Risk and Control Manager

About Starling 

At Starling, we are on a mission to provide people with a fairer, smarter, and more human alternative to traditional banks. We are building a leading digital bank, driven by fast technology, fair service, and honest values. Our vision is to create a banking industry that serves everyone, which we accomplish by developing best-in-class proprietary technology, offering an exceptional customer experience, and establishing a strong, sustainable business.

Our five core values – Listen, Keep It Simple, Do The Right Thing, Own It, and Aim for Greatness – are at the heart of everything we do, guiding our strategy and shaping our culture. We're a branchless, largely paperless bank, committed to responsible banking, sustainability, and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Hybrid working: All Starling colleagues spend a minimum of 10 days per month in the office with flexibility to work the rest from home.

The Opportunity

Location: Cardiff, London or Manchester with travel between sites required.

Reporting to: Head of Risk & Control Enablement

Closing date: Wednesday 22nd October, 9am.

We are seeking a Risk and Control Manager to partner with our Marketing and Legal teams. Around half of your time will focus on Marketing, providing hands-on oversight of regulatory, operational, and reputational risks across campaigns, partnerships, and brand activities. The remainder will be spent supporting the Legal function, helping ensure effective risk management, strong control standards, and compliance with regulatory obligations. You will play a key role in protecting the brand, enabling compliant delivery, and embedding a culture of control awareness across both areas. 

Key Responsibilities Include:

Risk & Control Oversight 

• Act as the primary 1LoD risk and control lead for Marketing, with additional support provided to Legal. 

• Identify, assess, and manage risks across marketing campaigns, promotions, partnerships, communications, legal contracts, and advisory activity. 

• Own and maintain the Risk & Control Register for Marketing and Legal, ensuring risks and controls are documented, reviewed, and tested. 

• Lead Risk and Control Self-Assessments (RCSAs) for both areas, ensuring control design and operational effectiveness are evidenced. 

• Provide challenge and guidance to ensure risks are properly managed in new initiatives, campaigns, and third-party relationships. 

• Partner with business leadership to embed control frameworks into daily operations and decision-making. 

Compliance & Regulatory Support 

• Ensure all marketing and communication activity complies with FCA requirements, including Consumer Duty, CONC, BCOBS, and financial promotions rules. 

• Support Legal in identifying and managing risks linked to contractual obligations, intellectual property, third-party agreements, and litigation exposure. 

• Work with Compliance and Legal to review campaigns, partnerships, and customer materials for fairness, accuracy, and transparency. 

• Monitor evolving regulatory expectations, including Consumer Duty and greenwashing standards, and support implementation across functions.

Incident & Issue Management 

• Lead the investigation, escalation, and reporting of marketing or legal risk incidents and near misses. 

• Track and oversee resolution of audit, assurance, and compliance findings. 

• Capture and embed lessons learned to strengthen control maturity and prevent recurrence. 

Monitoring & Assurance 

• Deliver 1st Line assurance reviews across Marketing and Legal, focusing on key processes such as campaign approvals, financial promotions, and contract governance. 

• Maintain and report Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) and emerging risk themes to senior stakeholders. 

• Analyse assurance results and trends to drive targeted control improvements. 

Stakeholder Engagement & Culture 

• Build strong working relationships with senior stakeholders across Marketing, Legal, and Compliance. 

• Promote a customer-first, risk-aware culture across both functions. 

• Act as the connection point between 1LoD, 2LoD, and business teams to align risk priorities and ensure clear ownership.

Essential: 

• Strong understanding of financial services regulation, including Consumer Duty, the FCA Handbook, and financial promotions requirements. 
• Experience managing risk and control frameworks (RCSAs, control testing, risk registers, and issue management). 
• Knowledge of legal and regulatory risk within commercial or financial services contexts.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills. 
• Ability to influence, challenge, and provide practical risk solutions in fast-paced environments.

Why Join Starling?

This is your chance to lead from the front at Starling. You’ll see first-hand how a fast-growing digital bank runs its operations and you’ll play a key role in keeping them safe, resilient, and customer-focused.

• 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) leasingOur Commitment to Equality

Starling Bank is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster diversity & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Starling Bank are considered without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. When you provide us with this information, you are doing so at your own consent, with full knowledge that we will process this personal data in accordance with our Privacy Notice. By submitting your application, you agree that Starling Bank will collect your personal data for recruiting and related purposes. Our Privacy Notice explains what personal information we will process, where we will process your personal information, its purposes for processing your personal information, and the rights you can exercise over our use of your personal information.