatives, projects, or workstreams that enhance control environments.
• Prior experience in banking and/or lending operations is advantageous.
• Proficiency in Google Suite (Docs, Sheets) and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word).

Benefits

• Make an Impact: Work on projects that directly shape the future of banking and improve the financial lives of our customers. Starling is technology-led, and you'll have the freedom to accomplish your goals in innovative ways.
• Culture of Excellence: Be part of a collaborative, empowered, and forward-thinking team. We encourage experimentation, ownership, and a relentless focus on "doing the right thing.”
• Growth and Development: We are committed to your professional growth, offering opportunities to learn new technologies, take on new challenges, and own interesting things from day one.
• A Bank That Cares: We're a Living Wage employer, committed to flexible working, and dedicated to creating a fair, open, and safe working environment with compassion and inclusion at its core.
• Comprehensive Benefits: We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including:
• Company-enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme (7% employer contribution)
• Private Medical Insurance with Vitality including mental health support and cancer care. Partner benefits include discounts with Waitrose, Mr&Mrs Smith and Peloton.
• 25 days holiday (plus take your public holiday allowance whenever works best for you)
• An extra day’s holiday for your birthday
• Life Insurance at 4x your salary.
• 16 hours of paid volunteering time a year.
• Ability to buy or sell annual leave.
• Generous family-friendly policies.
• Annual leave is increased with length of service, and you can choose to buy or sell up to five extra days off
• Incentivised refer a friend scheme
• Perkbox membership giving access to retail discounts, a wellness platform for physical and mental health, and weekly free and boosted perks
• Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work, Salary Sacrificed Gym partnerships and Electric Vehicle (EV) leasing