Senior Model Validation & Risk Governance Lead

Starling; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Birthday day off

Volunteer time (16 hours)

Pension scheme

Life insurance (4x salary)

Private Medical Insurance

Perkbox membership

Cycle to Work

Gym partnerships

Waitrose discounts

Diversity & inclusion programs

Job summary

Starling Bank is seeking a talented Model Validation Manager to join the Model Risk Oversight Team in the UK. The role focuses on validating AI/ML models and traditional risk models (IFRS 9, Forecasting, Operational Risk) while supporting governance and risk frameworks across Starling’s model lifecycle.

You will lead validation activities, report findings to senior leadership, and mentor a team of quantitative analysts to ensure robust risk management practices.

Qualifications

• Graduate-level education preferred in a numerical discipline.
• Proven track record leading and mentoring high-performing quantitative teams.
• Extensive experience validating AI/ML and traditional models.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS 9, Forecasting and Operational Risk.
• Expert in Python, R, SQL, SAS and spreadsheets.
• Knowledge of model risk management governance best practice.
• Able to communicate findings clearly to stakeholders.
• Organised, flexible and able to switch tasks.

Responsibilities

• Act as a senior escalation point for complex validation challenges with model developers and leadership.
• Validate AI/ML and traditional models across Starling’s operations.
• Contribute to Model and AI risk governance framework development.
• Produce and review validation reports and engage with owners to address findings.
• Lead on Risk Assurance reviews.
• Prepare committee papers and present to committees.
• Present high-level findings to Senior leadership.
• Engage stakeholders to enable model risk management through the lifecycle.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Graduate-level education in numerical discipline

Tools

Python

R

SQL

SAS

Job description

Starling Bank is seeking a talented Model Validation Manager to join the Model Risk Oversight Team in the UK. The role focuses on validating AI/ML models and traditional risk models (IFRS 9, Forecasting, Operational Risk) while supporting governance and risk frameworks across Starling’s model lifecycle.

You will lead validation activities, report findings to senior leadership, and mentor a team of quantitative analysts to ensure robust risk management practices.