Senior Data Scientist

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Western Union will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

Senior Data Scientist – Denver, CO  - Austin, TX

Enterprise Risk and Compliance is looking to continue to evolve its best-in-class risk and compliance technology program in the areas of transaction monitoring, screening, reporting and overall risk management.  This is in alignment with Western Union’s work to be a dynamic player in the financial services industry and expand its product offerings, channels, and partnerships.  Additionally, regulators are actively reviewing how Western Union is integrating technology and innovation into Western Union’s Financial Crimes risk mitigation and compliance programs.     

This position is responsible for overseeing the advanced analytics and data science functions developing a deep technical understanding of the way the Enterprise Risk and Compliance programs and systems are designed.  This will include thorough knowledge of how systems are integrated with core business systems.  In addition, the role will include a focus on data flows and integration assumptions that may influence the strategy for Enterprise Risk and Compliance global program development.  This role will include short, medium and long term planning and ability to adapt to a highly diversified and changing environment.

Role Responsibilities:

• Develop a deep technical understanding of the way the Enterprise Risk and Compliance programs and systems are designed. 
• Lead as a subject matter expert on how our data can be modeled and integrated with core systems to manage financial crimes risk. 
• Support Enterprise Risk and Compliance global program development in the data science arena.
• Responsible for short, medium, and long-term planning and ability to adapt to a highly diversified and changing environment.
• Build relationships with internal stakeholders using “buy-in” through his/her expertise and technical aptitude. 
• Leverage proven experience to deliver end-to-end technical and advanced data analytics work.
• Troubleshoot and optimize queries, use CTEs and temporary tables judiciously, and intelligently weigh the tradeoffs between SQL and Python libraries for ETL and data aggregation.
• Experience with common data science tools and functional programming languages.

• Supporting the development of automated risk detection throughout our compliance program.
• Enable to leverage machine learning to identify potential fraud, money laundering and other financial crimes to enhance Western Union’s ability to proactively prevent and accurately report suspicious activity.
• Managing multiple projects and data requests in a timely manner.
• coordinate with other team members to ensure that system solutions meet goals and meet business needs.
• Ability to query and analyze data to generate reports, analytics, and recommendations.
• Document and manage audit related processes and tasks.
• Interact with other internal departments to formulate recommendations and actions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to interact with cross-functional roles.

Role Requirements:

• Six plus years of relevant experience in complex financial services/payment services/technology services organizations with multiple financial products, or a regulatory agency involving payment services compliance issues relating to anti-money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act, and related laws/regulations.
• Proficiency with SQL is required, with Snowflake experience a plus.
• Bachelor's degree required; Graduate degree preferred.
• Ability to advise on complex technical and analytical challenges and other risk management mechanisms within a financial company.
• Understanding of retail/commercial financial products/services as well as banking and payments integration and flows.
• Ability to produce reports and management information.
• Proven track record of complex problem solving and decision-making ability.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong project management, multi-tasking, and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of AML Compliance and experience with Snowpark would be an added advantage.
• Strong understanding of Agile methodologies. 
• Effective leader and team player.
• Effective communicator, orally and written

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