Head of Operations, Europe

Trust unlocks our greatest potential.

For decades, the clearing of payments remained unchanged and unchallenged. We asked, what if there was a better way? What if we could make banking infrastructure faster, safer, more reliable, and easier to access for all? Here is where you can think radically and responsibly to find the best solution.

What happens when you know you’re inherently trusted? Trust creates safety. Safety encourages you to be brave, to challenge, to fail, to try new things and to execute. At ClearBank everything revolves around trust. We’re not expected to earn it, but we are expected not to break it. We’re trusted to own it. To solve issues in the moment. To know a good risk when we see one, and the judgement to know that ‘can’ doesn’t always mean you ‘should’. 

What you can expect:

ClearBank is a place where you can do things differently and challenge the status quo. We will give you a high level of autonomy and transparency, and we trust you to make the right decisions for the bank.

If that excites you, how about joining our European operations team as a Head of Operations, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer. You will be responsible for all operational activity for Europe, as well as the oversight of outsourced operational (including financial crime and customer support) activities in line with regulation, policy, standards, and procedures.

Your role includes: 

• Supporting the COO on the oversight model and appropriately liaising with the relevant senior stakeholders involved on its execution.
• Responsible for the definition and maintenance of adequate and effective operating and oversight models, ensuring 3rd Parties operate and maintain an effective risk framework.
• Responsible for financial crime, regulatory, conduct, fraud, transaction processing & execution and outsourcing risk for the 1st line.
• Ensuring 3rd party compliance with policies, standards, and procedures as well as monitoring and challenging KPIs and KRIs. 
• Responsible for preparing regular management information to be submitted to the appropriate governance forums.
• Providing support to change programmes or new product development involving 3rd parties, liaising with the relevant internal and external parties with the aim of meeting all the requirements while complying with all internal policies, standards, industry guidance and regulation.
• Appropriately and timely escalating any issues to the relevant senior stakeholders.
• Oversight of the closure of management actions arising from audit/review activity.

What you’ll bring  

To excel in this role, you’ll also need:

• An excellent understanding of operational risk and control environments, with in-depth knowledge of outsourcing risks and controls 
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal to be able to articulate complex requirements
• Experience managing third party relationships with extensive knowledge of complex business models and financial crime operations best practices and regulatory requirements within outsourcing relationships
• Excellent problem solving and self-management skills to solve problems tactically and analytically
• Excellent attention to detail and good judgement, with capability to take risk-based decisions
• A deep understanding of industry best practice in systems and controls design
• Ability to work to tight deadlines, under pressure whilst maintaining high level of quality and competency Regretfully we are not able to sponsor applicants for immigration purposes at the current time. 

What makes a great ClearBank team member? Does this sound like you? 

• You focus on solutions and positive outcomes, thinking radically and responsibly to find the best result for our customers, your colleagues and the bank; 
• You actively seek feedback from others to drive your growth and development, always assuming positive intent from others and develop strong, trusting relationships you’re your colleagues and customers: you really, genuinely care;
• You always strive for the highest quality, but you know that done is better than perfect; you welcome a challenge knowing that they learn as you go and iterate; 
• ‘I’ before ’we’, isn’t in your vocabulary 

If this sounds like you then we encourage you to dust off that CV and apply!

What we offer in return

• We're flexible – We support a culture of flexibility which allows our employees to achieve a strong work-life balance. 
• Offices – Work in a way that works for you – whether that’s in the Amsterdam office, at home, or hybrid.
• Holiday – 27 days of annual leave per year, plus public holidays. 
• Work abroad – You have the flexibility to work outside of the Netherlands for up to 30 days in a rolling 12-month period.
• Socials – Regular social events open to all.
• Holiday swap – Option to swap your bank holidays to any other day of your choice.
• Wellbeing – long term disability cover and accident cover.
• Bigger than ClearBank – Take a couple of days per year to do something that matters to you. 
• Pension – We offer generous pension contribution without mandatory employee contribution.
• Expense coverage – Mobile phone allowance and travel cost reimbursement.
• Family – Enhanced family-friendly leave. 
• Personal development – We offer personal development budgets, opportunities to take part in role-related training and unlimited LinkedIn Learning. 

And not forgetting the biggest benefit of all. The opportunity to be part of an incredible team that’s building a tech-bank fit for the future. 

A little bit more about us! 

ClearBank is Where You Can belong: 

At we think about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) a lot. Not because we think we should. But because we know we should – how else can we build a happy workforce and be successful as a business. We’re committed to making sure our teams reflect society. And we put energy and effort into making this a place where everyone feels at home, where they’re given the trust and encouragement to do their very best work. Here are some of the things we’re most proud of: 

• 42% of our senior management roles are held by women 
• Our enhanced family leave policies
• Launching our partnership with Code First Girls 
• Increasing awareness of neurodiversity in the workplace through our partnership with the Inclusive Group 

Our hiring process and what you can expect:

Application: a member of our talent acquisition team will review your application against the key requirements for the role and let you know within two weeks whether you’re moving forward to the next stage; 

Screening: You’ll spend 30-45 minutes speaking to one of our recruiters learning more about the role and ClearBank, and we’ll get it know more about you, your experience and how your skills align with the role (this will be via phone or Teams video call). You can expect to hear back from us within seven days following this meeting (if things are taking longer than expected, we’ll let you know that too); 

First Interview: You’ll spend one hour with a member of our hiring team focusing on your skills, competencies and your ways of working at the same time we’ll give you time to ask more questions about the role, the team and learn more about the ClearBank culture. This will be via Teams.

Second Interview: This will be a competency-based interview with one or more members of our team.

Final Stage: You will have a final meeting with the Head of Department. This will be around 45-60 minutes.

Offer: Congratulations! Get ready for transform banking forever! 

Our commitment to you as a candidate: 

We will always try our best to get back to you within seven days of your interview whether you’ve been successful or not and provide you with feedback. Sometimes things take a little longer, so we may not have a decision to share but we will get it touch to let you know we need a little more time.

We’re unable to provide specific individual feedback at the application or screening stage but know that your application was reviewed and considered carefully.

We wish you the best of luck with your application and maybe we’ll be celebrating your new role at ClearBank soon!

Equal Opportunities

ClearBank is committed to ensuring equal opportunities throughout every stage of the recruitment process. ClearBank recognises that diversity is vital to the long-term success of the business in the communities and markets in which it operates. ClearBank is also a firm believer that an inclusive culture fosters greater employee engagement and collaboration. 

ClearBank strives for diversity and inclusion of all forms, including (but not limited to): gender, age, educational and professional background, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief and sexual orientation. 

As part of the Company’s commitment to equal employment opportunity, we provide reasonable adjustments, to candidates during the recruitment process, including to individuals with disabilities. We want to create a safe space that welcomes everyone so please let us know how we can accommodate you. In case you have any accessibility requirements you can share that with our Talent Acquisition team prior to your interview stage, if applicable. 

The legal bit

By submitting your CV to ClearBank Limited you are providing your consent for us to use the information you provide for recruitment purposes. For more information on how we manage your data go and check out our Candidate Privacy Notice on the ClearBank website to see how we process, manage and look after your data. You are also allowing us to communicate with you by email and telephone for recruitment purposes. 

No agencies please. Any unsolicited CVs will not be accepted as introductions to the business.