Data Scientist

Job Description

Hello Future Data Scientist III

Welcome to FNB, the home of the #changeables. We design for the shapeshifters and deliver products and services that make us incredibly proud of people that make it happen.

As part of our talent team, you will be surrounded by unique talents, diverse minds, and an adaptable environment that lives up to the promise of staying curious. Now’s the time to imagine your potential in a team where experts come together and ignite effective change.

We are currently in search of a Data Scientist to plan, build, optimise and implement innovative quantitative analytical methodologies, procedures, products and advanced mathematical models that provide analytical support and interpret insights, using advanced analytics technologies, to address business opportunities and problems and implement business strategy.

Are you someone who wants to:

• Leverage data science tools and techniques to manage a high-risk, late-stage collections portfolio. Optimise platform performance, develop advanced analytics, and lead data-driven strategies to maximise recoveries, minimize losses, and enhance customer experience.

 Key Responsibilities

a. Strategic Leadership and Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to align analytics strategies with business objectives.
• Act as a key advisor to stakeholders, translating complex analytics into actionable business insights.
• Drive stakeholder engagement for buy-in on outsourcing strategies, platform enhancements, and debt management solutions.

b. Advanced Analytics and Model Development

• Develop predictive models to improve collections strategies, identify risk patterns, and optimize recoveries.
• Apply advanced statistical, quantitative, and econometric techniques to create analytical capabilities and inform decision-making.
• Regularly validate, test, and refine models to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with the late collections portfolio goals.
• Use data manipulation techniques to proactively address business needs and uncover optimisation opportunities.
• Drive the integration of analytics solutions into business operations for cost reduction, efficiency, and profitability improvement.

c. Portfolio Management and Reporting

• Oversee analytics for multiple portfolio areas, including External Debt Collections (EDC), Customer Platform Services (CPS), Debt Review Terminations, and Risk Category Upliftment.
• Design and implement robust reporting frameworks for monitoring portfolio performance and strategy effectiveness.
• Develop dashboards and visualizations to track key metrics and communicate insights to diverse audiences.
• Monitor outsourcing efficiency, platform loads, and the effectiveness of treatment strategies to drive continuous improvement.

d. Data Governance and Quality Assurance

• Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations and governance standards in all data and analytics processes.
• Identify and resolve data quality issues, implementing processes to maintain high standards of information accuracy and reliability.
• Document, audit, and validate data processes and models to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Escalate and address any information privacy incidents promptly, ensuring alignment with audit and governance requirements.

e. Innovation and Continuous Improvement

• Lead innovation projects to identify and implement new opportunities for cost savings, revenue generation, and operational efficiency.
• Review existing strategies and models, challenging their relevance and effectiveness to drive portfolio growth.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in late collections analytics, contributing to organisational knowledge-sharing and capability-building.
• Mentor and guide junior team members, fostering a collaborative and innovative team culture.

You will be an ideal candidate if you:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Actuarial Science, Quantitative Risk, Mathematics, or Statistics.
• Honours or Master’s Degree would be advantageous.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in data science, analytics, or risk management in financial services.
• Advanced coding skills in SAS, SQL, Python, or R.
• Proficient in data visualization tools like Power BI, Tableau, and Excel.
• Experience with platform enablement or collections optimization is highly advantageous.

Technical Skills

• Advanced statistical modeling and predictive analytics expertise.
• Strong understanding of outsourcing dynamics, portfolio governance, and platform monitoring.
• Practical experience in implementing analytics solutions in complex operational environments.

Behavioral Competencies

• Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to navigate complex challenges with a solution-oriented mindset.
• Proven track record of collaborating across teams to achieve measurable outcomes.
• Strong communication skills to articulate analytics insights to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Commitment to fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing.

You will have access to:

• Opportunities to lead transformative initiatives in a high-impact role.
• A challenging and dynamic work environment.
• Collaboration with senior executives and cross-functional teams.
• Platforms and tools to innovate and advance portfolio analytics.

We can be a match if you are:

• Curious and courageous: Continuously seeking to learn and embrace new challenges.
• Obsessed with mastery: Striving for excellence and pushing boundaries in data science.

In accordance with National Credit Act (NCA) candidates applying for this role will require a credit record check.

Are you interested to take the step? We look forward to engaging with you further. Apply now!

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Job Details

Take note that applications will not be accepted on the below date and onwards, kindly submit applications ahead of the closing date indicated below.

27/01/25

All appointments will be made in line with FirstRand Group’s Employment Equity plan. The Bank supports the recruitment and advancement of individuals with disabilities. In order for us to fulfill this purpose, candidates can disclose their disability information on a voluntary basis. The Bank will keep this information confidential unless we are required by law to disclose this information to other parties.