We’re First Central Insurance & Technology Group (First Central for short), an innovative, market-leading insurance company. We protect the things customers love so they can get on with what matters to them in life.
Data drives us. It fuels our outstanding distribution, finance, technology and legal services. Our underwriting skills are built on data expertise; it creates the insights we need to give the right cover to the right customers at the right price. But, it’s the people inside and outside our business that power us. They make us stand out, help us succeed. We’re ambitious. We’re growing. We’ve won awards.
Are you able to extract insight from data? Are you a Machine Learning expert with great Python skills? Do you want to build a long lasting career as a Data Science professional? If so we want to hear from you!
We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Data Scientist to join our Underwriting team either remotely or based in either our Salford Quays, Manchester or Haywards Heath, West Sussex office.
In this role you’ll work as part of a team of data scientists and other specialists to help deliver a portfolio of innovative services that will discover and create value from the Company’s vast array of information assets. Your main focus will be to work individually and with others by applying data science techniques and solutions to deliver this value.
You will work with large amounts of data from a range of sources and in a variety of structured and unstructured formats, applying critical thinking and problem-solving skills to analyse and interpret data. You’ll help build predictive models and generate machine learning algorithms to extract actional insights, proposing solutions to business challenges and collaborating with other teams to implement these solutions. When recognising the dependencies Group companies have on technology provided in-house, you will work collaboratively and seamlessly with the Group’s in-house technology provider along with data presentation/delivery teams located in multiple locations.
Analytical and inquisitive? Lets do this together!
You’ll be great in this role if you have:
- Experience in Machine Learning and Python
- Strong data processing & analysis skills
- A passion to learn more about the data science world and develop your own abilities
Whats Involved
- Scope out and develop data services, including; deep learning, predictive analytics and machine learning, that help to solve business problems
- Perform data analysis and data collection processes that effectively support these services
- Continuously develop data sources through testing of external data
- Work individually and with team members, other teams and suppliers to deliver data science solutions. Review output of junior team members
- Help to identify opportunities across the organisation where data science can add value
- Adhere to good coding practices, work within existing risk controls, identify and report potential risks.
- Comply with the requirements, and act in accordance with, the Group Code of Conduct and Fitness and Propriety policies at all times
- Ensure compliance with Company Policies, Values and guidelines and other relevant standards/ regulations at all times
Your Experience
- Proven experience in data science and data analysis
- Good understanding of statistical techniques and their application, including GLMs, decision trees, random forest, boosting, natural language processing, distributions, clustering, simulation and scenario analysis
- Knowledge of data platforms, and data processing including batch and real-time automation
- Knowledge of data structures and schemas, data preparation and cleansing
- Experience of machine learning techniques and libraries
- Knowledge of data science toolkits and languages, such as R, Python, Scala
- Experience of data exploration and visualisation tools
- Good knowledge of data query languages, such as SQL, HiveQL, scripting
- Knowledge of data integration services and ETL
- Analytical and problem-solving aptitude
- Understanding of a service based approach to professional services.
- Experience delivering through Agile change framework
Skills & Qualifications
- Good communication skills, both verbal and written
- Good time management and organisation skills
- Proven analytical and statistical modelling skills
- Degree in Data Science or other quantitative field
Behaviours
- Self-motivated and enthusiastic with the desire to meet or exceed targets
- Determined and passionate, particularly regarding data and technology
- A decision maker with an ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team
- A flexible approach and positive attitude
- Strives to drive business improvements contributing to the success of the business
- An organised and proactive approach
Are you the person we’re looking for? If so, we look forward to hearing from you. Apply today!
We pride ourselves on being a great place to work. Check out our Glassdoor page to see what our employees think about working here.
What can we do for you?
People first. Always. We’re passionate about our colleagues and know the best people deserve an extraordinary working environment. We owe it to them so that’s what we offer. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational, supportive. To get a taste of the advantages you’ll enjoy.
Intrigued? Our Talent team can tell you everything you need to know about what we want and what we’re offering, so feel free to get in touch.
