Associate, Financial Services Partnerships

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A CUSTOMER INSIGHTS ASSOCIATE TO JOIN OUR CUSTOMER INSIGHTS TEAM; AS WE SCALE UP AND DRIVE DIGITAL AND FINANCIAL INCLUSION ACROSS OUR MARKETS. Role Overview This is an entry-to-mid-level research position within M-KOPA's Customer Intelligence (CI) team. As a CI Research Associate, you'll support end-to-end UX and product research from study design through to insight delivery; working closely with senior researchers and cross-functional teams. You'll be doing real research, on real products, for real customers whose financial lives depend on experiences that actually work. ABOUT US M-KOPA is a connected asset financing platform that has extended over $2 billion in credit to more than 7 million customers across Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa. 55% of those customers are accessing financial services for the first time. 86% report an improved quality of life. The Customer Insights team is the intelligence engine behind the product decisions that make those numbers move and they're looking for a data analyst who brings both quantitative rigour and qualitative instinct to the work. This is a hybrid role, you would be working from our offices in Kenya, partnering with a diverse group of employees from our different markets and locations across the UK, Europe and Africa. You will be reporting to the Research Operations Lead. Why this Role is Different Most research associate roles put you in a support lane indefinitely. Here, you're working on products that are genuinely novel — serving first-time smartphone users, first-time borrowers, first-time digital finance customers across five markets. The research problems are complex, the stakes are tangible, and the team takes craft seriously. What You'll be doing * Conducting moderated usability tests, semi-structured interviews, and surveys — managing fieldwork logistics end-to-end for both remote and in-person sessions, and ensuring sessions are set up for quality data collection from the start. * Coding and synthesising qualitative data using defined frameworks — producing affinity maps, insight lists, and structured reports that translate findings into clear, actionable outputs for your immediate team and stakeholders. * Contributing to team research rituals, raising questions when briefs are unclear, and applying AI-assisted tools (including Claude and Notion AI) with the critical judgement to know when the output needs human scrutiny. What You'll bring * Demonstrable experience conducting UX research — including moderated usability testing, semi-structured interviewing, and survey design — with an understanding of when and why different methods apply. * Proven ability to work with qualitative data: coding responses, identifying patterns, and producing synthesis artefacts (affinity maps, insight lists) with a structured, methodical approach. * Familiarity with M-KOPA's markets or the broader context of first-time digital financial services users — and a genuine curiosity about the usability challenges that come with that territory. The honest part This is a guided role — you'll be working within defined scope, using established templates, and leaning on senior team members as you develop. If you're looking for full autonomy from day one, this isn't that. If you're looking for a place to build serious research craft on problems that actually matter, it is. WHY M-KOPA? At M-KOPA, we empower our people to own their careers through diverse development programs, coaching partnerships, and on-the-job training. We support individual journeys with family-friendly policies, prioritize well-being, and embrace flexibility. Join us in shaping the future of M-KOPA as we grow together. Explore more at m-kopa.com. Recognized four times by the Financial Times as one Africa's fastest growing companies (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026), named on CNBC's World’s Top Fintech Companies 2025 & 2026 and by TIME100 Most influential companies in the world 2023 and 2024 , we've served over 10 million customers, unlocking $2 billion in cumulative credit for the everyday earners across Africa, in addition to over 10,000 e-bikes financed in Kenya. Important Notice M-KOPA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained staff. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. M-KOPA explicitly prohibits the use of Forced or Child Labour and respects the rights of its employees to agree to terms and conditions of employment voluntarily, without coercion, and freely terminate their employment on appropriate notice. M-KOPA shall ensure that its Employees are of legal working age and shall comply with local laws for youth employment or student work, such as internships or apprenticeships.  M-KOPA does not collect/charge any money as a pre-employment or post-employment requirement. This means that we never ask for ‘recruitment fees’, ‘processing fees’, ‘interview fees’, or any other kind of money in exchange for offer letters or interviews at any time during the hiring process. Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Shortlisting and interviews will take place at any stage during the recruitment process. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a suitable candidate is selected before the advertised closing date. If your application is successful M-KOPA undertakes pre-employment background checks as part of its recruitment process, these include; criminal records, identification verification, academic qualifications, employment dates and employer references.

