Manager: Data Scientist at Absa Bank Limited

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

Job Summary

To provide advice and support in practice formulation and associated best practice improvement tactics; enabling the provision of specialist quantitative analyses expertise. Drive portfolio monitoring frameworks and predictive analytics.

Job Description

• Lead the SME Credit analytics strategy and roadmap
• Oversee development and automation of scorecards (application, behavioural, early warning models)
• Drive portfolio monitoring frameworks and predictive analytics
• Lead risk appetite design and optimisation across SME, Agri, Commercial, and Commercial Asset Finance segments
• Engage senior stakeholders across Risk, Credit, and Business Banking
• Ensure governance, model performance monitoring, and regulatory alignment
• Establishes a data-driven credit operating model
• Enhances risk-adjusted returns and portfolio quality
• Enables strategic growth aligned to risk appetite
• Improves decision-making speed and consistency through automation
• Strengthens regulatory compliance and governance frameworks

Education and Experience

• Postgraduate degree in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Actuarial Science, or related field
• 8–12+ years’ experience in credit risk analytics/data science
• Proven experience in banking/financial services (preferably SME or retail credit)
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills
• Expertise in modelling techniques (logistic regression, machine learning, forecasting)
• Experience in deploying analytics into production environments

Why Join Us?

• Play a pivotal role in shaping credit risk strategy at scale
• Work within a high-impact, data-driven environment
• Collaborate with senior leaders and influence strategic business outcomes
• Lead innovation in analytics, automation, and risk optimisation

Education

Bachelor Honours Degree: BMI - Business Management and Informatics, Bachelor Honours Degree: Data Science (Required)

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised