Lead Data Scientist - Financial Modeling

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical coverage

Pension fund

Equity options

Remote-first within SA

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Data Scientist (financial modeling) for a remote-first role based in South Africa. You will lead a team of data scientists, build production-ready models for credit scoring, fraud detection, and market risk, and translate complex data into strategic insights for stakeholders across the business.

You will mentor junior staff, collaborate with product and engineering, evaluate new techniques, and ensure scalable, reliable pipelines while driving the organization’s

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s in a quantitative field.
• 8+ years in data science, with 3+ in leadership, financial modeling.
• Proven track record deploying ML models in production.
• Proficient in Python or R and common libraries.
• Strong SQL and big data tech experience (Spark/Hadoop).
• Knowledge of financial markets and instruments.
• Excellent analytical and leadership skills.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) is a plus.
• Ability to translate business problems into data science solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, deployment of financial models using ML.
• Develop predictive models for credit scoring, fraud, market risk, CLV.
• Oversee data science lifecycle from data extraction to production.
• Mentor data scientists and provide technical leadership.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and stakeholders to deliver solutions.
• Evaluate new methodologies and technologies.
• Ensure scalability, reliability, and performance of models and pipelines.
• Communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to strategic vision of data science.
• Conduct rigorous A/B testing and monitor models.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

Pandas

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Leadership

Education

Ph.D. or Master’s in Data Science/quantitative field

Master’s degree

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking financial services firm operating out of Pretoria , is seeking an innovative Lead Data Scientist with a specialization in financial modeling. This is a critical leadership role focused on leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning techniques to build predictive models that drive strategic business decisions. You will lead a team of talented data scientists, mentor junior members, and collaborate closely with business stakeholders to translate complex data into actionable financial insights. This exciting opportunity within the Banking & Finance sector is designed for individuals passionate about pioneering data-driven solutions in a challenging yet rewarding environment. As a remote-first position, you will have the flexibility to work from anywhere within South Africa, while remaining an integral part of our Pretoria -based operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of sophisticated financial models using machine learning and statistical techniques.
• Develop predictive models for areas such as credit scoring, fraud detection, market risk, and customer lifetime value.
• Oversee the entire data science lifecycle, from data extraction and cleaning to model validation and productionization.
• Mentor and guide a team of data scientists, providing technical leadership and fostering innovation.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders to understand requirements and deliver impactful solutions.
• Evaluate and implement new data science methodologies, tools, and technologies.
• Ensure the scalability, reliability, and performance of data science models and pipelines.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to the strategic vision of data science within the organization.
• Conduct rigorous A/B testing and performance monitoring of deployed models.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in data science, with at least 3 years in a leadership or senior role, specifically within financial modeling.
• Proven track record of building and deploying advanced machine learning models in a production environment.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and proficiency with data science libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas).
• Strong knowledge of SQL and experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
• Deep understanding of financial markets, financial instruments, and statistical modeling techniques relevant to finance.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) is a plus.
• Ability to translate business problems into data science solutions.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary package with significant bonus potential and equity options. Benefits include comprehensive private medical coverage with optical and dental options, a generous pension fund, and extensive life and disability insurance. We champion continuous learning, providing access to online courses, conferences, and funding for further education. As a fully remote role, you gain unparalleled flexibility. We offer home office setup allowances and encourage regular virtual team-building activities. Our client values work-life balance and provides generous paid time off. Career growth opportunities are abundant within this innovative organization.