Head: Financial Crime Analytics

nedbank; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading banking institution in Johannesburg is seeking a Head of Quantitative Analytics to lead a team in developing and optimizing data-driven solutions for managing financial crime risks. Candidates should have substantial experience in quantitative analytics and team leadership, alongside strong programming skills in Python and advanced statistical knowledge. This role involves ensuring compliance with financial regulations and enhancing operational efficiency within the financial crime risk management framework.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8-10 years of experience in a quantitative analytics environment.
• At least 3-5 years of leadership experience managing a team of technical specialists.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing scorecard or statistical or machine learning models.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of quantitative analysts to optimize data-driven solutions for financial crime risk detection.
• Manage performance and development of team members.
• Ensure compliance with financial crime regulations and internal policies.

Skills

Advanced quantitative techniques

Programming in Python

Data manipulation with SQL

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Education

Master's degree in a relevant quantitative field

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

REQ 141734 Thembi Mtshali

Location: Johannesburg

Job Family

Investment Banking

Quantitative

Manage Managers

Job Purpose

To lead a specialist team of quantitative analysts in developing, implementing, and optimising advanced data-driven solutions that proactively detect, prevent, and manage financial crime risks. This role is pivotal in safeguarding Nedbank’s integrity, ensuring regulatory compliance, and enhancing the effectiveness of the financial crime risk management framework in alignment with Nedbank’s risk appetite, strategic objectives, and transformation goals.

Job Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Team Management
  • Develop a High-Performing Team: Cultivate a centre of excellence for financial crime analytics by identifying, attracting, and retaining top quantitative talent. Maintain a high-performing team by conducting career conversations, applying talent grid principles, and developing retention programmes.
  • Foster Growth and Retention: Implement talent development programmes and encourage knowledge sharing in areas like machine learning, statistical modelling, and data science. Build depth of skills and knowledge by sharing insights across the team.
  • Drive Transformation: Champion Nedbank’s transformation goals, aligning team development with B-BBEE and employment equity targets. Contribute to a culture of transformation through participation in Nedbank initiatives and CSI.
  • Promote a Culture of Innovation: Encourage constructive debate and continuous improvement of financial crime detection models, systems, and processes.
  • Performance Management: Manage departmental performance through clear vision, performance agreements, and accountability structures. Identify development needs and ensure continuous improvement by challenging the status quo.
• Quantitative Modelling & Analytics
  • Model Development & Optimisation: Oversee the lifecycle of financial crime models including transaction monitoring, customer risk rating, sanctions screening, and fraud detection.
  • Advanced Quantitative Analytics: Lead and drive the development and application of a sophisticated analytical framework to uncover and pre-empt complex financial crime patterns, anomalies, and emerging threats. Leverage a diverse quantitative toolkit that encompasses advanced statistical modelling, network science, and Natural Language Processing, including the implementation of targeted machine learning techniques to enhance detection accuracy and operational efficiency.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Translate analytical outputs into actionable intelligence for stakeholders.
  • Scenario Tuning & Validation: Ensure models are rigorously tested and calibrated to balance risk detection and false positives.
• Governance, Risk & Compliance
  • Regulatory Adherence: Support Nedbank in ensuring compliance with FICA, FIC, PA, and other relevant regulatory requirements.
  • Model Risk Management: Maintain governance frameworks for model documentation, validation, and performance monitoring.
  • Reporting & MI: Deliver high-quality MI and regulatory reporting on financial crime controls and risk exposure.
  • Compliance & Decision-Making: Ensure compliance and make quality, timely decisions aligned with business strategy.
• Stakeholder Management & Business Partnership
  • Business Alignment: Collaborate across Group Risk and business units to ensure analytical solutions are aligned with strategy.
  • Strategic Advisory: Provide quantitative insights to inform financial crime risk appetite and strategic initiatives.
  • Vendor Management: Manage vendor contracts and performance to ensure value for money.
• Operational Excellence
  • Efficiency & Optimisation: Identify resource inefficiencies and promote optimisation through multi-skilling and capacity gap management.
  • Budget Management: Manage departmental budgets (where applicable) and introduce new business initiatives to improve revenue.
  • Service Delivery: Deliver services that meet internal client expectations and foster a client-centric culture.
  • Process Enhancement: Enhance systems and processes to support strategic goals.

Preferred Qualification

• An equivalent of a Master\'s degree or higher in a relevant quantitative field.

Minimum Experience Level

• Minimum 8-10 years of experience in a quantitative analytics environment.
• At least 3-5 years of leadership experience, managing a team of technical specialists.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing scorecard or statistical or machine learning models in a banking or financial services context.

Technical / Professional Knowledge

• Programming & Data Manipulation: High proficiency in languages like Python, and experience with SQL for complex data extraction and manipulation.
• Advanced Analytical & Modelling Strategy: A deep, strategic command of a broad spectrum of advanced quantitative techniques, with the proven ability to direct a team on their selection and application to solve complex business problems.
• Financial Crime Systems: In-depth understanding of the architecture and functionality of financial crime systems (e.g., transaction monitoring, screening engines, case management).
• Data Visualisation: Expertise in using tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Python libraries (e.g., Plotly, Matplotlib, Seaborn) to communicate complex findings effectively.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Understanding of the South African financial crime regulatory environment and global standards (e.g., FATF recommendations).
• Sharing Responsibility
• Strategic Influence
• Cultivating Networks and Partnerships
• Driving Execution

Disclaimer

Preference Recruiting Team at [phone] will be given to candidates from the underrepresented groups

Please contact the Nedbank Recruiting Team at [phone]

Please contact the Nedbank Recruiting Team at [phone]

Nedbank Ltd Reg No 1951/000009/06. Authorised financial services and registered credit provider (NCRCP16).

For assistance please contact the Nedbank Recruiting Team at [phone]