Data Science Manager, Kuda
Free mobile bank for Nigerians
Be an early applicant
Free mobile bank for Nigerians
501-1000 employees
Be an early applicant
501-1000 employees
Company mission
To give all Africans on the continent access to banking services at prices they can afford.
Role
Who you are
- Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field
- Experience: Minimum of 6 years in data science, with at least 2 years in a leadership role managing teams and projects
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in Python, SQL, and machine learning libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch). Strong knowledge of cloud environments and services (AWS, Google Cloud)
- Domain Knowledge: Experience in credit risk modeling, fraud detection, or financial services is highly desirable
- Leadership: Strong ability to lead teams, manage projects, and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Regulatory Awareness: Understanding of financial regulations and compliance standards, particularly in the Nigerian context
What the job involves
- As the Data Science Manager at Kuda, you will be responsible for leading a dynamic team of data scientists to develop and deploy machine learning models that drive critical business outcomes across the entire credit lifecycle
- Your team will focus on building solutions for credit scoring, fraud detection, and collections, while also supporting various other business functions by providing data-driven insights and predictive capabilities
- You will work with cutting-edge technologies in data science and machine learning, with an emphasis on building scalable, real-time decisioning systems that are integrated into our product offerings
- This means that your models will not only be developed but also put into production in a way that supports live, real-time decisions, enhancing Kuda's ability to serve customers with speed and precision
- Your role will require collaboration across multiple cross-functional teams, including product, business, technology, and data teams, ensuring that all teams are aligned to deliver value through innovative, data-driven solutions
- As a manager, you'll foster an environment of continuous learning and improvement, ensuring that your team stays ahead of the curve in terms of industry trends, emerging technologies, and the most effective methodologies in the field of data science
- Key to your success will be your ability to translate business challenges into data-driven solutions while balancing technical execution with strategic vision. Your leadership will help scale Kuda’s impact, bringing high-quality, machine learning-based credit solutions to millions of customers across Nigeria and beyond
- This role will be a 50/50 split between leadership and hands - on - work - you will guide & mentor your team while also remaining deeply involved in the technical aspects
- Team Leadership: Manage and mentor a team of data scientists, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment
- Model Development: Lead the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models for credit scoring, fraud detection, and collections
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with product, engineering, and compliance teams to integrate models into production systems
- Data Analysis: Analyze large, complex datasets to extract actionable insights and inform business strategies
- Model Monitoring: Oversee the performance of deployed models, ensuring they meet business objectives and regulatory standards
- Stakeholder Communication: Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership and other stakeholders
- Continuous Improvement: Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies to continuously enhance model performance and team capabilities
Our take
Kuda, which provides free mobile-first banking services for Nigerians, is one of the most high profile African neobanks in a fast-growing field.
On the African continent, almost half of adults remain without a bank, but most adults own a smartphone, meaning there’s huge potential for easy, mobile first financial services. In Nigeria, where Kuda initially focused its operations (it has now expanded to the UK), a median age of around 19 years also indicates that the neobanking market is ripe for mainstream adoption.
It’s also telling that Kuda’s lead investor was Valar, which also invested heavily in major disruptor banks N26 and Wise. Indeed, that this was Valar’s first investment in an African startup highlights its prospect for further growth.
The company has big plans for the future with an intention to launch in new markets, with further products, all the while maintaining its focus on the African diaspora.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
16% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 5 rounds)
Jul 2024
$15m
LATE VC
Aug 2021
$55m
SERIES B
Total funding: $106.6m
Company benefits
- A great and upbeat work environment populated by a multinational team
- Career development & growth opportunities
- A great work life balance
- Remote working option for certain roles
Company HQ
Finsbury, London, UK
Leadership
Babs Ogundeyi
(Co-Founder & CEO)Fomer PwC Engagement Manager, and former Special Adviser to the Governor on Finance in the Oyo State Goverment. Founded and sold car classifieds magazine Motortrader Nigeria to a major national newspaper.
Musty Mustapha
(Co-Founder & CTO)Prior to co-founding Kuta, was a Senior Software Development Engineer at Standard Bank Investment Corporation, and a Business Solutions Developer at both Keystone Banks and First Bank of Nigeria.
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