Lead Data Scientist - Financial Analytics

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and performance‑drт

Medical aid

Provident fund

Life insurance

Conferences and training support

Gym membership

Team-building events

Job summary

Placements24 in Cape Town is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to head advanced analytics, drive data-driven product development, and shape the firm’s data strategy from the offices in Cape Town. The role requires building and deploying ML models, guiding a team of data scientists, and partnering with business leaders.

You will lead governance, ensure data quality, communicate insights to executives, stay current with ML innovations, and help define the analytics roadmap while delivering high-impact

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's in a quantitative field related to data science.
• 8+ years leading analytics projects.
• Experience mentoring data science teams.
• Strong communication with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of ML models for predictive analytics.
• Mentor and manage a data science team.
• Collaborate with business leaders to drive value from data.
• Establish data governance standards and best practices.
• Oversee end-to-end DS project lifecycle from problem to deployment.
• Present findings to executives and non-technical audiences.
• Stay updated on DS/AI advances and assess applicability.
• Contribute to data analytics roadmap and strategy.

Skills

Python

R

Machine learning

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Experiment design

Education

MSc/PhD in Data Science / CS / Statistics / Math

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Spark

Hadoop

SQL

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading financial services provider in Cape Town, Western Cape , is actively seeking an experienced and visionary Lead Data Scientist to spearhead their advanced analytics initiatives. This pivotal role involves leveraging vast datasets to uncover insights, drive strategic decision-making, and develop innovative data-driven products and services. You will be instrumental in shaping the future of our client's data strategy, leading a team of talented data scientists and collaborating closely with business stakeholders across the organization. The ideal candidate possesses a strong blend of technical expertise in machine learning and statistical modeling, coupled with excellent leadership and communication skills. This position offers a unique opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and contribute significantly to the company's growth and competitive advantage in the South African financial landscape. The role is based in our client's modern offices in Cape Town .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models and algorithms for predictive analytics, customer segmentation, fraud detection, and risk assessment.
• Mentor and manage a team of data scientists, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Collaborate with business leaders to identify opportunities where data science can drive significant business value.
• Develop and implement data governance standards and best practices to ensure data quality and integrity.
• Oversee the end-to-end data science project lifecycle, from problem definition and data exploration to model deployment and monitoring.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations to executive leadership and non-technical audiences.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, and assess their potential application within the organization.
• Contribute to the strategic planning and roadmap development for data analytics initiatives.
• Ensure that all data science projects adhere to ethical guidelines and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in data science, with a proven track record of leading successful analytics projects.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and mentoring data science teams.
• Expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, deep learning), and experimental design.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and associated data science libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and SQL is essential.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to translate complex data insights into actionable business strategies.
• Experience within the financial services sector, particularly in Cape Town , is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Our client provides a competitive salary, performance-based bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package including excellent medical aid, a provident fund, and life insurance.
• Opportunities for professional growth are abundant, with support for conferences, training, and advanced degree programs.
• The company culture emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and work-life balance.
• This role is based in Cape Town, Western Cape , offering a stimulating work environment in a beautiful city.
• Additional perks include subsidized gym memberships and regular team-building events.