Senior Data Scientist - Financial Risk Analytics

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; Remote; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Bonuses & incentives

Health benefits

Professional development

Remote-first environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to drive innovation in financial risk analytics in a fully remote role within South Africa. You will develop advanced ML models, manipulate large datasets, and translate insights into actionable business strategies for leaders across risk management and technology teams.

The role requires a PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field, 6+ years in data science, and strong Python/R experience with ML libraries.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics or related discipline.
• Minimum 6 years of hands-on data science experience with emphasis on financial risk analytics.
• Strong knowledge of statistical modeling, ML algorithms, and experimental design.
• Proficiency in Python or R and libraries (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with SQL and big data tech (Spark/Hadoop) is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy statistical and ML models for credit, market, and operational risk.
• Perform exploratory data analysis on large, complex datasets to uncover risk insights.
• Build and maintain data pipelines for model training and inference.
• Collaborate with risk, business, and tech teams to define DS requirements and deliver solutions.
• Validate and back-test model performance ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Present complex findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay current with advances in DS, ML, and financial risk management.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to DS community growth.
• Develop strategies for model monitoring and lifecycle management.

Skills

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Data analysis

Communication

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field

Tools

Python

R

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

SQL

Spark

Hadoop

AWS/Azure/GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a globally recognized leader in financial services, is seeking a highly accomplished Senior Data Scientist to drive innovation in financial risk analytics. This is a fully remote position, allowing you to leverage your expertise from anywhere in South Africa. You will be instrumental in developing advanced machine learning models and statistical techniques to identify, quantify, and mitigate complex financial risks. This role demands a deep understanding of quantitative finance, robust data manipulation skills, and the ability to translate intricate data insights into actionable strategies for business leaders. You will work with massive datasets, state-of-the-art tools, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance risk management frameworks and ensure regulatory compliance. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the firm's risk posture and contribute to the development of groundbreaking analytical solutions in a remote-first setting. The position requires a proactive, curious, and results-oriented individual.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy advanced statistical and machine learning models for credit risk, market risk, and operational risk.
• Perform exploratory data analysis on large, complex datasets to uncover insights and identify patterns relevant to financial risk.
• Build and maintain robust data pipelines for model training and inference.
• Collaborate with risk management, business, and technology teams to define data science requirements and deliver impactful solutions.
• Validate and back-test model performance, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences through reports and presentations.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and financial risk management techniques.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the growth of the data science community within the organization.
• Develop and implement strategies for model monitoring and lifecycle management.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in a quantitative field such as Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 6 years of hands-on experience as a Data Scientist, with a significant focus on financial risk analytics.
• Proven expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, deep learning), and experimental design.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with SQL and working with large datasets using big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of financial markets, instruments, and risk management principles.
• Excellent data visualization and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a distributed team.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) for data science workloads is a plus.

Benefits

• An exceptional remuneration package with an annual salary of up to R .
• Performance-based bonuses and incentives.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• Generous professional development allowance.
• The full flexibility and autonomy of a 100% remote work arrangement.
• Opportunity to lead impactful projects in financial risk.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and a world-class data science infrastructure.