Credit Risk Data Scientist

BASIC FUNCTION

Cognition Financial develops custom underwriting and scoring models for unsecured consumer loans including private student loans. As part of an interdisciplinary team of technologists, analysts, statisticians, and modelers, the Data Scientist will be primarily responsible for building and maintaining the predictive models that characterize our data-driven decisioning processes.

The Data Scientist will be involved in the full life-cycle of our loan portfolios, providing models and insight to support the design and underwriting of new loan products as well as optimizing the performance of our loan portfolios via bad rate models and other predictive approaches. The Data Scientist will also review our existing models and make recommendations for improvements.

The ideal candidate for this position will have at least 4 years of relevant experience in the consumer banking industry and be familiar with the regulatory environment that governs credit risk underwriting. This role rewards creative multi-disciplinary thinking and willingness for life-long learning.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS*

• Build and maintain complex underwriting models for student loans and other unsecured consumer loan products

• Assist in implementing underwriting and performance models into the decisioning engines

• Develop supporting processes for cash flow modeling, performance monitoring, and loss tracking

• Generate reports regarding credit loss estimates and impact of credit policy and business development on credit profiles

• Work with other analysts and data engineers on quality assurance of source data and systems, analyses, and reporting

• Evaluate new data sources for use in new predictive models

• Create and maintain documentation of credit risk models for dissemination by our internal and external partners as well as regulators

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

Other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support operational and analytical needs in the areas of Credit Risk, Portfolio Management, and Finance.

QUALIFICATIONS

Preparation, Knowledge, Previous Experience :

• At least 4 years of experience as an analyst in the consumer lending space, preferably with student loan experience

• At least 2 years of experience in a quantitative role working on credit risk models, preferably with student loans or other unsecured loans

• Experience in reviewing and implementing credit risk models and strategies

• Experience with utilizing data from the major consumer reporting agencies

• Proven track record of building models in either SAS or R and ability to query large datasets via SQL

• Significant experience in statistical techniques, risk classification algorithms, credit risk scoring

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Skills, Abilities, Competencies:

• Excellent inter-personal and communications skills with both peers and senior executives

• Track record of continuing education via webinars, conference attendance, or local support group involvement

• Highly organized self-starter who can own projects and act with limited supervision

• Ability to remain focused in a high-pressure, “open office” environment

• Collaborative team player, eager to learn from and share knowledge with colleagues

Level of Education Required:

Master’s or Ph.D. degree in a quantitative discipline (Mathematics, Economics, Information Technology, Engineering, Science) or equivalent working experience

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Office environment working with personal computer for extended periods of time