Pemberton Asset Management is a leading European private credit manager. Built on more than a decade of experience and deep credit expertise, we provide innovative, cycle-tested private credit solutions for LPs and GPs. Pemberton’s extensive origination network of ten European offices, local market and sector expertise are core characteristics of Pemberton’s value proposition. A substantial investment team, a broad and independent credit function and rigorous credit analysis inform our investment approach. We are committed to advancing responsible investing in private credit and fostering long-term value through transparent partnerships. Pemberton manages USD $28.8bn in AuM and employs more than 200+ staff globally. (*As of 30th September 2025. Defined as capital committed since inception) Further information is available at www.pembertonam.com. Follow Pemberton on LinkedIn here. LEVEL: ASSOCIATE / ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Functional Title: Associate / Associate Director, Operational Risk and Control (FTC)   Location: London     ROLE RELATIONSHIPS * Reports directly to the Head of Risk, London. * Works closely with: * Members of the Risk and Compliance team (London and Luxembourg) * 1st Line business control owners across the group * Technology team     ROLE SPECIFICATION Core Responsibilities   Control Report – ISAE3402 Type 1 and Type 1 Support * Assist in the design and execution of the Control assurance report for our investors, including gathering and aligning relevant key risk/control data, developing robust evidence log, providing guidance and challenge to business owners, and supporting the development of Management assertions. * Help maintain and update assurance logs and follow up on outstanding actions.   Risk Oversight and Remediation * Monitoring and reporting of key risk remediation progress. * Support risk and control design and effectiveness reviews of inherent high-risk processes. * Third party risk management continual improvements. * Change risk.   Risk and Control Data * Beyond ISAE3402 support maturity initiatives in aligning all risk and control data for Risk events (errors), Assessments, Third party risks, and Operational Resilience against common taxonomies. * Support design and development of GRC (Risk and control system) capabilities.   Operational Risk Framework * Continual development of operational risk guidance and education e.g. RCSA, Change Risk and Risk Issue approaches. * Control Assurance methodologies for ISAE3402 embedding.   Additional Responsibilities Additional responsibilities will include but not be limited to the following: * Support the implementation and updating of related Risk management policies and procedures as directed e.g. Risk Appetite, KRI development. * Support the production of Risk reports. * Help coordinate responses to internal and external audit requests.     RISK AND ESG RESPONSIBILITIES In performing regulated and unregulated activities for the firm, the Operational Risk and Control AD will follow the firm’s conduct rules:   * Act with integrity. * Act with due care, skill, and diligence. * Open and cooperative with the regulators. * Pay due regard to the interests of customers and treat them fairly. * Observe proper standards of market conduct. * Ensure all Compliance activity takes into consideration ESG factors to maximise corporate sustainability and support the firm’s diversity and inclusion objectives.     PERSON SPECIFICATION Work Experience & Qualifications * Ideally 6+ years’ exposure to Operational risk in financial services preferably including experience in private finance and/or asset management. * Strong experience in Operational Risk methodologies and their deployment through guidance and training, including but not limited to: * Risk Identification and Risk Event management * Risk and Control Self-Assessment * Control assurance * Risk Issue and Action Management * Risk Reporting and Monitoring * GRC tool user experience. * Control Assurance experience (design and effectiveness) * Experience in supporting or leading agile change initiatives. * Strong stakeholder engagement with track record of influencing change. * Fluent in English and able to communicate effectively in a global organisation. * Strong IT skills, particularly with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) and document management systems such as SharePoint.   Key Qualities * Strong organisational skills and attention to detail. * Ability to prioritise tasks and manage multiple responsibilities. * Good communication skills, both written and verbal. * Willingness to learn and develop compliance knowledge. * Collaborative, proactive, and able to work effectively as part of a team. * Appetite and/or ability to learn and deploy AI opportunities across Operational Risk processes     CULTURE Everyone at Pemberton strives to and identifies with the following: * Builds trust and credibility. * Is polite, respectful, collaborative, with a strong service ethic. * Plans and prioritises effectively but is flexible and can work with complexity and ambiguity. * Identifies key issues and provides optimal, evidence-based solutions. * Is determined and resilient. * Brings innovative and transformational thinking. * Demonstrates a risk and compliance mindset. The duties and responsibilities described here are not exhaustive; additional assignments may be required. Duties and responsibilities may be changed at any time, with or without notice, at Pemberton’s sole discretion. Pemberton is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion or belief, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We value diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, termination, compensation, benefits, training, and development. Pemberton is also committed to making reasonable adjustments to accommodate the needs of disabled employees and applicants. All employees, managers, and those involved in recruitment or employment decisions are required to comply with this policy. If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete your application, please contact People and Performance at careers@pembertonam.com Depending on the position, you may be required to obtain certain regulatory licenses/certification if you are in a client facing role and/or if you are engaged in the following non exhaustive list: * Attending client meetings where you are discussing products and/or and client questions; and * Marketing funds to clients. Note: Please speak with your Pemberton Recruiting contact with any questions. To submit your application please complete the application form via 'Apply for this Job' below. Fields marked with a red asterisk * must be completed to be considered for employment (although some can be answered "prefer not to say"). Failure to provide this information may compromise the follow-up of your application. When you have finished click 'Submit Application' at the bottom of the application form.