Data Scientist

Company Description

Shawbrook is a specialist bank motivated to spark creativity to create opportunities daily.

We offer a diverse range of savings and loan products. These encompass personal and business savings accounts and loans for activities such as weddings and car purchases, through to complex financial credit facilities for businesses requiring significant investment and mortgages for landlords with multiple properties – our customers are as unique as their needs.

We provide our customers the best of both worlds, uniquely merging strong digital capabilities with human expertise and creativity to deliver the best possible outcomes. We excel in tackling complicated cases or unconventional situations, and we relish making things happen. With our creativity, practicality, and personal touch, we are confident that we can always find the right solution for our customers.

If you're prepared to work hard, bring fresh ideas to the table, and believe in possibilities, you're the type of person we're looking for.

Choose to work with us because you:

• Want to be part of a bank built for the modern world
• Thrive on challenges and enjoy a fast-paced, innovative and hardworking culture
• Find joy in discovering new and better ways to solve complex issues and make things happen
• Want to belong to a culture that stands alongside minority and underrepresented groups
• Are passionate about society and the environment and want to be part of a business that shares this passion
• Want to continue to grow professionally and be the best version of yourself

Job Description

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF JOB

Shawbrook is dedicated to solving complex issues that present opportunities for its rapidly evolving client base. In Group Internal Audit, we deeply care about a prosperous Shawbrook, delivering splendidly for our customers and colleagues.

Our aim is to redefine the boundaries of internal auditing. Our strategy is to continue building our future-ready internal audit function. We have developed a stable and targeted internal audit team that maintains meaningful relationships with the business. We engage highly capable experts from our co-source partners when necessary.

We are revolutionizing auditing. We are open-minded and creative in our approach to constructing impactful ways of working. We are driven by the need to contribute to Shawbrook's success by igniting creativity to create opportunities every day.

We are seeking a forward-thinking Data Scientist to join our dynamic internal audit team. This role is a perfect fit for a professional who excels at analyzing data and designing innovative solutions using Machine Learning, AI, and automation. Your analytical skills will be crucial in navigating complex 'exam questions' and offering innovative assurance solutions against emerging challenges. If you are a data enthusiast with an aptitude for business communication and a passion for developing team capabilities, we invite you to join us on this transformative journey.

KEY ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. You will implement our existing analytics strategy (our current state), support and work towards our future vision which can effectively meet the needs of the function (our desired state), and deliver on our roadmap (how to get there).
2. Collaborate with the internal audit team to identify and define 'exam questions' and the pertinent problems we are aiming to provide assurance over.
3. You will handle the development of analytics, as part of our data journey, throughout the IA lifecycle that includes risk assessment, audit planning, fieldwork, reporting, and ongoing monitoring. You will support the function to provide greater assurance and insight through data analytics and increase data literacy among colleagues.
4. Develop and implement machine learning models and AI algorithms to analyze both core and non-core business data.
5. Engage in descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive data analytics, translating complex scenarios into actionable insights.
6. Lead the automation of data analysis processes to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
7. Foster a culture of innovation within the team, encouraging the adoption of advanced data analysis techniques.
8. Effectively communicate data-driven insights in business terms, facilitating informed decision-making.
9. Empower team members by enhancing their data literacy and analytical capabilities through workshops and training sessions.
10. Act as a liaison between the internal audit team and cross-functional teams to foster collaborative problem-solving.
11. Suggest innovative ideas to improve analytics systems and processes within the team and encourage a data literate and best-practice mindset for all within the team.

Qualifications

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

The successful candidate could come from a variety of backgrounds:

1. A forward-thinking IT or risk professional from any industry. Strong & practical quantitative analytical skills within analytics functions within financial services would be advantageous.
2. Proven experience in data analytics, with a portfolio demonstrating innovative use of Machine Learning, AI, and automation in business contexts.
3. Strong analytical skills with the ability to dissect complex data and distill it into simple, actionable insights.
4. Ability to present findings & analysis in a structured and well-thought-out manner, especially when addressing a non-expert audience.
5. An understanding of modern approaches such as Agile (outside of IT) to deliver internal audit more efficiently and contribute value to the organization more quickly.
6. Team working capabilities and an ability to build individual, team, and stakeholder relationships.
7. A creative and innovative mindset, open to exploring brand-new approaches to problem-solving.
8. Experience in facilitating workshops and training sessions to enhance team capabilities.
9. Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field. Advanced degrees are a benefit.

More generally, the candidate who will thrive in this role at Shawbrook will be open-minded, have a desire to learn, to challenge and be challenged, be flexible about the ways to get things done and approach the role with a desire to grow and develop.

Interpersonal

• Self-starter with a passion for data
• A growth mindset, open to learning and adapting in an ever-evolving field.
• Collaborative spirit, capable of harmonious cooperation with diverse teams.
• A visionary thinker, capable of foreseeing the potential impact of emerging data trends on internal audit processes.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to take calculated risks, try new approaches and use data to make informed decisions
• Proactive, self-motivated, and capable of working independently and taking responsibility

Additional Information

Reward

Your Wellbeing - We treat your health and well-being as our top priority by offering a range of benefits that provide peace of mind for you and your family. These include:

• Industry-leading family-friendly policies such as access to our Maternity, Adoption and Paternity policies from Day 1 of your employment
• Free access to Headspace, a digital health app focusing on mindfulness & meditation
• Free access to Peppy digital health app that offers personalised support through fertility treatment, parenthood, or menopause
• EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) - Providing you support on numerous subjects including financial concerns, mental wellness and general queries about family, work, housing, and health
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounts on gym membership
• Contributory pension scheme & death in service

Your Lifestyle - Striking the right balance between your work and personal life is vital. We offer benefits to support you at work and during your leisure time.

• Minimum of 27 days holiday per year
• Option to buy or sell holiday days through our flexi-holiday scheme
• Discounts on gym memberships nationwide
• Access to discounts on a range of high streets and online brands
• Community support and charitable giving

Your Contribution - We strive to reward those who go above and beyond in helping us reach our objectives.

• Participation in our annual discretionary bonus scheme designed to reward your contributions to our success
• Proudly Shawbrook recognition scheme focused on recognizing our role models and thanking our colleagues for their exceptional work.