Senior Data Scientist

 

Location: London

Working Model: Office Based

Visa Sponsorship Available

 

About the Organisation

Our client is a specialist professional services firm operating at the intersection of digital assets, blockchain and financial services. It is building a new Data Science capability to support the analysis and interpretation of complex financial and digital asset data.

The Data Science team will operate between the organisation’s development function and its audit and accounting teams. It will work with data generated by developers or access data directly through Snowflake, before transforming and analysing it for use across accounting, audit and related professional work.

The organisation is investing in both its data infrastructure and AI-enabled working environment, while maintaining a strong emphasis on technical understanding, analytical rigour and human review.

They are now seeking a senior data professional who can combine hands-on technical expertise with leadership, quality control and the ability to build capability within a developing team.

The Appointment

The Senior Data Scientist will take a leading role in establishing and developing the organisation’s new Data Science team.

You will remain technically hands-on across Python, SQL, Snowflake, machine learning and data engineering while leading and developing a team expected to comprise approximately four Junior Data Scientists.

The role requires someone capable of turning complex accounting, audit and business requirements into appropriate analytical methodologies and ensuring that the team’s work is technically sound before it is used by internal professional teams or incorporated into client deliverables.

A significant element of the position will involve developing expertise around blockchain transactions and understanding the additional considerations that digital asset data introduces into analysis and reconciliation.

Previous professional crypto or blockchain experience is not essential. More important is the analytical and technical capability to understand the subject quickly, identify the points that matter and ensure the team applies the correct approach.

Key Responsibilities

·  Lead and develop a growing team of Junior Data Scientists.

·  Establish high standards for analytical quality, coding, documentation, validation and delivery.

·  Remain hands-on with Python and SQL and provide technical guidance across the team.

·  Lead complex data analysis involving large, varied or technically challenging datasets.

·  Translate accounting, audit and business requirements into structured analytical questions and methodologies.

·  Design, develop and improve processes for accessing, transforming, organising and delivering data.

·  Apply machine-learning techniques where they provide an appropriate analytical or operational solution.

·  Support the effective use of Snowflake as a core data environment.

·  Work closely with developers to obtain or access the data required by the Data Science team.

·  Review analytical work and code produced by junior team members before outputs are delivered to accounting, audit or other stakeholders.

·  Develop expertise in blockchain transaction structures and ensure the team understands the additional considerations involved in digital asset analysis and reconciliation.

·  Use AI-enabled coding and analytical tools productively while ensuring generated code and outputs are understood, tested and validated.

· Explain complex analytical approaches and findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

·  Coach and develop junior team members and support their progression within the Data Science function.

·  Contribute, where appropriate, to work delivered directly to clients alongside the relevant professional teams.

 

Experience and Capability

The ideal candidate will bring:

·  Strong academic background in a STEM discipline, including a Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant field, with PhD-level research experience particularly attractive.

·  Strong Python and SQL capability.

·  Professional experience within data science, data engineering or a closely related discipline.

·  Practical experience applying machine-learning techniques.

·  Strong knowledge of data manipulation, transformation and analytical methodologies.

·  The ability to design or improve data-engineering processes.

·  Strong analytical, numerical reasoning and problem-solving ability.

·  Ability to approach unfamiliar or ambiguous problems without relying on predetermined methodologies.

·  Technical understanding required to review code and analytical outputs critically.

·  Excellent written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively across technical and non-technical functions.

·  Leading, coaching and developing junior analysts.

·  Experience with Snowflake or comparable modern cloud data platforms advantageous.

·  Previous professional crypto, blockchain or digital asset experience advantageous but not essential.

Leadership and Stakeholder Context

The Senior Data Scientist will lead a growing Data Science team expected to include approximately four Junior Data Scientists and will report directly into senior leadership.

The position sits at the intersection of the organisation’s development, accounting and audit functions. You will therefore work closely with technical teams responsible for generating and providing access to data, as well as the professional teams responsible for using the resulting analysis.

As the senior member of the function, you will be responsible not only for your own technical work but also for ensuring the wider team’s outputs meet the standards required before they reach accounting, audit or client-facing teams.

This is an opportunity to join the Data Science capability at an early stage and have meaningful influence over its technical standards, working practices, team development and long-term direction.

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