Lead Data Scientist – Fraud & Decisioning

La Fosse; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 72,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity / share options

Hybrid work model

Job summary

La Fosse in London is seeking a Lead Data Scientist - Fraud & Decisioning to own the fraud agenda. This role is hands-on, blending fraud analytics, machine learning, decisioning and technical problem-solving.

You will analyse trends, build detection and prevention solutions, write code, and collaborate with product and business teams. The position offers hybrid working, up to £120,000 plus equity and a pathway to influence the future of fraud prevention at a growing fintech.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in Data Science and Machine Learning.
• Experience across fraud, risk, credit decisioning or financial crime.
• Strong Python and SQL skills.

Responsibilities

• Own and develop the company's fraud strategy and approach.
• Analyse fraud trends, applications and individual cases to identify emerging risks.
• Build and improve fraud detection and prevention solutions.
• Write code and work directly with data and analysis.
• Collaborate with a range of technical, product and business stakeholders.
• Make rapid, data-driven decisions in response to emerging fraud activity.
• Identify what needs to happen next and take ownership of delivering it.
• Help shape the company's approach to AI and emerging technologies within fraud prevention.
• Build relationships across the wider financial services and fraud community.

Skills

Data Science

Machine Learning

Python

SQL

Fraud Analytics

Job description

Lead Data Scientist - Fraud & Decisioning

London | Hybrid - 3 x days in office | Up to £120,000 + Equity

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a high-growth fintech business at a pivotal stage of its journey, taking ownership of its fraud strategy and helping shape how it protects its customers and business as fraud becomes increasingly sophisticated.

This is a genuinely hands-on Data Science role, combining fraud analytics, machine learning, decisioning and technical problem-solving. You'll work collaboratively across the business to identify emerging threats, build solutions and strengthen the company's fraud defences.

The Role

You'll take ownership of the fraud agenda while remaining close to the technical detail.

You'll be expected to:

• Own and develop the company's fraud strategy and approach
• Analyse fraud trends, applications and individual cases to identify emerging risks
• Build and improve fraud detection and prevention solutions
• Write code and work directly with data and analysis
• Collaborate with a range of technical, product and business stakeholders
• Make rapid, data-driven decisions in response to emerging fraud activity
• Identify what needs to happen next and take ownership of delivering it
• Help shape the company's approach to AI and emerging technologies within fraud prevention
• Build relationships across the wider financial services and fraud community

What We're Looking For

We're particularly interested in candidates from a Data Science, Fraud Analytics, Risk or Decisioning background who enjoy remaining close to the technical detail.

You'll ideally have:

• Strong experience in Data Science and Machine Learning
• Experience across fraud, risk, credit decisioning or financial crime
• Strong Python and SQL skills
• Experience analysing data and building practical solutions
• The ability to work collaboratively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to make decisions quickly
• Experience working in a fast-paced fintech, banking, lending or financial services environment
• An interest in AI / agentic AI and how emerging technology will change the fraud landscape

You don't need to have spent your entire career in fraud. We're particularly interested in technically strong Data Scientists who have applied their skills to fraud, risk or decisioning problems.

The Environment

This is a role for someone who enjoys pace, autonomy and execution.

You'll have significant ownership of the fraud agenda and the opportunity to shape how the business approaches fraud as it continues to scale.

What's On Offer

• Up to £120,000 salary
• Equity / share options for the right candidate
• Hybrid working with regular office presence
• Opportunity to take genuine ownership of a critical business function
• The chance to shape fraud strategy at a growing fintech
• Significant exposure to AI, automation and the future of fraud prevention

If you're a technically strong Data Scientist, Fraud Specialist or Risk professional looking for a role where you can combine hands-on technical work with genuine ownership and influence, I'd be keen to hear from you.