Head of Decision Science

We are looking for a Head of Decision Science to join our Decision Science team within Risk. The Risk team plays a crucial role in Funding Circle. They ensure our borrowers and investors get what we promise, use data and modelling to provide insights to the rest of the business, control and monitor the risk within our processes ensuring that we always deliver and they help us make data driven decisions to guide our strategy.

Funding Circle’s Decision Science team is hugely influential to our overall lending process. They build statistical models and use advanced quantitative techniques to enable many different teams across the organisation to optimise business and lending strategies.

Who are we? We’re Funding Circle. We back small businesses to succeed. At Funding Circle, we believe the world needs small businesses. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to help them get the finance they need to grow. With more than a decade of expertise under our belt, we’ve built a game-changer of a platform with cutting-edge data and technology that’s reshaping the landscape of SME lending. Say goodbye to lengthy applications and hello to lightning-fast decisions! In just minutes, SMEs across the UK can get a decision, giving them access to competitive funding in a flash.

We know that good business is about good people. So we pride ourselves on providing meaningful, human support as well as fast, hassle free processes to deliver an unbeatable customer experience.

The role:

• Report to the Chief Credit Officer, advising on the use of statistical models and advanced quantitative techniques to optimise business performance.
• Working across our UK business, you will collaborate with experts in risk management, technology, data management, marketing, business operations to understand business needs and shape analytical solutions.
• Managing a team of data scientists you will be responsible for designing, developing and implementing complex statistical models used for marketing targeting, credit underwriting, fraud prevention, collections, recoveries and customer experience.
• You will ensure decision models are very reliable, through thorough validation and testing. You will champion best practices in model building and help shape quality standards. You will monitor model performance, identify issues and implement fixes.
• You will research new data sources and new modelling techniques, helping Funding Circle identify next analytical innovations.
• Identify, develop and maintain key relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Have a clear and relentless focus on delivering business results.

What we’re looking for:

• At least 7+ years experience in a deeply analytical role, ideally within SME or retail lending environment.
• Strong understanding of scorecard modelling / predictive analytics / machine learning.
• Ph.D. in a quantitative field (Finance, Mathematics, Economics, Engineering…).
• Excellent quantitative skills, with very strong strategic thinking.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to influence across the organisation.
• Passionate about Funding Circle’s mission and values – agile, collaborative, creative, great to work with.

At Funding Circle we are committed to building diverse teams so please apply even if your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the requirements.

Why join us? At Funding Circle, we celebrate and support the differences that make you, you. We’re proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace and affirmative-action employer. We truly believe that diversity makes us better.

As a flexible-first employer we offer hybrid working at Funding Circle, and we’ve long believed in a ‘best of both’ approach to in-office collaboration and non-office days. We expect our teams to be in our London office three times a week, where you can take advantage of our newly refurbished hybrid working space, barista made coffee and subsidised lunches (via JustEat) every day!

We back our Circlers to build their own incredible career, making a difference to small businesses every day. Our Circler proposition is designed to support employees both in and out of work, and it is anchored around four pillars: Health, Wealth, Development & Lifestyle.

A few highlights:

• Health: Private Medical Insurance through Aviva, Dental Insurance through Bupa, MediCash, access to free online therapy sessions and exclusive discounts with Hertility for reproductive health support.
• Wealth: Octopus Money Coach, free mortgage advisor partnership and discounts across numerous retailers through Perks at Work.
• Development: Dedicated annual learning allowance and full access to internal learning platform.
• Lifestyle: Wellhub (for fitness discounts), Electric Car Scheme and more!

And finally, we have award winning parental leave policies supporting parents through enhanced maternity, partner and adoption leave, as well as additional leave for parental bereavement and for fertility treatments.

Ready to make a difference? We’d love to hear from you.