At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data transformation and modernisation initiatives to empower small businesses.
- Company: Join Funding Circle, a fintech innovator supporting the UK’s small businesses.
- Benefits: Flexible work, competitive salary, health perks, and a dedicated learning allowance.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the economy while shaping the future of data.
- Qualifications: Experience in data strategy, cloud platforms, and leading multi-disciplinary teams.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 130000 £ per year.
We’re on a mission to back the UK’s small businesses like no one else. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, and we’re here to help them win. We’ve built a platform that uses clever data to get them the funding they need in minutes, not weeks. At Funding Circle, we have the restless energy of a fintech start-up with the stability of a public company. It’s a unique mix that gives Circlers the autonomy to take ownership and the scale to make an impact that truly counts. We’re a high-performing team that chooses to lift each other up. We challenge, we champion, and we have each other’s backs - because we know that when we stand together, we move faster and build better. The impact is real. Last year alone, the businesses on our platform generated £7.2bn for the UK economy. Come and join a mission that matters!
The role: London (Hybrid) | 2 days in the office | Competitive Salary + Benefits. Reporting to our CTO, the VP Data leads an enterprise-wide mandate shaping how data powers our organisation. Directing a team of specialists across Data Engineering, Data Platform, and Data Product Management, you’ll define and deliver the next phase of our data modernisation, ensuring the data foundations are in place to support our AI-native ambitions and leading our data transformation project. We’ve heavily invested in our data capability in recent years; establishing clear direction and putting a strong team in place. Now, the shift is all about execution, adoption, and scaling impact. You’ll build on this momentum by expanding our enterprise data foundations, defining, building and adopting critical domain-aligned data products, and embedding effective data governance across the business. Sitting at the heart of our tech agenda, your work will directly accelerate product development, operational automation, and smarter commercial decisions.
- Driving business value through leading our data transformation and implementing snowflake to power business-wide scaling.
- Defining, building and implementing critical data products and delivering sustainable change to how we manage and process data.
- Implement Funding Circle’s group-wide Data Strategy ensuring alignment with the broader Group Strategy and Technology Strategy.
- Establish reliable data standards and working methodologies that guarantee long-term data integrity.
- Refine our overall data roadmap, converting technology investments into measurable business efficiencies.
- Build and maintain strong relationships at Senior and Executive levels across Funding Circle to understand and shape their planning to take full advantage of our data.
What we’re looking for:
- Able to create a compelling vision for all matters data and to engage across organisational domains to secure support and commitment to that vision – driving innovation and technology and culture change.
- Demonstrated success directing multi-disciplinary data functions (engineering, platform, and product) in scaled businesses. You possess the confidence and operational maturity to lead from day one.
- Expertise in modern cloud data stacks, platform architecture, and modernising legacy infrastructures (specifically AWS and Snowflake environments).
- A strong background in developing and executing enterprise data strategies, leading large-scale modernisation initiatives, and establishing robust governance frameworks.
- Exceptional capability to articulate technical concepts into clear, commercial language that aligns diverse groups of technical and business stakeholders.
- Prior experience in credit, lending, or regulated financial environments where data directly impacts risk, underwriting, and operations is advantageous.
We’re building a place where everyone truly feels they belong. Even if your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we'd still love to hear from you.
Why join us? We back you to build an incredible career and by joining us, you'll be part of one of The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For 2026! As a flexible-first employer, we use a "best of both" approach. We’ll see you in our London office to collaborate – with barista coffee and subsidised Just Eat lunches on us!
Our Circler Proposition Focuses On Five Areas:
- Flexibility: We provide a benefit allowance you can tailor to your own life and family.
- Health: This includes private medical and dental, health assessments, and access to a digital GP.
- Wealth: We offer life assurance, share schemes, and financial coaching.
- Development: You get a dedicated annual learning allowance to help you level up.
- Lifestyle: We have electric car and cycle-to-work schemes, plus season ticket loans.
We also have award-winning parental leave policies. We're here to support you through the big life moments, from fertility treatments to new additions to the family.
VP, Data employer: Funding Circle UK
Funding Circle UK is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation within the Capital Markets team in London. Employees benefit from flexible working options, comprehensive health coverage, and a dedicated learning allowance, ensuring both personal and professional growth in a supportive environment. This role not only provides the opportunity to engage in meaningful capital markets transactions but also allows for the development of strong relationships across various teams, making it a rewarding place to advance your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land VP, Data
✨Get Involved in Data Science Meetups
Tap into local data science meetups or workshops to connect with fellow enthusiasts and professionals. These events are goldmines for networking, and sometimes even lead directly to job openings at companies like Funding Circle UK!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Start building a public portfolio showcasing your data science projects on platforms like GitHub or personal websites. Highlight unique analyses or models you've developed. This not only demonstrates your skills but also gets your name out there for roles like VP, Data at Funding Circle UK.
✨Leverage Professional Networks
Join professional bodies related to data science, like the Data Science Society or similar organisations. Getting involved can lead to mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about full-time positions at companies like Funding Circle UK.
✨Apply Directly through Our Website
When you find a suitable opening like VP, Data at Funding Circle UK, make sure to apply directly through our website. It gives you an edge and shows you're keen to join our team. Plus, who doesn’t love a direct application? It’s easier than navigating through job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace VP, Data
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!
Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love numbers! When drafting your CV, highlight your achievements with quantifiable results. For instance, mention how your data analysis led to a certain percentage increase in efficiency or revenue at a previous job or project. These details can really make your application pop!
Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at Funding Circle UK, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.
Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at Funding Circle UK. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!
How to prepare for a job interview at Funding Circle UK
✨Brush Up on Your Statistics
For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!
✨Get Comfortable with Python and R
Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at Funding Circle UK!
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.
