Senior / Lead Data Scientist (Strategic Finance, FP&A)

Senior / Lead Data Scientist (Strategic Finance, FP&A)

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Cleo AI

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead FP&A analytics, build reporting tools, and automate finance workflows.
  • Company: Join a fintech company on a mission to simplify money management.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
  • Why this job: Shape financial strategy and make impactful decisions with data-driven insights.
  • Qualifications: 5+ years in data analytics, strong SQL skills, and experience with BI tools.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Requirements:

  • 5+ years in data analytics, data science, BI engineering, analytics engineering, or hybrid data/finance roles, ideally in a high-growth, product-led company
  • Experience owning analytical systems end-to-end at a company level, including some exposure to modelling (scenario, cohort, simple predictive)
  • Strong grasp of financial and commercial metrics - ideally from working closely with FP&A, Strategic Finance, Commercial or similar teams
  • Comfortable presenting and defending analysis at senior forums, with a track record of shaping decisions at executive level
  • Hands-on with BI tools (e.g. Looker, Mode, Tableau)
  • Expert SQL
  • A builder's instinct: bias for automation, ownership, and shipping
  • Comfortable using AI tools (Claude, Cursor) as leverage - with the judgement to know when to trust output and when to verify
  • Interest in fintech and Cleo's mission to make money easier and more human (Desirable)
  • Experience with dbt modelling (Desirable)
  • Prior experience automating or supporting investor-facing reporting or board materials (Desirable)
  • Experience working in environments with a blend of consumer tech and financial services (e.g. AI, lending, credit, payments) (Desirable)
  • Time-series forecasting experience (Desirable)
  • Python (or similar) for scripting and automation (Desirable)
  • Workflow orchestration tooling (e.g. Airflow)

What the job involves:

  • You'll own FP&A analytics end-to-end working closely with the Head of Commercial FP&A, and proactively shaping the relationship with the wider Strategic Finance team
  • You'll build the tooling, reporting, and lightweight models that FP&A and the wider business rely on to make decisions, and translate the metrics and drivers behind them so business stakeholders can act on them
  • You'll partner with Product, Data, Engineering, and the CEO's office on the work that shapes our financial strategy - scenario modelling, cohort analysis, and the systems that monitor how we’re tracking against plan
  • You'll sit within a wider Commercial Analytics team, with this being the first role fully dedicated to the automation and reporting layer within Strategic Finance
  • Build the decision-support tooling behind our financial statements - revenue, gross profit, operating costs, cashflow. Lightweight models where they help; clear analysis where they don't
  • Translate proposed product and business changes into their commercial impact before they ship - scenario modelling revenue, margin, and KPI effects so decisions are made with the numbers in front of them
  • Own the weekly trading metrics: how we’re tracking vs. targets, deep dives into the drivers behind the numbers, and using that to influence business decisions
  • Proactively identify issues and opportunities. Spot where the business is drifting (or where there's upside on the table) and surface it with a clear point of view
  • Automate recurring finance workflows: investor reporting, board prep, financial close tasks
  • Work cross-functionally with Commercial, Product, and Engineering to define and maintain the data models behind executive and operational decisioning
  • Own the reporting architecture - dashboards, semantic layers, and pipelines that underpin financial and strategic reporting
  • Improve documentation and data governance so the numbers can be trusted across internal and external reporting

Senior / Lead Data Scientist (Strategic Finance, FP&A) employer: Cleo AI

At Cleo, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, particularly for our Senior / Lead Data Scientist role in Strategic Finance. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through continuous learning opportunities and collaboration with cross-functional teams, empowering you to shape financial strategies that make a real impact. Located in a vibrant tech hub, we offer unique advantages such as access to cutting-edge tools and a mission-driven environment focused on making money management easier and more human.

Cleo AI

Contact Details:

Cleo AI Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior / Lead Data Scientist (Strategic Finance, FP&A)

Network Like a Pro

Get out there and connect with folks in the industry! Attend meetups, webinars, or even casual coffee chats. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

Show Off Your Skills

When you land that interview, don’t just talk about your experience—show it! Bring along examples of your work, like dashboards or models you've built. This will help you stand out and demonstrate your hands-on expertise.

Ask Smart Questions

During interviews, ask insightful questions that show you understand the business and its challenges. This not only demonstrates your knowledge but also your genuine interest in the role and the company’s mission.

Apply Through Our Website

Don’t forget to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior / Lead Data Scientist (Strategic Finance, FP&A)

Data Analytics
Data Science
Business Intelligence (BI) Engineering
Analytical Systems Ownership
Financial Metrics Understanding
Presentation Skills
BI Tools (e.g. Looker, Mode, Tableau)

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience in data analytics and any relevant financial metrics you've worked with. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!

Showcase Your Skills:Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Include specific examples of how you've used BI tools like Looker or Tableau, and your expertise in SQL. This is your chance to shine, so let us know what you can do!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell a story about your journey in data science and finance. Explain why you're excited about this role at StudySmarter and how you can contribute to our mission. Keep it engaging and personal!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!

How to prepare for a job interview at Cleo AI

Know Your Numbers

Make sure you have a solid grasp of financial and commercial metrics. Brush up on your experience with FP&A and be ready to discuss how you've used data to influence decisions at an executive level. This will show that you understand the business side of data science.

Showcase Your Technical Skills

Be prepared to demonstrate your expertise in SQL and any BI tools you've worked with, like Looker or Tableau. You might even want to bring examples of dashboards or reports you've created to showcase your hands-on experience.

Prepare for Scenario Modelling Questions

Since this role involves scenario modelling and cohort analysis, think about specific examples where you've applied these techniques. Be ready to explain your thought process and how your models impacted business decisions.

Emphasise Your Automation Experience

Highlight any experience you have with automating finance workflows or reporting tasks. Discuss the tools you've used, like dbt or Airflow, and how your automation efforts improved efficiency or accuracy in previous roles.