Barclays Investment Bank
Data Science Associate – Portfolio Hedging & Optimisation
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Data Science Associate – Portfolio Hedging & Optimisation
Data Science Associate
About the Role
Join us at Barclays as a Data Science Associate. Your role sits within the Portfolio Hedging & Optimisation (PH&O) Analytics team, supporting portfolio management across:
- Credit risk
- Balance sheet optimisation
- Capital efficiency
- Significant Risk Transfer (SRT)
The team develops analytical capabilities to assess portfolio behaviour, inform risk and capital decisions, and support transaction execution. This position exposes you to both day-to-day portfolio management and transaction-driven activities, ideal for analytically curious candidates.
Your primary focus will be building expertise in credit risk, portfolio dynamics, and balance sheet management, while contributing to models, tools, and processes used in live decision-making.
This role involves end-to-end analytical ownership, from data analysis and model development to implementation and ongoing enhancement. You will also support analytics platform evolution, including practical AI and advanced techniques applications. Over time, responsibilities will grow to cover portfolio analytics and optimisation activities fully, driven by data-driven insights.
Responsibilities
- Support portfolio management activities related to:
- Credit risk
- Balance sheet optimisation
- Capital efficiency
- SRT
- Work on transaction-driven activities and day-to-day portfolio management.
- Contribute to the development and enhancement of models, analytical tools, and management processes.
- Support optimisation initiatives and evolve the analytics platform, including AI and advanced techniques.
- Progressively take on greater ownership of portfolio analytics and optimisation activities.
Requirements
Critical Skills
To excel as a Data Science Associate, you should have:
- A strong quantitative background (e.g., Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Economics) with exposure to statistical or financial modelling through studies or early professional experience.
- Proficiency in Python (e.g., pandas, NumPy) and a working knowledge of SQL, with a robust understanding of data structures and data quality considerations.
- A basic understanding of credit risk concepts (PD, LGD, EAD, RWA), or the ability to acquire this knowledge swiftly.
- Strong problem-solving skills, clear and well-structured coding, and an interest in developing production-ready solutions with robust coding practices.
- A proactive, independent working style, paired with excellent communication skills, the ability to explain analytical outputs, and collaborative strengths.
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Additional Value
The following attributes will further improve your fit for this role:
- Experience with portfolio analytics, credit risk, securitisation, or balance sheet management concepts.
- Exposure to financial datasets or relevant coursework/projects.
- Awareness of or motivation to learn about a regulated work environment.
- Familiarity with basic machine learning or statistical techniques.
- Interest in or prior exposure to AI techniques and their application within financial analytics or workflow optimisation.
Purpose of the Role
Portfolio Hedging & Optimisation (PH&O) structures and executes risk transfer trades. The main responsibility of the Data Science Associate is to support the origination and ongoing management of these structured trades.
Accountabilities
- Partner with internal Structuring, Treasury, and Middle Office within deal teams to execute new structured transactions.
- Provide ongoing management and optimisation of structured transactions, collaborating with internal and external partners such as:
- Law firms
- Verification agents
- Rating agencies
- Agent banks
- Work closely with relationship/Sales teams to assist with investor engagement, including query resolution for existing and prospective transactions.
- Support broader portfolio optimisation initiatives, analytics enhancements, as well as the development and refinement of risk and return models.
Assistant Vice President (AVP) Expectations
In ascending to Assistant Vice President, you will be expected to drive decisions, develop policies, and ensure operational excellence. Key responsibilities include:
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Collaborative Leadership
- Collaborate across teams and functions to contribute to business-wide objectives.
- Provide consultation on complex issues, offering strategic recommendations.
Team Leadership & Guidance
- Lead teams executing complex tasks, leveraging advanced professional knowledge and skills to deliver outcomes.
- Set clear objectives and coach employees to meet these targets through performance appraisals and reward decision-making.
Leadership Behaviours (for People Leaders)
Demonstrate four key LEAD behaviours:
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Listen & be authentic
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Energise & inspire
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Align across the enterprise
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Develop others
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For individual contributors: Lead collaborative assignments and involve team members while guiding assignments toward completion, encouraging interdisciplinary inclusion.
Influence & Risk Management
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Identify and mitigate risks, contributing to control and governance underpinnings, including shaping new policies or procedures.
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Assume ownership of risk and control management pertaining to undertaken work.
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Flourish in a coordinated work environment, understanding contributions from multiple areas to achieve sub-function business goals.
Communication & Analysis
- Engage in complex multi-source data analysis, including external sources, to address problems creatively and effectively.
- Communicate complex data (potentially sensitive or technologically complex) intelligently.
Strategic Impact
- Influence and persuade stakeholders to attain targeted outcomes.
Barclays Values & Mindset
Collaborators at Barclays are expected to embody the core Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship. Leveraging these, colleagues:
- Empower: Drive forward with initiative.
- Challenge: Question for improvement.
- Drive: Lucio wing while in pursuit of efficiency and excellence.
Expectation is to pursue these values and principles throughout your engagement with the team and company.
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