Senior Data Scientist (Financial Modeling)

Placements24; Soweto; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Retirement contributions

Professional development budget

Remote work

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Data Scientist specializing in Financial Modeling to join a globally distributed, fully remote analytics team. You will design and deploy predictive models for Banking & Finance, leverage large datasets, and drive data-driven strategies while mentoring junior colleagues and contributing to product enhancements.

The role emphasizes advanced statistical modeling, ML techniques, and strong communication skills to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences in a remote

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in a quantitative field (Data Science, Statistics, CS, Mathematics, Economics, etc.).
• Minimum 5 years of Data Scientist experience with a focus on financial modeling in Banking & Finance.
• Proficiency in Python or R with relevant libraries (scikit-learn, Pandas, NumPy).
• Strong experience with ML algorithms and statistical modeling techniques.
• SQL and big data tech experience (Spark, Hadoop).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and data science services.
• Excellent problem solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and remotely.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy advanced statistical and ML models for financial forecasting, risk, fraud detection, and customer analytics.
• Analyze large datasets to identify patterns and actionable insights.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate analytical needs into data science solutions.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines and feature engineering processes.
• Perform model validation, backtesting, and performance monitoring.
• Communicate complex findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the knowledge base.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

ML algorithms

Pandas/NumPy

Spark/Hadoop

Cloud platforms

Data visualization

Education

Ph.D. or Master’s in a quantitative field

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge analytics firm serving the financial sector, is seeking an accomplished Senior Data Scientist specializing in Financial Modeling to join their globally distributed team. This role is fully remote, offering flexibility to work from anywhere, and requires a deep expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning, and programming to develop sophisticated predictive models for the Banking & Finance industry. The ideal candidate will leverage vast datasets to uncover insights, optimize financial strategies, and drive innovation. This is an exciting opportunity to work on challenging projects with a highly skilled team, shaping the future of financial analytics from a remote setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy advanced statistical and machine learning models for financial forecasting, risk assessment, fraud detection, and customer analytics.
• Analyze large, complex datasets to identify patterns, trends, and actionable insights.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across business units to understand their analytical needs and translate them into data science solutions.
• Develop and maintain robust data pipelines and feature engineering processes.
• Perform rigorous model validation, backtesting, and performance monitoring.
• Communicate complex findings and model insights clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and financial modeling techniques.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's knowledge base.
• Contribute to the development of data-driven strategies and product enhancements.
• Effectively manage projects and deliverables in a remote work environment.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in a quantitative field such as Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Data Scientist, with a strong focus on financial modeling and applications within the Banking & Finance sector.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, including relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy).
• Extensive experience with various machine learning algorithms (regression, classification, clustering, deep learning) and statistical modeling techniques.
• Strong SQL skills and experience working with large databases and big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and associated data science services.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts simply.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote setting.
• Demonstrated understanding of financial markets, instruments, and risk management principles.

Benefits

• This fully remote role offers a competitive salary and a performance-based bonus structure, reflecting the high demand for specialized data science skills.
• Our client provides a comprehensive benefits package, including excellent health coverage, retirement contributions, and a generous professional development budget for courses, conferences, and certifications.
• The flexibility of a remote position allows for excellent work-life integration, based conceptually out of Soweto, Gauteng .
• Join a forward-thinking team dedicated to leveraging data science to transform the Banking & Finance industry.