Senior Data Scientist - Financial Analytics

Placements24; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus

Health insurance

Stock options

Fully remote

Professional development

Cutting-edge tools

Home office setup

Team events

Impactful projects

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist for a cutting-edge fintech client. This fully remote role welcomes candidates worldwide, with a preference for those in finance-related analytics.

You will build and deploy models to drive fraud detection, customer insights, and financial operations optimization. Ideal candidates hold a PhD/Master's in a quantitative field with 5+ years of data science experience, strong Python/R skills, SQL, Spark/Hadoop, and cloud familiarity.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a quantitative field.
• 5+ years in data science/advanced analytics, preferably finance.
• Proficient in Python or R and ML libraries.
• Strong SQL and big data tech experience (Spark, Hadoop).
• Able to translate analyses into business recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement advanced ML and statistical models.
• Analyze large datasets to identify trends and insights for financial services.
• Build and deploy predictive models for fraud detection, segmentation, risk, and forecasting.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and business teams to integrate DS solutions.
• Develop visualizations and dashboards to communicate findings clearly.
• Stay updated with data science advancements and mentor juniors.
• Ensure data quality and integrity throughout projects.
• Evaluate new technologies to enhance DS capabilities.
• Contribute to strategic direction of data analytics.

Skills

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Problem solving

Communication

Team mentorship

Education

Master's or PhD in Computer Science/Statistics/Math/Data Science

5+ years of experience in data science/analytics

Tools

Python

R

SQL

Spark

Hadoop

Scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge financial technology firm, is seeking a highly skilled and innovative Senior Data Scientist to join their pioneering team, working remotely from anywhere within South Africa. This role is critical for developing advanced analytical models to drive strategic decisions within the Banking & Finance sector. You will leverage large datasets to uncover insights, build predictive models, and develop data-driven solutions that enhance customer experience and optimize financial operations. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in machine learning, statistical modeling, and experience with big data technologies. We are looking for a creative problem-solver with excellent communication skills, capable of translating complex analytical findings into actionable business strategies. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of financial analytics in a fully remote setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement advanced machine learning and statistical models.
• Analyze large, complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and insights relevant to financial services.
• Build and deploy predictive models for areas such as fraud detection, customer segmentation, risk assessment, and market forecasting.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and business teams to integrate data science solutions into existing platforms.
• Develop data visualizations and dashboards to communicate findings effectively to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and AI.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's technical growth.
• Ensure data quality and integrity throughout the analysis and modeling process.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies and methodologies to enhance data science capabilities.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of data analytics within the organization.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in data science, machine learning, or advanced analytics roles, preferably in the financial services industry.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant libraries (e.g., Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Strong experience with SQL and big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
• Deep understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and data mining techniques.
• Proven ability to translate complex analytical results into clear, actionable business recommendations.
• Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Experience working in a remote or distributed team environment.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) is a plus.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous stock options package.
• Fully remote work environment with flexible hours.
• Significant opportunities for professional development and learning.
• Access to cutting-edge tools and technologies.
• Annual performance reviews and career pathing.
• Company-provided home office equipment.
• Regular virtual team events and collaboration sessions.
• Opportunity to work on impactful projects in the rapidly evolving Fintech space.