Senior Data Science Research Analyst - Strategy & Corporate Finance

McKinsey & Company; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A global consulting firm is seeking a skilled Data Scientist to drive impactful analysis and AI solutions. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to address client-specific challenges by leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning techniques. Candidates should have a strong educational background in data science and at least 3 years of relevant experience. This position offers world-class mentorship and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Continuous learning opportunities

Comprehensive benefits package

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional work experience in a data science role, preferably in finance.
• Hands-on experience applying data science methods to business problems.
• Strong sense of ownership and an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Ability to communicate analytical and technical concepts effectively.

Responsibilities

• Perform domain research, data extraction, data transformation, data analytics.
• Analyze large and complex data sets to uncover patterns and insights.
• Develop and implement AI models tailored to client-specific challenges.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand client needs.

Skills

Statistical modeling

Machine learning techniques

Problem-solving

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Collaboration

Proficiency in Python

Proficiency in SQL

Education

Bachelor’s or advanced professional degree in data science

Tools

Pandas

NumPy

Scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Job description

Driving lasting impact and building long-term capabilities with our clients is not easy work. You are the kind of person who thrives in a high performance / high reward culture - doing hard things, picking yourself up when you stumble, and having the resilience to try another way forward.

In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we'll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities you need to become a stronger leader faster than you ever thought possible. Your colleagues—at all levels—will invest deeply in your development, just as much as they invest in delivering exceptional results for clients. Every day, you'll receive apprenticeship, coaching, and exposure that will accelerate your growth in ways you won’t find anywhere else.

When you join us, you will have :

• Continuous learning : Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, is all about helping you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development. The real magic happens when you take the input from others to heart and embrace the fast-paced learning experience, owning your journey.
• A voice that matters : From day one, we value your ideas and contributions. You’ll make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions. We not only encourage diverse perspectives, but they are critical in driving us toward the best possible outcomes.
• Global community : With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 different nationalities, our firm’s diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions for our clients. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• World-class benefits : On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package to enable holistic well-being for you and your family.

You'll be based in one of our US hubs and will be working with our Strategy and Corporate Finance practice. This role is part of the McKinsey Value Intelligence Platform, which is a cornerstone data and insights platform for the firm, supporting client delivery teams and clients with expert insights on companies and industries.

You will work closely with other data scientists, engineers, designers, and product managers and report directly to the Asset Leader within the practice. You will be responsible for performing domain research, data extraction, data transformation, data analytics and / or advanced analytics for asset design and development. You will support the asset team in advancing the team’s product offerings by improving actionable insights via new AI capabilities to better serve our client delivery teams.

In this role, you will support the delivery of longer-term projects and shorter-term needs for data analysis from our corporate finance experts and client delivery teams. This may include, but is not limited to : experimental testing with new large language models (LLMs), structuring and implementing proof of concepts, enhancing existing functionality through new analytical approaches, and helping design end-to-end solutions alongside our engineers. The role involves analyzing large and complex data sets to uncover patterns, trends, and actionable insights using generative artificial intelligence techniques. You will develop and implement AI models, including machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing algorithms, tailored to address client-specific challenges. Additionally, you may design, test, and deploy scalable AI solutions in production environments. Collaboration with cross-functional teams, such as consultants and industry experts, is essential to understand client needs and deliver impactful AI-driven solutions. Effective communication of findings and insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders is a key aspect of the role. Staying current with advancements in AI, machine learning, and deep learning, and applying these innovations to client projects and product development initiatives, is expected. Furthermore, you will contribute to the development and maintenance of AI infrastructure and tools to support ongoing projects and initiatives.

You will foster strong partnerships and collaborate regularly with the product and engineering team, practice experts, and firm stakeholders (e.g., Risk, Legal). You will collaborate closely with these teams to align on strategic direction and ensure a coordinated approach.

Bachelor’s or advanced professional degree in data science, statistics, computer science or related field required

3+ years of professional work experience in a data science role; preference for experience in finance or related field

Hands-on experience applying data science methods (i.e., statistical modeling, machine learning techniques : regression, forecasting / predictive modeling, decision trees) to business problems

Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills with ability to breakdown complex problems, design testing approaches, conduct quantitative analysis at scale, and drive end-to-end solutions

Strong sense of ownership and entrepreneurial mindset; demonstrated success delivering outcomes in cross-functional teams

Good communication skills with proven ability to communicate analytical and technical concepts effectively with managers and senior leaders, and to both technical and non-technical colleagues

Professional, impartial, and independent attitude with a high degree of integrity

Comfortable with ambiguity in a work-setting, knowing how to address and manage unpredictable outcomes.

Proficiency in Python and relevant libraries (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, streamlit).

Proficiency in querying language like SQL

Experience with AI and machine learning frameworks and libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch)