Risk and Controls Operations Associate

United States Digital Space LLC; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity: Initial grant of stock options

Annual salary reviews

30 days annual leave

Private medical and dental insurance

Job summary

Investa is seeking a Risk and Controls Operations Associate to act as the first line of regulatory and operational control for our trading platform. You will work with the Head of Risk & Compliance and the founders to execute daily CASS, onboarding operations, and financial crime controls as we scale.

The role bridges regulatory oversight with practical execution, ensuring FCA standards are met while onboarding new platforms and expanding custody capabilities.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands-on experience covering trade operations or controls support at a regulated firm, FinTech, investment platform, or broker.
• Understanding of the regulatory framework surrounding CASS, Consumer Duty, Systems & Controls, and Anti-Money Laundering.
• Direct experience executing CASS reconciliation workflows, client onboarding, and trade surveillance.
• Strong analytical mindset with high attention to detail and sound, practical judgement.
• Technical proficiency in Office and Google-based software including excel, Google Sheets, Google Docs.

Responsibilities

• Risk & Control Operations CASS Reconciliations: Perform daily internal & external CASS reconciliations across the company’s client base to prevent breaches and ensure compliance with day-to-day CASS obligations.
• CASS Reporting & Audits: Maintain audit-ready compliance records, log breaks and CASS breaches, and assist in preparing regulatory returns and notifications when needed.
• KYC & Onboarding Operations: Own the day-to-day onboarding queue, performing KYC/AML document reviews, appropriateness assessments, and managing PEPs, sanctions, and high-risk escalations.
• Financial Crime Monitoring: Organise high-risk client reviews assisting with enhanced due diligence, source of funds/wealth checks, and periodic and event driven reviews.
• Vulnerable Customer Framework: Manage sensitive customer cases as identified in the vulnerable clients policy, ensure good outcomes for clients with support needs, manage key performance indicators for clients in this segment in strict compliance with Consumer Duty standards and internal policies.
• Business Oversight & Governance Support Management Information: Own and gather key performance indicators covering all aspects of the business for committee reporting and oversight.
• Financial Promotions: Review and approve marketing campaigns, product copy, and social media promotions to ensure strict alignment with FCA Financial Promotion and Consumer Duty rules.
• Regulatory Change: Assist in implementation of regulatory change in the UK or elsewhere to ensure compliance with new rules that apply to the Firm.
• Third Party Risk Management: Point of contact for vendors and outsourcing partners to oversee and coordinate information sharing for incident closure & customer support.
• Trade surveillance: Provide first line review of alerts generated through trade surveillance for signs of market abuse. Oversee the closure of alerts and applicable audit trail.

Skills

Regulatory framework knowledge

CASS reconciliation

Analytical mindset

Office & Google suite

Tools

Jira

Job description

Risk and Controls Operations Associate

Office Location: Temple, London - hybrid working environment (3 days in office per week)

Reporting: Chief Operating Officer

About InvestaInvesta is building the UK’s first zero-commission Options and Stocks trading platform. Legacy platforms typically feature high fees and complex interfaces that cut out the majority of retail investors. We are building a streamlined alternative to fix that.

So far, we have raised £3.5 million in funding, secured direct regulatory approval from the FCA, and picked up two major awards in 2026: Best Options Trading App (Good Money Guide) and Best App for Options Trading (ADVFN). Having launched on iOS - reaching 4,000+ total sign-ups - we have now just launched on Android, doubling our addressable market as we scale toward targets of 10,000 users, 100,000, and beyond.

Key Platform Traction:

• 8,000+ trades processed
• 2,500+ early supporters rewarded for their loyalty
• 1,000+ shareholders backing our vision
• 150+ 5-star reviews

Our goal is straightforward: Think Options, Think the company.

We are a lean, agile team where every employee directly shapes the business. We don't have a corporate way of working. Instead, we look for people who want high autonomy, care about making a visible impact, and align with our core values of being Collaborative, Curious, and Creative.

The Role

As our Risk & Controls Operations Associate, you will serve as the first line of regulatory and operational control for the company’s platform. Working together with our Head of Risk & Compliance and Co-Founders, you will help own the day-to-day execution of our key operational controls spanning CASS oversight, onboarding operations, financial crime monitoring, and execution control.

This is a critical, high-visibility role within a fast-scaling financial trading environment. You will bridge regulatory oversight with practical execution: verifying client money flows, resolving dealing and onboarding exceptions, and ensuring our operations adhere strictly to FCA standards as our operating model expands from sub-account clearing into in-house custody.

