Lead Data Scientist

Financial Conduct Authority; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 64,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial regulatory body in London seeks a Lead Data Scientist to support the enforcement against financial crime. The role involves leading a data science team, fostering collaboration, and ensuring data integrity in projects. Candidates should have extensive experience in Python or R, project leadership, and excellent communication skills. Benefits include a hybrid work model and a competitive salary range based on experience.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Hybrid model with up to 60% remote work

Non-contributory pension

Private healthcare

35 hours of paid volunteering annually

Flexible benefits scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in Python, R or other object-oriented languages, applying diverse data science techniques.
• Experience leading key workstreams in complex projects.
• Experience collaborating with data engineering and governance teams.

Responsibilities

• Support and guide a team of data scientists.
• Cultivate a collaborative and curious team environment.
• Build strong relationships with internal partners for data science projects.
• Lead initiatives within the Enforcement & Financial Crime Data Science Unit.
• Work closely with data engineering and governance colleagues.
• Promote best practices in data science.

Skills

Python

R

Data science techniques

Project leadership

Collaboration

Clear communication

Job description

Overview

Lead Data Scientist

Division – Intelligence & Digital

Department – Advanced Analytics and Data Science Units

This role sits in a Data Science team which supports the FCA Enforcement and the Financial Crime agenda. In this role, you will be applying cutting-edge AI and advanced analytics to support the FCA in its fight against financial crime.

Role responsibilities

• Support and guide a team of data scientists through thoughtful mentorship, regular feedback and career development conversations that nurture individual growth.

• Cultivate a collaborative and curious team environment by encouraging exploration of new tools, techniques and approaches in data science.

• Build strong relationships with internal partners to co-design data science projects that reflect regulatory priorities and contribute meaningfully to strategic goals.

• Take a proactive role in shaping and leading initiatives within the Enforcement & Financial Crime Data Science Unit, helping drive progress on impactful programmes.

• Work closely with data engineering and governance colleagues to ensure data pipelines are secure, scalable and designed to meet evolving needs.

• Champion excellence in data science by promoting best practices, conducting supportive code reviews and contributing to efforts that enhance financial crime detection and enforcement.

Skills

Minimum:

• Experience in Python, R or other object-oriented languages, applying diverse data science techniques.

• Experience of leading key workstreams within complex, cross-functional projects, collaborating with stakeholders and ensuring appropriate resourcing to deliver outcomes.

• Experience of collaborating with data engineering and governance teams to maintain and optimise data pipelines.

Essential:

• Skilled in designing and delivering analytics projects using large, structured and unstructured datasets.

• Effective collaboration with technical and non-technical stakeholders to develop solutions.

• Experience in project leadership, managing, mentoring and developing junior data scientists.

• Clear communication of insights to stakeholders.

Salary and grading

• Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £59,100 to £80,233 and London from £64,900 to £88,100 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience).

• This role is graded as: Lead Associate - Regulatory.

For applicants

• Your recruitment contact is Benjamin via [e-mail]. Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted.

• Disability Confident: Our hiring approach. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and therefore, people with disabilities and long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. In cases of high application volumes we may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the role’s key requirements.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.

• Hybrid model with up to 60% remote work.

• Non-contributory pension (8–12% depending on age) and life assurance at eight times your salary.

• Private healthcare with Bupa, income protection, and 24/7 Employee Assistance.

• 35 hours of paid volunteering annually.

• A flexible benefits scheme designed around your lifestyle.

For a full list of our benefits, and our recruitment process as a whole visit our benefits page.

Our values & culture

Our colleagues are the key to our success as a regulator. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture: one that’s free from discrimination and bias, celebrates difference, and supports colleagues to deliver at their best. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.

If you require any adjustments due to a disability or condition, your recruiter is here to help - reach out for tailored support. We welcome diverse working styles and aim to find flexible solutions that suit both the role and individual needs, including options like part-time and job sharing where applicable.

Disability confidence and recruitment

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and therefore, people with disabilities and long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. In cases of high application volumes we may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the role’s key requirements.

Useful information and timelines

• Advert Closing Date: 9 November at 11:59pm.

• CV Review/Shortlist: 10–11 November.

• Interviews: from 17th November.

Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role; please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time.

SC Clearance is required for this role (SC Guidance) - you will hold or will be required to obtain Security Check (SC) level vetting.