Lead Data Scientist - Financial Analytics

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Remote stipend

Unlimited PTO

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to drive advanced analytics in financial services. This remote-first role leads a team, defines the analytics roadmap, and delivers ML and statistical modeling to unlock insights from complex datasets.

You will mentor data professionals, partner with engineering and product teams, and communicate findings to stakeholders. A PhD or master's and 7+ years in data science with finance focus are required.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in Data Science or related quantitative field.
• 7+ years hands-on data science experience with a strong financial services focus.
• Proven track record leading data science teams and projects from conception to deployment.
• Expertise in Python or R and libraries such as Pandas and NumPy.
• Deep understanding of ML algorithms (supervised, unsupervised, deep learning), statistical modeling, and experimental design.
• Experience with big data technologies (Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Strong SQL skills for data extraction and manipulation.
• Excellent communication and remote-friendly collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of ML models for financial applications.
• Identify new data sources and analytical opportunities to drive business value.
• Mentor and manage a team of data scientists and analysts, fostering high performance.
• Develop and maintain the data science strategy and roadmap.
• Communicate complex findings clearly to stakeholders across the organization.
• Oversee data preprocessing, feature engineering, and model validation.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to deploy solutions.
• Stay at the forefront of data science and AI advances.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Python

SQL

Communication

Statistical modeling

Education

PhD or Master’s degree in data science or related quantitative field

Advanced degree in statistics/math/computer science

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

Pandas

NumPy

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an exceptional Lead Data Scientist to spearhead their financial analytics initiatives, operating in a fully remote capacity. This senior role is crucial for leveraging advanced data science techniques to unlock insights from complex financial datasets, driving innovation in product development, risk assessment, and customer engagement. As the Lead Data Scientist, you will guide a team of data professionals, define the analytical roadmap, and ensure the effective application of machine learning and statistical modeling to solve critical business challenges. This is a pioneering, remote-first opportunity for a visionary leader in the field of data science within the financial services sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of sophisticated machine learning models and statistical analyses for financial applications.
• Identify new data sources and analytical opportunities to drive business value and inform strategic decisions.
• Mentor and manage a team of data scientists and analysts, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
• Develop and maintain the overall data science strategy and roadmap, aligning with company objectives.
• Communicate complex analytical findings and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders across the organization.
• Oversee the data preprocessing, feature engineering, and model validation processes.
• Collaborate closely with engineering and product teams to integrate data science solutions into production environments.
• Stay at the forefront of data science and AI advancements, evaluating and implementing new tools and methodologies.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 7+ years of hands‑on experience in data science, with a significant portion focused on financial services.
• Proven track record of leading data science teams and projects from conception to deployment.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and proficiency with data manipulation libraries (e.g., Pandas, NumPy).
• Deep understanding of machine learning algorithms (supervised, unsupervised, deep learning), statistical modeling, and experimental design.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Strong SQL skills for data extraction and manipulation.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, essential for a remote‑first role.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities effectively in a distributed team environment.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary with potential for equity or performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits package.
• Generous remote work stipend for home office setup and connectivity.
• 401(k) or equivalent retirement plan with company matching.
• Unlimited paid time off policy to encourage work‑life balance.
• Professional development opportunities, including online courses and conference attendance.
• The flexibility and autonomy of a fully remote position, allowing you to work from anywhere.
• Opportunity to lead groundbreaking AI and data science initiatives in the financial sector.