Data Scientist

Financial Conduct Authority; London; On-site; GBP 79,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Principal Data Scientist to lead innovative analytics projects that impact millions. This role involves collaborating across departments, utilizing advanced data science techniques, and mentoring junior scientists. You will work with cutting-edge technologies, including graph databases and cloud platforms, to deliver meaningful insights that drive the organization's strategic goals. Join a forward-thinking team dedicated to making a difference in the financial sector, where your expertise will shape the future of data science in a regulatory environment.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in data science/machine learning techniques.
• Experience with graph databases and query languages.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate high-profile analytics projects and guide data science teams.
• Develop and deploy machine learning models for predictive analytics.

Skills

Python

Graph Databases

Machine Learning

Data Mining

Statistical Analysis

Graph Query Languages (Cypher, Gremlin)

Cloud Platforms (AWS)

DevOps Practices

Education

Degree with Quantitative Component

Advanced Degree (PhD or Master's)

Tools

Amazon Neptune

Neo4j

Job description

Principal Data Scientist

Division: Data, Technology and Innovation (DTI)

Department: Digital Intelligence Solutions

Salary: ranging from £79,300 to £112,300 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)

About the FCA:

The FCA regulates the conduct of 45,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair, and competitive. Follow this link to find out more about the FCA.

There are few organizations where you can genuinely make a difference for 40 million consumers of financial products, two million people who work in the UK financial services industry, and the economy as a whole.

About the team:

As part of the Data, Technology & Innovation (DTI) division, we support the FCA in embracing digital, data, and advanced analytics to deliver on these priorities. We believe in doing things differently by combining creative techniques and the latest technology to generate meaningful insights. We emphasize curiosity and regularly experiment with new techniques and approaches alongside delivering production insights.

Our Principal Data Scientist role is positioned in the Digital Intelligence Solutions department, a subdivision of DTI that supports the delivery of FCA priorities through sophisticated analytics.

What will you be doing?

• Coordinate high-profile analytics projects, guiding teams of data scientists and collaborating across departments and with third-party partners.
• Build and maintain supportive relationships with key stakeholders to align data science initiatives with organizational goals.
• Play a core role in the departmental leadership team, building data science capabilities and nurturing the department's direction.
• Advocate for analytics and provide thought partnership within the FCA.
• Use graph analytics and query languages (Cypher, Gremlin) to analyze complex relationships.
• Collaborate with DevOps teams to automate deployment and manage the model lifecycle.
• Utilize cloud platforms (e.g., AWS) for building and deploying solutions.
• Develop and deploy machine learning models for predictive analytics and risk analysis.
• Perform statistical analyses and data mining on large-scale datasets to solve problems and improve operations.
• Develop data pipelines and ETL processes for integrating diverse data sources.
• Present technical information to non-technical audiences effectively.
• Mentor and develop junior data scientists.
• Interact with model risk governance processes.

What you will get from the role:

• Engaging, creative, and exploratory work in the public interest with potential for meaningful impact.
• Collaborate as part of a supportive and dedicated team on important projects with exposure to senior stakeholders.
• Grow into a trusted technical voice within the FCA’s inclusive Analytics Community.

Which skills are required?

We are a Disability Confident Employer; therefore, disabled people or individuals with long-term conditions who meet the minimum criteria will proceed to the next stage of recruitment. Click here to learn more about the Disability Confident Scheme.

Minimum qualifications:

• A degree with a significant quantitative component.
• Substantial experience delivering value through data science/machine learning techniques, including significant applied experience using Python and related frameworks.
• Experience with graph databases (e.g., Amazon Neptune, Neo4j) and/or proficiency in graph query languages (Cypher, Gremlin).

Desirable qualifications:

• Advanced degree (PhD or master's) in a data science-related field.
• Experience delivering complex data science projects collaboratively.
• Experience in network analysis, entity resolution, and graph algorithms.
• Hands-on experience with modeling and ingesting data into graph databases from various sources.
• Experience with machine learning, predictive modeling, and data mining.
• Experience with AWS and its services.
• Knowledge of DevOps practices, including CI/CD for model deployment, versioning, and monitoring.
• Familiarity with the UK regulatory framework and financial services industry.
• A drive to support innovation in data science and apply emerging techniques to solve complex problems.
• Experience building, testing, and deploying machine learning models into production environments.