Senior Data Scientist - Financial Analytics

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Performance bonuses

Medical and retirement benefits

Professional development including_con

Conferences and advanced training

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Data Scientist specializing in Financial Analytics in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. You will leverage advanced ML and big data to derive actionable insights for product development, risk management, and customer insights.

You will mentor juniors, design production-ready models, and collaborate with cross-functional teams in a flexible hybrid work setup that blends in-office collaboration with remote work.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a quantitative field.
• 5+ years of data science experience with financial analytics.
• Proficiency in Python or R and libraries like pandas or scikit-learn.
• Strong SQL skills and experience with distributed data platforms (Spark/Hadoop).
• Experience deploying models to production and experimenting design.

Responsibilities

• Develop ML models for forecasting, fraud detection, credit scoring and customer segmentation.
• Analyze large financial datasets using advanced statistics and data mining.
• Design A/B tests and experiments to evaluate model impact.
• Collaborate with product, engineering and business stakeholders to define analytics projects.
• Build data pipelines and infrastructure for efficient processing and analysis.
• Communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to team growth.
• Stay updated on advances in data science and financial analytics.
• Ensure ethical use of data in analyses.
• Contribute to data-driven strategies across the organization.

Skills

Data science expertise

5+ years experience

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Model deployment

Education

Master's or PhD in Data Science/Statistics/CS/Math/Economics

Tools

Python

R

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

SQL

Spark

Hadoop

AWS/Azure/GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering financial technology firm, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist specializing in Financial Analytics to join their innovative team in Stellenbosch, Western Cape . This role is central to leveraging advanced analytical techniques, machine learning, and big data technologies to derive actionable insights from complex financial datasets. The successful candidate will drive strategic decision-making through data-driven solutions, contributing to product development, risk management, and customer insights. This position offers a flexible hybrid work model, combining collaborative in-office sessions with the convenience of remote work, perfectly suited for the vibrant environment of Stellenbosch, Western Cape .

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement sophisticated machine learning models for financial forecasting, fraud detection, credit scoring, and customer segmentation.
• Analyze large, complex datasets using advanced statistical methods and data mining techniques.
• Design and execute A/B tests and other experiments to evaluate model performance and business impact.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders to define data science projects and translate business needs into analytical solutions.
• Build and maintain data pipelines and infrastructure for efficient data processing and analysis.
• Communicate complex findings and insights clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's technical growth.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and financial analytics.
• Ensure the ethical and responsible use of data in all analytical endeavors.
• Contribute to the development of data-driven strategies for the organization.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of experience as a Data Scientist, with a strong focus on financial analytics and modeling.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas).
• Extensive experience with SQL and working with large datasets in distributed computing environments (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and experimental design.
• Experience in building and deploying models into production environments.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts effectively.
• Experience working in a hybrid work environment is preferred.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) is a plus.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary package, generous performance bonuses, comprehensive medical and retirement benefits, and ample opportunities for professional development, including conferences and advanced training. This hybrid role, based in Stellenbosch, Western Cape , provides a great balance between collaborative teamwork and personal flexibility. You'll work with a talented group of professionals on cutting-edge financial technology challenges, with clear pathways for career advancement. Join a company that fosters innovation, rewards expertise, and values a healthy work-life balance.