Senior/Lead Data Scientist -Credit & Finance Model Validation

Senior/Lead Data Scientist -Credit & Finance Model Validation

Full-Time 72000 - 88000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
K

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Validate credit and finance models, ensuring accuracy and compliance while collaborating with data scientists.
  • Company: Join Klarna, a leading fintech company revolutionising the way we manage credit and finance.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on innovation and continuous learning.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in the fintech space by enhancing model validation processes with innovative AI tools.
  • Qualifications: Advanced degree in a quantitative field and 3+ years of relevant experience required.

The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.

Location: Stockholm; London

Salary: 78293 - 111960 GBP

Type: Full time

Posted: 2026-04-27

Contact: ivy.chiang@klarna.com

What you will do:

  • Perform independent end-to-end validation of credit risk (e.g., underwriting and limit management), finance (provisioning, offloading, profitability), and other models, rigorously reviewing and challenging all aspects: conceptual soundness, data integrity, feature engineering and selection, training and testing, regulatory compliance and fairness, documentation, deployment, monitoring and business impact.
  • Independently replicate the model development process where necessary and conduct challenger analyses.
  • Collaborate closely with first-line data scientists, machine learning (ML) engineers, and product stakeholders to understand models’ business context and ensure transparent communication of model risks and validation findings.
  • Provide actionable recommendations and formally document validation outcomes in line with internal model governance standards and regulatory expectations.
  • Drive the continuous enhancement of agentic AI tools that support and accelerate model validation by automating documentation and code review, surfacing cross-source inconsistencies, streamlining challenger analysis, etc.
  • Stay up-to-date with emerging trends in credit and finance modelling and AI/ML technologies.
  • Maintain robust model risk management frameworks, policies, and procedures in line with evolving regulatory expectations and industry best practices.

Who you are:

  • Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in a quantitative field such as data science, statistics, mathematics, computer science, physics, or engineering; or equivalent experience.
  • 3+ years of hands-on experience in credit risk and/or IFRS9/CECL impairment modeling.
  • Strong technical expertise in statistical and machine learning models, with a deep understanding of credit risk and/or IFRS9/CECL provisioning models.
  • Hands-on experience with programming languages and tools commonly used in data science, such as Python, SQL, Spark, and AWS.
  • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
  • A passion for innovation and staying at the forefront of data science and risk management.
  • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to convey complex technical information to non-technical audiences.
  • Knowledge of regulatory requirements and expectations for model risk management.

Awesome to have:

  • Experience with Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), credit cards, personal loans, and payments products.
  • Experience mentoring junior validators or leading validation reviews.
  • Experience building agentic AI workflows and familiarity with AI governance frameworks and emerging AI regulatory requirements.

Senior/Lead Data Scientist -Credit & Finance Model Validation employer: Klarna

Klarna is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, perfect for those passionate about fintech and machine learning. With a focus on employee growth, you will have access to cutting-edge projects and the opportunity to make a tangible impact within a collaborative team environment. Located in a vibrant tech hub, Klarna offers unique advantages such as flexible working arrangements and a commitment to professional development.

K

Contact Details:

Klarna Recruitment Team

We think you need these skills to ace Senior/Lead Data Scientist -Credit & Finance Model Validation

Credit Risk Modelling
IFRS9/CECL Impairment Modelling
Statistical Modelling
Machine Learning
Python
SQL
Spark