Senior Risk Analyst - SAS Developer

Nationwide; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Private medical insurance

Pension

Annual bonus

Training and development

Salary sacrifice scheme

Life assurance

Wellhub

Volunteer days

Job summary

Nationwide is seeking an experienced SAS Developer for the Decisioning Systems Assurance team. You will validate lending strategies and decisioning systems, investigate data quality issues and deliver evidence‑based assurance across projects in both strategic changes and live production environments.

You will collaborate with Risk, Technology, Commercial and Systems teams to understand complex platforms, challenge outcomes and support governance, reporting and assurance activities, whilst

Qualifications

• Good SAS programming and development experience
• Experience analysing and interpreting large, complex datasets
• Experience investigating and resolving data, system or process‑related issues
• Knowledge of lending, credit risk, decisioning systems or banking operations
• Well‑developed analytical, problem‑solving and investigative skills
• An ability to communicate technical findings clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences
• Experience producing structured, evidence‑based reporting and documentation

Responsibilities

• Validate lending strategies, decision systems and customer outcomes across lending products
• Investigate system behaviour and complex datasets to identify defects and data quality issues
• Provide evidence‑based challenge and validate key controls within decisioning systems
• Maintain assurance documentation, methodologies and governance processes; produce monthly reporting
• Communicate findings to stakeholders and represent the team at forums; deputise for Manager when needed

Job description

Job Description

We're looking for an experienced Statistical Analysis System (SAS) Developer to join our Decisioning Systems Assurance team.

This is a highly technical role focused on using SAS, data analysis and system investigation techniques to independently validate lending strategies, decision systems and customer outcomes across a range of lending products.

Working across both strategic change and live production environments, you'll identify defects, control weaknesses and data quality issues before they impact customers, operations or business outcomes.

You'll work closely with colleagues across Risk, Technology, Commercial and Systems teams, using your technical expertise to understand how complex decisioning platforms operate and providing independent challenge to ensure they perform as intended.

You'll also support assurance standards, governance activities, management reporting and stakeholder forums, while acting as deputy to the Manager when required to help coordinate assurance activity and support the team's effective operation.

This role would suit someone with strong SAS development background who enjoys solving complex problems, investigating system behaviour and working at the intersection of technology, data and risk.

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job you'll be located at our nearest regional office or hub. There will be a need to regularly connect with colleagues for collaboration and in some locations you'll be expected to spend at least two days a week, or if part time you'll spend 40% of your working time, in the office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works.

Responsibilities

What you'll be doing

You’ll use your SAS development and analytical expertise to independently validate lending strategies, decision systems and customer outcomes across a range of lending products. Working across both strategic change and live production environments, you’ll investigate system behaviour, analyse complex datasets and identify defects, control weaknesses or data quality issues that could impact customers or business outcomes.

You’ll also support assurance activity by providing evidence-based challenge, validating key controls and helping ensure decisioning systems operate as intended. In addition, this role involves contributing to the maintenance of assurance documentation, methodologies and governance processes, whilst producing management information and supporting monthly assurance reporting.

Working closely with stakeholders across Risk, Technology and Commercial teams, you’ll communicate findings, represent the team at forums and act as deputy to the Manager when required.

About you

You’ll be an experienced SAS developer with excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills and a passion for understanding how complex systems operate. You’ll be comfortable working independently, investigating issues, interrogating large datasets and translating technical findings into clear business outcomes.

As a minimum, you’ll have:

• Good SAS programming and development experience
• Experience analysing and interpreting large, complex datasets
• Experience investigating and resolving data, system or process‑related issues
• Knowledge of lending, credit risk, decisioning systems or banking operations
• Well‑developed analytical, problem‑solving and investigative skills
• An ability to communicate technical findings clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences
• Experience producing structured, evidence‑based reporting and documentation

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

• Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers' shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind
• Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think - we're honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand
• Push for better - We don't settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development
• Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.

Qualifications

The extras you'll get

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

• 25 days holiday, pro rata
• Private medical insurance
• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement
• Access to an annual performance‑related bonus
• Training and development to help you progress your career
• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death
• Wellhub - access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year

Banking - but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide.

As a mutual, we're owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don't see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you're inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you're one of us.

At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard‑setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.

We are purpose‑driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.

Disability Confident

We're not just guided by data, we're driven by the real experiences of our people. We're a Disability Confident Level 3 Leader, the highest level.

That's why we're constantly evolving our policies and practices to make sure everyone feels genuinely supported, valued, and empowered to champion inclusion. Whatever your needs, we're here to support you. If you need any additional support throughout your application journey, email our team at Recruitment Support.

Please note that should you be successful in securing this role, the job title on our internal systems will be Senior Risk Analyst.