Senior Data Technologist

Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC; Centurion; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Financial Intelligence Centre in South Africa seeks a data analytics professional to scope, source, integrate and analyse complex financial data for forensic investigations. You will supervise database programming, develop tools, and deliver reports with actionable insights for law enforcement partners.

The role requires a university degree in a relevant field, strong quantitative skills, and proficiency in Power BI.

Qualifications

• A university degree in economics, statistics, mathematics, computer science, business information systems.
• Quantitative skills, with training in statistics, data mining, coding to develop models.
• SAS or SQL Server certifications are compulsory.
• Power BI proficiency from basic visualization to advanced modeling.
• 8 years of experience in scoping, sourcing, integrating and analysing complex data for forensic contexts.
• Knowledge of financial flows; illicit finance an advantage.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Programming skills; data analysis and modelling expertise.
• FIC systems and data structures knowledge is an added advantage.

Responsibilities

• Scope, source/gather, integrate and analyse complex data to provide high-quality forensic evidence.
• Supervise database programming, scripts, and data migration activities.
• Prepare complex reports containing inferences and conclusions for medium-term planning.
• Guide and mentor the data analysis team and coordinate with stakeholders.

Job description

Financial Intelligence Centre -> State Forensic Capability

Job Type

Permanent

Education

skilled and academically qualified

Location

Travel

Desired Race

African

Desired Gender

Male

Closing Date

15/9/2026

The FIC is an equal opportunity employer. Preference will be given to suitably qualified applicants in line with our employment targets and our commitment to diversifying our workforce. As part of our recruitment and selection process, persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All appointments are subject to satisfactory reference checks and security clearance.

Job Description

JOB PURPOSE

Responsible for scoping, sourcing/gathering, integrating and analyse complex financial, statistical and visual/spacial data to provide high-quality forensic evidence in support of the Financial Intelligence Centre’s mandate.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Data Engagement and Requirements Analysis
• Engage with business teams to understand project requirements.
• Supervise and perform database programming for new and existing projects.
• Provide project updates/support and metrics to managers/team members as required.
• Identify and develop sources of information by creating relationship with possible sources.
• Create own management tools to facilitate the information gathering process.
• Disseminate information requested (once it has been approved) as per agreed timelines and specifications.
• Ensure aggregation and utilisation of relevant data streams.
• Supervise the writing of scripts, stored procedures and functions for analytical procedures.
• Perform quality assurance tests for ensuring data integrity and quality.
• Resolve database problems, queries and error reports in an accurate and timely manner.
• Ensure planning and implementing of data integration and data migration activities.
• Plan personal work execution to achieve milestones of agreed deliverables.
• Provide valid inputs in database architectural discussions.
• Identify process improvements for database performance, reliability, and stability; troubleshoot complex database issues in a timely fashion.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of process improvements
• Troubleshoot complex database issues in a timely fashion.
• Prepare database functional and design specifications.
• Test database systems and perform bug fixes.
• Maintain accurate and complete database programming documentations.
• Design models to detect anomalies in data based on project specifications.
• Apply diagnostic ability to see multiple relationships and make multiple causal links to determine the impact of multiple part chains on events in order to formulate a hypothesis.
• Act as a technical reference and provide mentorship / coaching and ensuring transfer of skills to colleagues.
• Review the work of the data analysis team
• Prepare complex reports which contain possible inferences and conclusions for medium term planning purposes.
• Develop document templates that reflect data checks, providing guidance on data inclusion and exclusion during analyses, and supporting auditability and compliance
• Guide and conduct briefings and presentations with internal and external FIC stakeholders and clients.
• Perform any other data analysis as and when required.
• Develop data reports by mining big data sets and conducting complex analysis in order to provide insights that meet stakeholder requirements.
• Provide guidance to the team to understanding different relevant databases in order to effectively link it to the related analytical reports and crime under analysis or investigation.
• Ensure that any other data analysis requests are performed as and when required by management.
• Perform any other duties as required

Data Engagement and Requirements Analysis

• Guide and conduct the engagement with business teams to understand project requirements, ensuring alignment with forensic investigation needs and the goals of supporting law enforcement agencies.
• Guide and conduct the identification and development of new information sources by establishing relationships with potential data providers, enhancing the depth and breadth of data available for forensic analysis.
• Supervise custom management tools to facilitate the information gathering process, ensuring efficiency and comprehensiveness.

