Senior Data Scientist - Banking Ai & Customer Growth

Praesignis; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Job summary

Mastercard in South Africa seeks a Manager, AML Data Scientist to support the Regional Compliance Director across AML and sanctions programs. The role leverages data analytics and risk-based methodologies to identify, assess, and mitigate financial crime risks across customers and products.

You will work cross-functionally across the organization, leading data-driven AML initiatives, responding to requests from regulators, and developing standards, controls, and dashboards for leadership

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Statistics, Data Analytics, Mathematics, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 5–10 years AML compliance, risk management, and/or financial services experience.
• Strong analytical and statistical capabilities; ability to identify trends.
• Fluent in SQL and advanced Excel/pivot tables.
• Experience sourcing, extracting, and consolidating large data sets for AML investigations and regulatory reporting.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business, regional compliance, legal, and product teams to identify, assess, and mitigate money laundering, sanctions, and financial crime risks.
• Develop, implement, and maintain regional AML and sanctions standards, controls, and procedures.
• Lead data-driven AML initiatives, including transaction monitoring, data integrity checks, and metrics tracking.
• Coordinate data requests from law enforcement, regulators, internal stakeholders, and other authorized parties with timely, well-documented responses.
• Provide input into AML and sanctions risk assessments by analyzing customer, product, geography, and network activity data.

Skills

SQL

Excel

Pivot tables

Analytics

Data extraction

Statistical analysis

Education

Bachelor's in Statistics/Data Analytics/Mathematics

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Manager, AML Data Scientist
Manager, AML Data Scientist
The Manager, AML Data Scientist is responsible for supporting the Regional Compliance Director across Mastercard's AML and Sanctions Program. The role covers all customer types as well as products and services and leverages data analytics and risk-based methodologies to identify, assess, and mitigate financial crime risks. The role works cross-functionally across the organization, providing subject matter expertise in managing, controlling, and limiting risk to the organization.
The role ensures that activity on the Mastercard Network complies with Mastercard AML Standards by conducting customer reviews, applying advanced analytics to transactional and customer data, investigating unusual or potentially suspicious activity, and using large datasets to identify emerging trends, anomalies, and risk indicators.

Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with business, regional compliance, legal, and product teams to support customer initiatives while identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential money laundering, sanctions, and financial crime risks to Mastercard and network participants.
• Support the development, implementation, and maintenance of regional AML and sanctions standards, controls, and procedures to address Mastercard requirements and applicable local regulatory obligations.
• Lead and support data-driven AML initiatives, including transaction monitoring analysis, system tuning, trend analysis, data integrity checks, exception reporting, and metrics tracking.
• Coordinate and respond to AML, sanctions, and financial crime-related data requests from law enforcement, regulators, internal stakeholders, and other authorized parties, ensuring timely, accurate, and well-documented responses.
• Provide input into periodic AML and sanctions risk assessments by analyzing customer, product, geography, transaction, and network activity data to identify emerging risks and control enhancements.
• Maintain AML compliance program tracking, metrics, dashboards, and reporting to identify trends, monitor remediation activities, elevate issues, and support regular reporting to senior AML, sanctions, and export controls leadership.
• Coordinate regional FIU alerts, escalations, investigations, and inquiries, including the review of unusual or potentially suspicious activity and the preparation of clear analysis, recommendations, and supporting documentation.
• Provide practical AML and sanctions advisory support to business lines, customer-facing teams, product stakeholders, and regional leadership on customer activity, control expectations, and risk mitigation requirements.
• Support and oversee the resolution of findings arising from customer and service provider reviews, including remediation tracking, risk escalation, stakeholder follow-up, and closure documentation.
• Prepare management reporting, presentations, dashboards, and briefing materials that clearly communicate AML and sanctions risks, review outcomes, trends, metrics, and recommended actions.
• Escalate higher-risk customers, activities, and matters to appropriate governance forums and risk working groups, presenting clear risk assessments, supporting data, and recommended mitigation actions.
• Recommend enhancements to AML and sanctions processes, procedures, governance, data quality, monitoring capabilities, and supporting technology to improve program effectiveness and operational efficiency.

Education and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Statistics, Data Analytics, Mathematics, or a related discipline required; advanced degree or JD preferred. 5-10 years of AML compliance, risk management, and/or financial services experience preferred.
• Strong analytical and statistical capability, with proven experience using data to identify trends, evaluate risks, and inform compliance decisions.
• Must be fluent in using SQL and advanced experience using Excel, pivot tables.
• Demonstrated experience sourcing, extracting, and consolidating large volumes of data from multiple systems, databases, and external sources to support AML investigations, transaction monitoring, compliance reviews, and regulatory reporting.
• Experience evaluating statistical results and translating findings into clear decision-making indicators.
• Ability to present statistical results through clear, stakeholder-focused dashboards and reporting.
• Intermediate skills with BSA/AML compliance program requirements and experience with program/project management and familiarity with the USA PATRIOT Act, FATF, FSA international standards, and practices and knowledge of banking/financial operations, transaction processing and/or payments-related industry experience is preferred.
• Sound judgment with ability to build rapport at all levels, and in all business units; proven ability to persuade and drive results.
• Proven ability to work independently in a fast-paced matrix environment or as a team player and function effectively in a dynamic, fast paced environment while handling multiple projects and consistently meeting deadlines.
• Practical problem solver with demonstrated ability to partner effectively with others in handling complex and/or sensitive issues.
• Confident and seasoned leader with strong interpersonal skills and sound business judgment.
• Demonstrated effectiveness operating in complex organizational structure.
• Superior attention to detail, problem-solving, organizational, and written/verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage high-pressure situations and tight deadlines effectively.

Desired or Additional Capabilities

• Multilingual skills are necessary and must include English.
• Excellent written, oral, and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of banking/financial operations, transaction processing and/or payments-related industry experience is a plus.
• ACAMs certification(s) preferred.

Corporate Security Responsibility

• Abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices;
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach;
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines.