Senior Data Scientist - FinTech Innovation

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid work model

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan with company match

Professional development and training

Stock options or equity participation

Modern Pretoria office with data-rich環

Job summary

Placements24 invites applications for a Senior Data Scientist to join a Pretoria FinTech analytics team. You will lead advanced modeling, handle large financial datasets, and translate data into business value across product platforms.

You will mentor peers, design experiments, deploy predictive models, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive data-driven decisions in a hybrid work setting.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a quantitative field.
• 5-7+ years of data science/analytical experience, preferably in financial services or FinTech.
• Proficiency in Python or R and libraries like scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, pandas, NumPy.
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, ML techniques, and experimental design.
• Experience with Spark/Hadoop and SQL; familiarity with AWS/Azure/GCP.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and deploy advanced statistical models and ML algorithms for finance.
• Analyze large datasets to identify trends and actionable insights.
• Build and deploy predictive models for customer behavior, risk, fraud, and forecasting.
• Collaborate with product managers and engineers to integrate DS solutions.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines ensuring data quality and accessibility.
• Communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Stay updated with DS/AI advancements and apply as appropriate.
• Mentor junior data scientists and share best practices.
• Design and conduct A/B tests to measure feature impact.
• Create dashboards/visualizations to monitor KPIs and model performance.
• Ensure ethical data handling and regulatory compliance.

Skills

ML expertise

Statistical modeling

Communication

Problem solving

Team mentoring

Experiment design

Education

Master's/PhD in CS/Statistics/Math/Economics

Tools

Python

R

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

pandas

NumPy

Spark

Hadoop

SQL

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering FinTech firm at the forefront of financial innovation, is seeking a highly accomplished Senior Data Scientist to join their advanced analytics team in Pretoria . This strategic role will be instrumental in driving data-driven decision-making across the organization, developing sophisticated predictive models, and uncovering actionable insights from complex financial datasets. The ideal candidate will possess a deep expertise in machine learning, statistical modeling, and programming, coupled with a strong understanding of financial markets and services. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of financial technology, leveraging cutting‑edge tools and techniques to solve challenging business problems and create impactful solutions. You will collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including product development, engineering, and business strategy, to translate data into tangible business value. The position offers a stimulating environment for professional growth and the chance to work on projects that have a direct impact on the company's success and the broader FinTech landscape in Pretoria .

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement advanced statistical models and machine learning algorithms to solve complex business problems in finance.
• Analyze large and diverse datasets to identify trends, patterns, and insights that drive strategic decisions.
• Build and deploy predictive models for customer behavior, risk assessment, fraud detection, and market forecasting.
• Collaborate with product managers and engineers to integrate data science solutions into existing and new product offerings.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines, ensuring data quality, integrity, and accessibility for analytical purposes.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly and concisely to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, and evaluate their applicability to business needs.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's knowledge sharing and best practices.
• Design and conduct A/B tests and other experiments to measure the impact of new features and strategies.
• Develop dashboards and visualizations to monitor key performance indicators and track model performance.
• Ensure ethical data handling and compliance with relevant regulations.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• A minimum of 5-7 years of professional experience in data science or a related analytical role, preferably within the financial services or FinTech industry.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, pandas, NumPy).
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning techniques (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, deep learning), and experimental design.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and SQL.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and their data science services.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Matplotlib).
• A proactive mindset with a passion for continuous learning and innovation.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, team‑oriented environment.
• Knowledge of financial products, markets, and regulatory frameworks is a significant advantage.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and potential for significant bonuses based on performance.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Generous retirement savings plan with company matching.
• Flexible working hours and a hybrid work model.
• Opportunities for professional development, including conferences and advanced training.
• Stock options or equity participation in a rapidly growing company.
• Modern office facilities in a prime Pretoria location.
• Collaborative and innovative work culture.
• Access to cutting‑edge technology and data resources.
• Significant impact on the future of FinTech solutions.