Data, Analytics & AI Manager

Background

Independence Capital (“IC”) are a hybrid private equity & advisory firm specialising in developing new management-led buy-build groups. IC commonly enable teams and leaders who have scaled and (or) exited with private equity before but whom wish for the next venture to see management more favourably benefit and (or) leaders and management teams from global corporations who wish to lead their own operation in the market they know so well. ICs approach creates structures which allow management teams an order of magnitude larger equity incentive than traditional Private Equity would provide.

The business has built its own software and data asset; scraping and manipulating a variety of sources, which the development of AI has now allowed for accelerated progress. The aspiration of the business is to continue to develop this central asset, enrich to a level which allows the use of that data across an array of service works and potentially related businesses and to make maximal use of AI & Automation.

Role

This is a replacement Data role which was previously undertaken by a Power BI expert but over the past 12-months in particular it has become clear that the requirements of the role are changing as technology develops and instead a candidate with some coding skill-set (Python or Django) as well as tackling everything from an “AI first” principle would be more effective.

The role interfaces between the Managing Director, who sets the requirements and vision and the Systems Manager, who owns the build and maintenance of the back-end codebase. The familiarity with Python will therefore allow for transfer of more responsibility from the Systems Manager such that the role is able to test, prepare and package work which instead just needs review and release, in doing so reducing bottlenecks which have accrued in the past.

This remains a formative role in a nascent function in a young & small business and as such will suit candidates eager to build their own exciting credentials in an unstructured but high-value-add environment. Familiarity working in similar environments and methods is important.

Likely tasks & responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the design and development of data tasks as required by the wider technical team
• Designing & delivering a clear systematic approach to each of Data Acquisition, Data Entry, Data Insight & Inference (be that manual, automated, agentic, outsourced etc)
• Implement, embed & own local AI systems. We are looking to transition to more on-prem AI work and this role would have ownership of that roadmap
• Developing robust governance, hygiene and assurances practices such that the business can have high confidence in the continued reliability of the Data
• Assisting the business to devise publishable content drawn from the Insights
• Assisting the Systems Manager to regularly design further iterations of the build which will enhance functionality, insights & content as well as provide resilience in the instances the data environment evolves
• Designing and developing how infrastructure, services & resourcing needs to iterate to best support the plans of the business
• Supporting portfolio groups of Independence Capital to make best-use of company data to enhance how they deliver their own strategic and tactical goals, this may include leading on resourcing of Data & Analytics functions within those companies

Requirements

• Essential - 3 A Levels, with minimum A-C grades
• Optional - a degree in a relevant subject, with a minimum 2:1 and (or) equivalent relevant technical work experience
• Essential - high work ethic, pride in work, conscientiousness when delivering work amidst time constraints & ability work with and influence others
• Essential - strong Python capabilities to support pipeline automation, data manipulation & integration alongside robust technical documentation
• Essential – strong understanding of SQL, data modelling and ETL, Power BI
• Essential - confidence using APIs to call and manipulate data
• Highly preferable - an active interest in financial services and (or) M&A
• The role is open to both experienced Managers from mature teams looking for more autonomy or candidates looking to take on a first lead role but with demonstrable experience building for and solving similarly related requirements as part of a larger team
• The role is also open to those looking to build fractional/portfolio careers potentially but as a minimum will require 3-days per week, initially at least

Package

• Salary commensurate with experience
• Fully funded further qualifications and training (in work hours)
• Bonus participation with experience and progression
• 33 days paid holiday inclusive of Bank Holidays
• Role is suited to hybrid-working, to be discussed on a case-by-case basis