Database Programming and Development

• Guide and conduct the execution of database programming for new and existing projects, writing scripts, stored procedures, and functions to support complex analytical procedures related to financial data use to solve financial crimes.
• Plan and implement data integration and data migration activities to support forensic investigations, ensuring seamless and secure data handling.
• Provide valid input in database architectural discussions, contributing to the design and optimisation of robust and scalable database systems.

Data Quality Assurance and Problem Resolution

• Guide and conduct quality assurance tests to ensure data integrity and quality, maintaining the reliability of forensic evidence used in investigations.
• Resolve database problems, queries, and error reports promptly and accurately, minimising downtime and ensuring data availability for ongoing investigations.
• Identify process improvements for database performance, reliability, and stability, enhancing the overall effectiveness of data management within the FIC.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Supervise the designing of models to detect anomalies in data based on project specifications, contributing to the identification of suspicious financial activities and potential financial crimes.
• Apply diagnostic skills to identify multiple relationships and causal links, formulating hypotheses to support forensic investigations.
• Prepare complex reports containing inferences and conclusions for medium-term planning purposes, providing actionable insights to law enforcement agencies.

Data Management and Documentation

• Maintain accurate and complete database programming documentation, ensuring transparency and reproducibility in forensic data processes.
• Prepare development document templates that reflect data checks, providing guidance on data inclusion and exclusion during analyses, and supporting auditability and compliance.
• Conduct data audits by scrutinising and monitoring the quality of raw data, driving data integrity and ensuring the accuracy of forensic evidence.

Big Data Evaluation and Analytical Support

• Conduct big data evaluations within the unit by searching and analysing large datasets to extract critical information related to specific queries and investigations.
• Conduct analytical support by retrieving raw data and conducting preliminary statistical analyses, assisting in the data analysis process and supporting forensic investigations.
• Compile user-friendly reports by translating technical results into understandable information, enabling informed decision-making by end-users and law enforcement agencies.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Conduct briefings and presentations with internal and external FIC stakeholders and clients, effectively communicating data findings, methodologies, and implications for ongoing investigations.
• Ensure disseminations of approved information as per agreed timelines and specifications, ensuring that data is shared responsibly and in a timely manner to support law enforcement activities.

Planning and Execution

• Plan teams work execution to achieve milestones of agreed deliverables, ensuring timely and accurate completion of tasks related to forensic data management and analysis.
• Ensure any other data analysis as required by management, demonstrating flexibility and responsiveness to evolving investigative needs.
• Allocate and review the work/output of the team

EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• A university degree in economics, statistics, mathematics, computer science, business information systems
• Quantitative skills, as evidenced by formal training in statistics, data mining, coding to develop models and relevant experience in utilising those skills in research and or an operational environment.
• SAS, or SQL Server certifications are compulsory
• Proficiency in Power BI including skills, from basic data visualization to advanced data modelling and analysis will be preferrable 8 years of experience in scoping, sourcing, integrating, and analysing complex financial, statistical, and visual/spatial data, including data mining, modelling, and coding.
• Expertise in economic/transactional analysis and developing mathematical/or statistical models through coding and data mining.
• Knowledge of financial flows and particularly illicit financial flows and an understanding of illicit economy and criminal activities which generate illicit finances - an advantage.
• Communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Confidence and credibility to persuasively interact at all levels within the organisation and clients.
• Presentation skills
• PowerBI and other business intelligence software skills
• Programming Skills
• Prior knowledge to FIC systems and data structures will be an added advantage.