Job Description:

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree with quantitative underpinning (i.e., Data Science, Computer Science, Risk, Accounting, Business, Economics, Finance, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering) and 4+ years of experience in Programming / Analytics ideally in support of Risk, Credit, Finance, Accounting, Consumer Lending, or other relevant professional experience or in lieu of degree 7+ years of experience in Risk, Credit, Finance, Accounting or Consumer Lending
• 4+ years’ experience demonstrating strong programing skills with programming languages such as: SQL, Python, Spark with proven hands-on experience utilizing using SQL, Python, Spark, Linux, to perform statistical analysis, query relational databases, and manage large amounts of data
• 3+ years of experience in credit loss modeling in areas such as Loss Forecasting, Allowance, Stress Testing, or other areas with consumer credit estimation

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

• You must be 18 years or older
• You must have a high school diploma or equivalent
• You must be willing to take a drug test, submit to a background investigation and submit fingerprints as part of the onboarding process
• You must be able to satisfy the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
• New hires (Level 4-7) must have 9 months of continuous service with the company before they are eligible to post on other roles. Once this new hire time in position requirement is met, the associate will have a minimum 6 months’ time in position before they can post for future non-exempt roles. Employees, level 8 or greater, must have at least 18 months’ time in position before they can post. All internal employees must consistently meet performance expectations and have approval from your manager to post (or the approval of your manager and HR if you don’t meet the time in position or performance expectations).
  Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

ROLE SUMMARY/PURPOSE:

Synchrony’s Credit Model Development team is looking for a data scientist / credit risk modeling professional experienced with executing, maintaining and developing models under the relevant regulatory guidance (SR 11-7 / OCC 2011-12, CECL, CCAR, DFAST). This role is part of Credit organization, in the Loss Forecasting & Advanced Analytics team. The role requires demonstrated expertise with data, statistical analysis and model development, as well as programming skills (Python/Pandas, Spark, Hadoop, SQL, Linux).
The primary focus of this role is on the quarterly reserve development process, as well as planning sessions involving loss forecast and reserve estimate projections. As lead analyst, the role is responsible for executing critical credit estimation models on a quarterly basis, providing analytical input to development of estimates of Credit and Fraud Losses by executing complex statistical, trend-based models with forward looking features. This role analyzes trends and drivers of changes across the entire Synchrony portfolio and all products. In addition, robust collateral is required to be produced in support of process risk controls and related documentation as part of effective governance, as well as internal and external review.
The lead analyst will collaborate across different functions in Credit & Capital Management, with IT and model development to manage model enhancements and big data processing.
The person will use their model knowledge, business analysis and process experience to ensure business intent is matched with sound estimates, and communicate with peers and functional leaders, as well as document assumptions and methods to meet accounting rules and model risk management guidelines.
In addition to responsibilities on scheduled quarterly assessment cycles involving forecasting models, this role will be expected to work on ad-hoc projects as needed such as in Stress Testing models and enhancements to existing model and occasionally, new development.
This is a great opportunity for a modeler / statistician / data analyst / programmer with experience in consumer credit analysis. We offer a dynamic, collaborative team environment with a strong credit risk management culture, and exposure to new technology and data platforms.
A successful candidate must have strong programing skills to execute and troubleshoot data / modeling nuances, design and develop new processes as part of new model implementation(s) and drive process efficiency. This role works closely with process/model owners, and model development in testing of models, supports validation efforts as well as provides audit support.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plan and execute models in the production Reserves and Loss Forecasting process with a focus on Loss Forecasting and CECL (Reserves), as well as allied quantitative estimates such as recoveries and scenario management and stress testing
• Maintain model data input monitoring, production controls and output analytics including results analysis along with robust documentation of key facets
• Support quarterly review process and quarter closing activities, as well as contribute to effective process controls as peer reviewer
• Visualize insights, performance, and trends in inputs/outputs for effective communication and decisioning
• Drive understanding of drivers and providing narrative support for the assumptions, rationale, and projections to model owners and sponsors
• Assist with responding to model validation, regulatory or other oversight requests, including exam findings or issues. Adhere to and follow model governance standards
• Support the development of new models or enhancements to existing models
• Aid management of models through their lifecycle, from development phase through to implementation into production and outline enhancements for evaluation and future model releases. Meet project timelines, engage in ongoing analysis, find performance thresholds, manage model version control, performance assessments, seek out opportunities for process and model improvements, collaborate on model re-calibrations, and re-fits when business dynamics change
• Collaborate with other cross functional teams – Forecasting & Reserve and Stress Testing/Capital Management teams, Model Development, Data Governance, Finance, Collections and Controllership
• Prepare necessary documentation such as procedures, user guides, and training material.
• Perform other duties and/or special projects as assigned