At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to develop statistical models that optimise lending strategies and enhance customer experience.
- Company: Join Funding Circle, a pioneering platform supporting small businesses with fast, hassle-free finance solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, private medical insurance, learning allowances, and subsidised lunches in our vibrant office.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on small businesses while working in a diverse, collaborative, and innovative environment.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in analytical roles, strong leadership skills, and a degree in a quantitative field required.
- Other info: We celebrate diversity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
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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 by using data and modelling to provide insights to the rest of the business, and controlling and monitoring the risk within our processes. This team ensures that we always deliver whilst making 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
- Degree 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.
Want to learn more?
- We have a huge impact on the businesses that borrow through our platform, the communities they serve and the overall economy (last year £7.2bn of GDP generated). You can read our full Impact Report here:
- To see what our customers think, visit our Trustpilot page:
- And we’re still evolving! Our award-winning multi-product platform is solving more SME finance challenges than ever before. We think big, rally together and meet the needs of SME customers like no other.
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.
- 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Head of Decision Science (London) employer: Funding Circle
Contact Detail:
Funding Circle Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Decision Science (London)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Funding Circle's mission and values. Understanding their commitment to supporting small businesses will help you align your responses during interviews, showcasing your passion for their goals.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Funding Circle on platforms like LinkedIn. Engaging in conversations can provide you with insider knowledge about the company culture and expectations for the Head of Decision Science role.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on the latest trends in decision science, predictive analytics, and machine learning. Being able to discuss recent advancements or case studies during your interview will demonstrate your expertise and enthusiasm for the field.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you've successfully managed teams in the past. Highlighting your ability to influence and collaborate across departments will be crucial for this role, so have specific examples ready.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Decision Science (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Head of Decision Science position. Tailor your application to highlight your relevant experience in statistical modelling, predictive analytics, and leadership.
Craft a Compelling CV: Your CV should clearly showcase your 7+ years of analytical experience, particularly in SME or retail lending environments. Emphasise your quantitative skills and any specific projects that demonstrate your ability to optimise business performance through data-driven decisions.
Write a Strong Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for Funding Circle’s mission and values. Discuss how your background aligns with their goals and how you can contribute to their decision science team. Be sure to mention your leadership skills and ability to collaborate across departments.
Highlight Relevant Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that relate to the role. For example, mention any successful statistical models you've developed, improvements in risk management processes, or innovations in data analysis that have positively impacted business outcomes.
How to prepare for a job interview at Funding Circle
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
As a Head of Decision Science, your analytical prowess is key. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've used statistical models and predictive analytics in previous roles. Highlight any successful projects that demonstrate your ability to drive business results through data.
✨Understand Funding Circle's Mission
Familiarise yourself with Funding Circle's mission to support small businesses. During the interview, express your passion for this mission and how your values align with theirs. This will show that you're not just looking for a job, but are genuinely interested in contributing to their goals.
✨Prepare for Leadership Questions
Given the leadership aspect of the role, expect questions about team management and collaboration. Prepare to share your experiences in leading teams, influencing stakeholders, and fostering a collaborative environment. Use specific examples to illustrate your leadership style and successes.
✨Demonstrate Your Knowledge of Modelling Techniques
Be ready to discuss various modelling techniques and their applications in risk management. Show your understanding of scorecard modelling, machine learning, and other advanced quantitative methods. This will demonstrate your expertise and readiness to tackle the challenges of the role.