What the role involves

1. Risk & Control Operations CASS Reconciliations: Perform daily internal & external CASS reconciliations across the company’s client base to prevent breaches and ensure compliance with day-to-day CASS obligations.

• CASS Reporting & Audits: Maintain audit-ready compliance records, log breaks and CASS breaches, and assist in preparing regulatory returns and notifications when needed.
• KYC & Onboarding Operations: Own the day-to-day onboarding queue, performing KYC/AML document reviews, appropriateness assessments, and managing PEPs, sanctions, and high-risk escalations.
• Financial Crime Monitoring: Organise high-risk client reviews assisting with enhanced due diligence, source of funds/wealth checks, and periodic and event driven reviews.
• Vulnerable Customer Framework: Manage sensitive customer cases as identified in the vulnerable clients policy, ensure good outcomes for clients with support needs, manage key performance indicators for clients in this segment in strict compliance with Consumer Duty standards and internal policies.

2. Business Oversight & Governance Support Management Information: Own and gather key performance indicators covering all aspects of the business for committee reporting and oversight.

• Financial Promotions: Review and approve marketing campaigns, product copy, and social media promotions to ensure strict alignment with FCA Financial Promotion and Consumer Duty rules.
• Regulatory Change: Assist in implementation of regulatory change in the UK or elsewhere to ensure compliance with new rules that apply to the Firm.
• Third Party Risk Management: Point of contact for vendors and outsourcing partners to oversee and coordinate information sharing for incident closure & customer support.
• Trade surveillance: Provide first line review of alerts generated through trade surveillance for signs of market abuse. Oversee the closure of alerts and applicable audit trail.

Your Background

2+ years of hands-on experience covering trade operations or controls support at a regulated firm, FinTech, investment platform, or broker.

• Understanding of the regulatory framework surrounding CASS, Consumer Duty, Systems & Controls, and Anti-Money Laundering.
• Direct experience executing CASS reconciliation workflows, client adoption, and trade surveillance.
• Strong analytical mindset with high attention to detail and sound, practical judgement.
• Technical proficiency in Office and Google-based software including excel, Google Sheets, Google Docs.

Desirable

• Prior exposure to retail investment platforms, derivatives markets.
• Experience using workflow tools like Jira or case management software.
• Familiarity with third-party clearing integrations (e.g., Interactive Brokers) or regulatory reporting tools.
• CSI or equivalent qualification regarding financial services, client assets, or regulatory modules.
• Understanding of EU regulation.

What we offer

Career Ownership & Impact: You have autonomy over your execution and your career trajectory. Your work impacts the business immediately without corporate red tape. You can choose whether you want to pave a path as a high-level individual contributor or step into management as we scale - you shape your career.

• Collaboration & Proximity: You work alongside our co-founders. Because of our size, our culture is extremely personal. Everyone has firsthand insight into top-level strategy, cross-departmental exposure, and a voice in the product journey.
• Creativity & Speed: We prioritise innovation through speed, agility, thinking outside the box, and resource-efficient solutions.
• Shared Success & Equity: We are in this together. To ensure everyone benefits from our growth, every employee receives meaningful company equity. Our success is your success.

Compensation and Benefits

Financial Growth Competitive base salary - depending on experience.

• Equity: Initial grant of 0.1% - 0.15% in stock options. We reward impact with additional performance-based grants and milestone-linked top-ups.
• Annual Review: Structured salary and performance reviews conducted every year to ensure your growth stays on track.

Health & Wellbeing

Annual Leave: 30 days (including bank holidays) + your birthday off.

• Premium Coverage: Private medical and dental insurance via Bupa.

Office Environment & Lifestyle

The Office: Work from a vibrant, spacious office featuring a private gym and a rooftop terrace for fresh-air breaks.

• Fuel & Socials: Enjoy tea, coffee and snacks daily. Every last Wednesday of the month, we host a Team Lunch where the menu is chosen by the staff. We also run regular team socials, alongside company and individual milestone celebrations.

Tech

Custom Setup: You’ll receive a high-spec MacBook and £150 toward a mouse and keyboard of your choice.

Interview Process

• Stage 1: Screening with Talent Lead
• Stage 2: HM Intro with our COO
• Stage 3: Interview with our Head of Risk & Compliance
• Offer