Data Scientist Sr - Deposit Fraud Analytics/Strategy

PNC•Strongsville, OH

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Data Scientist Senior is a strategic and analytical member of the team responsible for detecting, analyzing, and mitigating deposit fraud incidents. As a senior data scientist, you play a critical role in safeguarding our deposit ecosystem by leading the development and execution of data-driven fraud prevention strategies. This position is embedded within the Fraud Incident Management Team and focuses on strengthening defenses by combining analytical insights with operational execution.

Requirements

SQL, Python, PySpark, R, and/or SAS.
Advanced analytical skills in data mining, anomaly detection, rule optimization, and other quantitative techniques
Feature engineering for deposit and digital channels fraud detection and rule development (check, mobile remote deposit, ATM, and teller channels).
Visualization tools: Tableau, Power BI.
Familiarity with fraud detection platforms and machine learning techniques.
Strong communication and stakeholder management.
Strategic thinking with a global and future-oriented mindset.
Ability to manage competing priorities under tight deadlines
Master’s degree in Data science, Statistics, Economics, or related field is preferred.
Experience in fraud analytics, preferably in deposit fraud or financial services.
Strong understanding of deposits, fraud typologies, regulatory frameworks, transaction monitoring, and countermeasure design.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a fast-paced incident management environment, with ability to balance speed of response with analytical accuracy.
Ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable strategies with operational execution focus.
Demonstrated expertise in cross-functional initiatives and guiding teams through high-pressure fraud events.

Responsibilities

Design and implement tactical and strategic fraud countermeasures across deposit and digital channels (e.g., check, mobile remote deposits, ATM & Teller channels).
Collaborate with fraud operations, technology, and product teams to deploy controls effectively.
Stay informed on industry fraud trends and regulatory developments to proactively adjust strategies.
Serve as the analytics lead during active fraud incidents, providing rapid insights and recommending containment actions.
Conduct post-incident reviews to assess control effectiveness and identify improvement opportunities.
Monitor deposit transaction data to identify emerging fraud patterns and anomalies.
Engineer and curate channel-specific features (e.g., check attributes, image/device signals, deposit velocity, account tenure/behavior, ATM/teller patterns) to power high-precision detection rules and thresholds.
Develop and refine fraud detection rules using statistical and quantitative/machine learning techniques.
Evaluate rule performance and optimize precision and minimal customer impact.
Mentor junior analysts within the team, fostering a culture of curiosity, rigor, and innovation in fraud prevention.
Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment on fraud risk appetite and control thresholds.
Contribute to governance processes, including documentation, reporting, and audit readiness.
Deliver actionable insights and performance metrics to senior leadership.
Create dashboards and visualizations to support decision-making and transparency.