Lead Quantitative Analyst – Advanced Analytics

SUMMARY:
A leading South African retail bank is expanding its advanced analytics and machine learning capability and is seeking a Lead Quantitative Analyst – Advanced Analytics to independently validate high‑impact models across credit risk, financial crime, and broader advanced analytics use cases.
 
This is a hands‑on technical role for an experienced machine learning professional who enjoys working end‑to‑end on complex models in a regulated environment and providing strong analytical challenge to production models.

POSITION INFO:
You will play a key role within a specialist quantitative function responsible for the independent validation and oversight of machine learning and data science models used across the organisation. These models support critical decision‑making in areas such as credit risk, fraud, AML, and customer behaviour.

The role combines deep technical modelling work with leadership responsibilities, including mentoring junior analysts and partnering closely with Risk, Technology, and Business teams to ensure models are robust, scalable, and production‑ready.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead independent validation of machine learning models, including:
  • Credit risk models
  • Propensity and behavioural models
  • Financial crime models (fraud and AML)
• Apply advanced machine learning techniques such as:
  • Supervised learning (Random Forest, XGBoost, CatBoost, Neural Networks)
  • Unsupervised learning (clustering, isolation forests, anomaly detection)
• Manage model risk across the full model lifecycle, including:
  • Feature engineering and data preparation
  • Model training, evaluation, and selection
  • Deployment readiness and ongoing monitoring
• Build, assess, and review models in Python based environments
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to analysts and junior data scientists
• Partner with Risk, Technology, and Business stakeholders on model oversight
• Ensure adherence to governance, performance, and scalability standards

• Honours or Master’s degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Actuarial Science, or a related quantitative field

• 6–8+ years’ experience in data science, machine learning, or quantitative analytics
• Hands on leadership experience delivering models end to end
• Experience in credit risk, propensity modelling, and/or financial crime
• Exposure to independent model validation or strong peer review
• Experience in regulated environments

• Machine learning techniques: XGBoost, CatBoost, Random Forest, Neural Networks
• Clustering and anomaly detection
• Advanced Python and solid SQL skills
• Strong understanding of the full model lifecycle
• Ability to work across technical and business stakeholders

• Actuarial: Life, Short-Term, Health, Pensions, and Quantitative
• Data & Analytics: Data Scientists, Data Analysts (Python, R, SQL, Machine Learning)
• Risk: Credit Risk, Market Risk, Model Risk, and Operational Risk Analysts
• Pricing: Specialists in Insurance and Financial Products
• AI & Machine Learning: ML Ops, NLP, Predictive Modelling Data Scientists
• Quantitative: Experts across Banking, Insurance, and FinTech