Data Scientist - Credit Decisioning at TradeDepot

Reporting to the Head of Credit Decisioning, the Data Scientist will have primary responsibility for utilising data to drive and scale lending & financial services. This will include creating robust data structures to consume relevant points, building models to segment the portfolio across demographics and performance, predicting the willingness and ability of prospective borrowers to repay, and performing dynamic data decisioning to improve credit scoring. You will be required to work with large data sets using quantitative techniques and building complex statistical models that learn from big data. Data sets will include alternate data sourced from non-traditional data vendors.

The Data team closely collaborates with business stakeholders to understand the business problem in order to determine the most appropriate analytic approach that provides meaningful results to the business. Responsibilities include delivering projects on time and within scope with an in-depth knowledge of big data and cutting edge data mining techniques as well as the use of predictive, classification and alternate analytic algorithms for modelling and segmentation.

Role Responsibilities

• Build and lead a capable Data Decisioning function within the TradeDepot business.
• Develop and utilise an internal credit risk rating system that is consistent with the nature, size and complexity of the lending activities.
• Build an information system and use analytical techniques that enable management to measure credit risk - a system to provide adequate information on the portfolio, including identification of concentration of risk.
• Decisioning that takes into account potential future changes in economic conditions when assessing borrowers’ credits and their portfolios.
• Manage credit decisions properly and ensure that exposures are within levels consistent with prudential standards and internal limits.
• Actively seek out opportunities to innovate by using non-traditional data and new modelling techniques
• Ensuring all project documentation is up to date and maintain the highest levels of quality in deliverables
• Enhancing existing analytic techniques by promoting new methodology and best practises in analytics field
• Provide advice and mentorship for colleagues within the team, and in the wider business.
• Defining detailed scope and methodology, creating the framework, executing on the framework with appropriate data mining techniques.
• End-to-end delivery of multiple projects within timelines and budget requirements.
• Developing credit scorecards, testing & monitoring frameworks and overseeing the deployment of scorecards.
• Engage and work with other teams from risk, finance, portfolio management, etc. during the process of identification of data, development of scorecard and deployment.

We are looking for someone with

• 6 years of analytical experience in applying statistical solutions to business problems. 
• Graduate degree in Quantitative field such as Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, or equivalent experience preferred
• Experience in banking / consumer lending industry is preferred
• Hands on experience with one or more data analytics/programming tools such as SAS/Salford SPM/Hadoop/R/SQL/Python/Hive
• Proficiency in some of the following statistical techniques: Linear & Logistic Regression, Decision Trees, Random Forests, Markov Chains, Support Vector Machines, Neural Networks, Clustering, Principal Component Analysis, Factor analysis etc
• Knowledge of data modelling schemas and the application thereof when solving various business data requirements.
• Experience in risk analytics (model development, strategy and framework, scorecard development, documentation, validation, governance, implementation and automation etc.) will be a strong advantage
• Understanding of credit bureaus and non-traditional data providers will be advantageous
• Demonstrated ability to innovate solutions to solve business problems
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills, with demonstrated intellectual and analytical rigour
• Good business acumen with strong ability to solve business problems through data driven quantitative methodologies
• A team oriented, collaborative, diplomatic, and flexible style, with the ability to tailor data driven results to various audience levels
• Proven skills in translating analytics output to actionable recommendations, and delivery
• Experience in presenting ideas and analysis to stakeholders
• Intellectual curiosity and drive to continually learn

What is it like working at TradeDepot

• We adopt a Hybrid approach to work, to provide you with the flexibility to work from home and collaborate with your team at the office.
• You will work alongside ambitious, creative and curious people who adopt a growth mindset.
• Be part of a team who work hard, solve problems and have fun doing so. No matter your job title or position at the company, every person matters.
• Honesty is important to us, and we openly provide and accept feedback to enable our continuous improvement and success.