> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/3021448-senior-lead-data-scientist-credit-finance-model-validation](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/3021448-senior-lead-data-scientist-credit-finance-model-validation). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md).

---

# Senior/Lead Data Scientist -Credit & Finance Model Validation

- **Company:** Klarna
- **Location:** London, UK
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Amazon Web Services, Distributed Computing Environment, Fraud Prevention and Detection, Python (Programming Language), Software Engineering, SQL Databases, Large Language Models, Model Validation, Pyspark
- **Published:** September 21, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.apply4u.co.uk/jobs/seniorlead-data-scientist-credit-finance-model-validation/47796880

## About the Role

pinpoint control weaknesses in how models are built and used, and follow through until they're fixed. You'll extend the team's code base and AI tooling so more of Klarna's models can be challenged, and challenged more deeply, without adding headcount. You'll help decide which models and model risks get the team's limited validation time, prioritizing by risk rather than working through the queue in order. You'll draw on your own experience building models to test whether a model's assumptions, data, and methodology hold up, not just whether its documentation does. Who you are You've hands-on experience building predictive models for credit risk or underwriting - you've sat on the first line, not just reviewed someone else's work from the second. You understand provisioning, impairment, and IFRS9 modelling well enough to assess how a finance model estimates losses, not just how it's coded. You're proficient in Python and SQL for building, running, and interrogating models. You can work
independently with model developers and business stakeholders, challenge their assumptions, and push back on weak controls even when that's an uncomfortable conversation. You can prioritize which risks in a model matter most, rather than trying to check everything with equal depth. Bonus points for You've validated or independently challenged models before, ideally from a second-line risk function. You have hands-on experience with PySpark for distributed data processing. You've worked with cloud platforms such as AWS. Things you should know before applying This position is open in both Stockholm and London; you'll work from whichever location you're hired into. Depending on your experience, this position will be leveled as Senior Data Scientist or Lead Data Scientist. Validation windows for individual models are tight, so you'll need to focus your challenge on a model's riskiest aspects rather than reviewing it end to end. Working together: we value co-located teams; most
teams currently meet in the office 2-3 days per week, and this varies by team and can change over time. Non-obvious backgrounds are welcome. Diversity of skills, perspectives and backgrounds is how we create, innovate, and disrupt like no other. Final compensation will be based on the candidate's qualifications, skills, and experience. Please include a CV in English. Concrete beats comprehensive - what you built, what it did, what it cost. Curious to learn more about Klarna and what it's like to work here? Explore our career site!

## Description

led by Edward McAvoy, has depth in software engineering and model development, but limited experience in credit risk and underwriting, and in provisioning, impairment, and IFRS9 modelling for finance. That's the specific gap this position closes: you'll bring hands-on model-building experience in those areas and use it to independently challenge models built by the first line. Given the ratio of models to reviewers, you won't have time to check every model with equal depth. You'll need to identify which parts of a model carry the most risk and concentrate your challenge there, and you'll help build the code base and AI tooling that lets the team scale its coverage rather than working through the backlog line by line. What you'll do You'll independently review and challenge predictive and AI/LLM models built by the first line, across credit scoring, fraud detection, AML/CTF, finance (including impairments), and operations. You'll work directly with model developers and business users to


## Related Videos

- [Introduction to Responsible AI: Balancing Value and Risk](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1972-introduction-to-responsible-ai-balancing-value-and-risk)
- [Is my AI alive but brain-dead? How monitoring can tell you if your machine learning stack is still performing](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/262-is-my-ai-alive-but-brain-dead-how-monitoring-can-tell-you-if-your-machine-learning-stack-is-still-performing)
- [Fault Tolerance and Consistency at Scale: Harnessing the Power of Distributed SQL Databases](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1146-fault-tolerance-and-consistency-at-scale-harnessing-the-power-of-distributed-sql-databases)
- [PySpark - Combining Machine Learning & Big Data](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/44-pyspark-combining-machine-learning-big-data)
- [Data Science in Retail](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/586-data-science-in-retail)
- [Empowering Retail Through Applied Machine Learning](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/976-empowering-retail-through-applied-machine-learning)

## Related Articles

- [The Biggest German Tech Companies](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/424-the-biggest-german-tech-companies)
- [Data Analyst Salary in the UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/278-data-analyst-salary-in-the-uk)
- [Jobs in Tech: The State of the European Market](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/575-jobs-in-tech-the-state-of-the-european-market)
- [Data Engineer Salary UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/253-data-engineer-salary-uk)
- [Software Engineer Salary London](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/252-software-engineer-salary-london)
- [Coffee with Developers - Maria Apazoglou - Making AI understandable for all in production](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/475-coffee-with-developers-maria-apazoglou-making-ai-understandable-for-all-in-production)