Senior Data Scientist

SF Recruitment
Birmingham
2 weeks ago
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Senior Data Scientist - Fintech | First Permanent DS Hire

£75,000-£85,000 + benefits | Fully Remote (UK)


Direct report to CDO | Build the DS capability | FCA-regulated product


This is a rare opportunity to join a fast-growing, FCA-regulated fintech as their first permanent Senior Data Scientist, shaping a brand-new data science capability from the ground up.


The business has built a highly successful SaaS platform in the Fintech space. With strong investment and FCA approval now secured, they're moving firmly into the data products and insights space - turning the rich consumer financial and behavioural data they hold into real intelligence, new models, and new customer offerings.


Things expected from you

  • Sets the standard
  • Builds the capability
  • Shapes the roadmap
  • Becomes the go-to person for modelling, insights and DS foundations

What you will be doing

  • Build and scale data science and modelling foundations in Databricks
  • Work with financial, consumer and behavioural data to create new models & scorecards
  • Design MI dashboards and reporting to help the business understand its own data
  • Collaborate closely with Product, Finance, Customer Ops and the senior leadership team
  • Evaluate where ML/AI can enhance the core SaaS platform
  • Present insights and model outputs clearly to non-technical stakeholders (including board/NEDs)
  • Influence how the data function grows over the next 12-24 months

This is the start of the data and analytics function - you won't just inherit a roadmap; you'll help write it.


You’ll thrive here if you are:

  • A strong hands-on Data Scientist with experience in FS/fintech or regulated environments
  • Confident working with Python, SQL and Databricks
  • Capable of building predictive models, scorecards and ML components
  • Comfortable creating dashboards/MI to support internal understanding
  • Excited by a startup environment where you'll wear different hats
  • Able to communicate clearly to senior and non-technical audiences
  • Looking for ownership and long-term progression into Head of DS

Why this role is genuinely exciting

  • You're the first permanent hire - you shape how DS works here
  • Direct line to the C-suite, not buried in a data pod
  • True autonomy: you influence strategy, tooling, roadmap and delivery
  • Visible across the entire business, including investors & NEDs
  • The company is moving from SaaS - data products, meaning greenfield work
  • Clear long‑term upward path (team will grow over the next 12-24 months)
  • Underneath you ideally!
  • This is the role for someone who wants more than just building models - someone who wants to make their mark and grow with a FinTech entering its next phase


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