Title: Data Scientist
Reports to: Head of Business Intelligence.
Job Grade: 3
Duty Location: Kampala, Uganda
Application Opens: 25th Sept 2024
Application Closes: 10th Oct 2024

About Tugende
Tugende uses asset finance, technology, and a customer-centric model to help informal sector entrepreneurs dramatically increase their economic trajectory. Tugende’s core asset finance packages include medical and life insurance, training, safety equipment, and digital credit profiles in addition to affordable asset financing for SMEs. By helping clients grow economically and build digital track records of responsibility, we are creating a long-term ecosystem for MSMEs to grow and thrive.

Tugende is tackling the credit gap for small businesses in Africa by enabling informal entrepreneurs to 1) own income generating assets, 2) build a verifiable digital credit profile, and 3) earn future growth opportunities through the Tugende digital platform. This platform includes discounts, smartphones, e commerce opportunities, and on demand credit lines. Tugende has financed 70,000+ clients and has hundreds of employees serving clients across 22 branches in Uganda and 10 in Kenya.

About this role
This role is central to Tugende’s mission of using data-driven insights to improve its operations, product offerings, and client support. The data analyst will work closely with multiple departments i.e IT, Credit, Finance, Operations and HR, to provide meaningful, actionable data that drives Tugende’s growth and helps serve its clients better.

The data analyst will develop and maintain performance dashboards, automate critical processes, and drive the use of predictive analytics to optimise decision-making. Additionally, support financial modelling, contribute to investor reporting, and develop models for asset and insurance valuation.

The data analyst will also play a key role in providing daily, weekly, and monthly reports on key performance indicators and develop branch and staff rankings to drive performance across the company.

Key responsibilities
Develop and Maintain Dashboards for Cross-Departmental Insights:
● Build and update performance dashboards to provide real-time insights for credit, finance, operations, and HR teams.

Ensure dashboards align with Tugende’s key business objectives and help improve decision-making processes.
● Develop and maintain monthly performance rankings for branches, staff, and other key performers.
● Use data-driven metrics to foster healthy competition and reward performance across the company.
Support Key Reporting and Data Validation Efforts:
● Collaborate with finance and credit teams to produce accurate monthly reports on loan book performance, revenue assurance, transaction reconciliations, and more.
● Regularly validate data across our CRM, core loan management system, and ERP, ensuring data consistency and accuracy between different platforms and geographic regions.

Report on key performance indicators (performance against targets) daily, weekly, and monthly to monitor progress and guide strategy.
● Collaborate with the corporate finance team to develop financial models that inform strategic decisions and investor relations.
● Contribute to the generation and refinement of key investor reports, ensuring data accuracy and alignment with Tugende’s financial goals.
Automate and Optimise Critical Processes:
● Develop automated solutions for daily, weekly, and monthly operational tasks, including promise to pay (PTP) tracking, contract notifications, and other key operations that keep Tugende running smoothly.
● Continuously seek opportunities to streamline Tugende’s operational workflows, making processes more efficient and reducing manual intervention.

Predictive Modeling, Asset Valuation, and Client Insights:
● Support the development and refinement of key analytical models such as churn prediction, Customer Lifetime Value, and behavioral scoring models, which are crucial for understanding and retaining Tugende’s client base.
● Develop models for asset valuation and insurance valuation, ensuring data-driven decisions are made for financing and insurance processes.
● Assist in developing pricing models to ensure Tugende remains competitive and aligned with market conditions while maintaining financial sustainability.
Support Innovation in ML and AI
● Work with the Head of Data and Head of Business Intelligence to explore and implement innovative AI and ML solutions, tailored to Tugende’s unique business model.
● Potential projects include AI-driven fraud detection, dynamic credit scoring models using real-time data, and LLMs for customer and underwriting support.

Play a key role in shaping and enhancing Tugende’s in-house analytics solutions, ensuring they meet our growing operational needs in both Uganda and Kenya.
● Ensure the analytics platform is scalable, secure, and capable of supporting future innovations, from real-time reporting to predictive analytics.
Ensure Data Governance and System Integrity:
● Maintain and update Tugende’s data governance framework, including the data glossary, to ensure proper data handling and security measures are followed across all teams and territories.
● Proactively monitor system integrity, ensuring smooth data flow and availability for various departmental needs.

Qualifications and skills
● Bachelor’s Degree in either Statistics, Economics, Finance, Actuarial Science, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
● Minimum of 3 years working in a data-focused role, preferably in fast-paced environments such as banking, telecom, insurance, microfinance, fintechs, or other professional services.
● Strong proficiency in Python, with experience in time series modelling, machine learning, and data visualisation.
● Hands-on experience with BI platforms such as Google Looker, Tableau, or Power BI.
● Advanced Excel skills, including data modelling and automation.
● Strong knowledge of Google Sheets for reporting, with preferred experience scripting Python for Google Sheets integration.
● Solid SQL skills to interact with Tugende’s data warehouse and integrate Python scripts.
● Familiarity with Jupyter and other automation IDEs. Knowledge of version control tools like Git is an advantage.
● Understanding cloud services like AWS data architecture is a bonus.
● Proficiency in key Python libraries and/or frameworks such as Pandas, NumPy, Plotly, Dash, Django, Scikit-Learn, Statsmodels, and Matplotlib is highly desirable but not a must.
● Strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
● Excellent written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate complex ideas in a clear, concise manner.

What will you gain?
Career Trajectory: This is a role with potential growth within the business intelligence function to either a Senior Data Scientist and Head of Business Intelligence.

Career Development: You will constantly develop skills and further your career while working with Tugende by understanding the business operations, staying abreast of innovations and financial services to better meet customer needs, participating with developing meaningful data insights and learning how to ride a motorcycle!

Hours and compensation: This position is for a full-time employee who can take on additional responsibilities as new tasks and projects come up.

Meaningful Work: Tugende’s work gives entrepreneurs the tools to earn a living for themselves and their families. We are changing the face of the boda- industry in East Africa, and proving that young entrepreneurs with little education can take on the responsibility of financing a significant asset and earning a livable wage. Help be part of this movement!

Great Team: Tugende has a smart, fun, and growing team of hundreds Employees in Kenya and Uganda. We take our work seriously but love to joke and have fun.

More About Tugende:
Tugende means “let’s go” in Luganda and what you see when you get on the back of a motorcycle-taxi and it signifies the company’s mission. Tugende has been recognized as a 2012 Unreasonable Fellow, 2014 Echoing Green Global Fellow, 2016 GSBI Fellow, and received the MIT Zambezi prize in 2015 as one of the top 3 financial inclusion start-ups in Africa. We have appeared in The Guardian, BBC, Economist, and 2021 Inclusive Fintech50! Award Winner, African Banker 2022 Financial Inclusion Award, the lend a hand blog, and Reuters video. Beyond geographic growth, Tugende’s future includes multiple asset finance products and tools to help Tugende reach millions of clients across Africa without losing high-touch personal support.