Financial Model Risk Management Lead

Affirm
United States
Remote

Who this role is best for

Aimed at senior quantitative professionals with model validation experience who can collaborate cross-functionally and work remotely in the US.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 4–6 years of model validation experience in financial or analytics domains
    — “4–6 years of professional experience in related technical areas such as model development, model validation, quantitative finance, or data analytics
  • Individuals with a strong background in statistical modeling and time-series forecasting
    — “Experience with statistical modeling, time-series forecasting, simulation, and/or machine learning techniques as applied to finance and analytics use cases
  • Professionals who can clearly communicate findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
    — “Articulate findings clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders

Things to consider

  • The role may require occasional in-office work despite being remote-first
    — “Occasionally required to work out of their assigned Affirm office
  • The position is based in the US and requires local employment eligibility
    — “USA base pay range (CA, WA, NY, NJ, CT) per year

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with high-complexity model validation in your resume and interviews
    — “Lead end-to-end validation engagements on high-complexity, high-criticality models
  • Showcase your ability to remediate issues and strengthen model governance
    — “Collaborate with model owners and stakeholders to remediate validation findings and strengthen model governance
  • Demonstrate your comfort with Python, SQL, and model environments like Databricks
    — “Proven ability to work with scripting languages (e.g., Python) and large-scale datasets (e.g., SQL)
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · CompanyLevel · Senior

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Validated financial models
  • Improved model governance
Typical background
Quantitative FinanceFinancial Engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

Model ValidationQuantitative FinanceData AnalyticsRisk Management

Preferred

Credit Risk ManagementMachine Learning

Stack & domain

Model ValidationQuantitative FinanceFinancial EngineeringMathematicsStatisticsEconomicsComputer ScienceData ScienceScripting LanguagesLarge-scale DatasetsStatistical ModelingTime-series ForecastingSimulationMachine LearningCommunicationProblem-solvingFinanceAnalytics

About the role

Original posting from Affirm via Greenhouse

Affirm is reinventing credit to make it more honest and friendly, giving consumers the flexibility to buy now and pay later without any hidden fees or compounding interest.

About Enterprise Risk & Internal Audit

The Enterprise Risk & Internal Audit department protects Affirm’s operations and long-term success. We identify, assess, and monitor risk across the business. Our work includes internal audits, regulatory assurance, fraud prevention, and crisis planning. The team maintains strong controls, tracks key risk indicators, and ensures readiness for external reviews. We uphold accountability, transparency, and resilience to support responsible growth.

About the Team

We're looking for an intelligent, driven professional to join our Model Risk Management (MRM) team as a Lead validator for Finance and Analytics models. MRM serves as Affirm's second line of defense, establishing and overseeing an effective model risk management framework to identify, quantify, monitor, mitigate, and report on model risk throughout the company.

What You'll Do:

Perform independent challenges of financial and analytics quantitative models — including ALM, allowance/loss forecasting, loan transition models (LTM), corporate financial planning models, take-up and engagement models, and related decision-support analytics — through rigorous validation and ongoing monitoring

Lead end-to-end validation engagements on high-complexity, high-criticality models

Identify model weaknesses, limitations, and opportunities for improvement; articulate findings clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders

Collaborate with model owners and stakeholders across Finance, Quantitative Research, and Growth Analytics to remediate validation findings and strengthen model governance

Partner cross-functionally to implement and maintain the company's MRM framework

Partner with Internal Audit, Internal Controls, Accounting, and Compliance to ensure timely resolution of audit, regulatory, and examiner requests

What We Look For:

4–6 years of professional experience in related technical areas such as model development, model validation, quantitative finance, or data analytics — with meaningful exposure to financial and/or analytics model validation

Deep and broad knowledge of corporate finance, treasury, ALM, and/or actuarial/statistical forecasting

Experience in credit underwriting, credit risk management is a plus

Proven ability to work with scripting languages (e.g., Python) and large-scale datasets (e.g., SQL); comfort reviewing models built in Excel, Python, Databricks, or similar environments

Experience with statistical modeling, time-series forecasting, simulation, and/or machine learning techniques as applied to finance and analytics use cases

BS, MS, or PhD in a quantitative field such as Quantitative Finance, Financial Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Computer Science, or Data Science

Detail-oriented and intellectually curious about data, models, and business context; skilled at critical thinking and structured problem-solving

Extraordinary interpersonal and verbal/written communication skills — able to influence model owners, present to senior stakeholders, and navigate cross-functional remediation

Pay Grade - M

Equity Grade - 8

Employees new to Affirm typically come in at the start of the pay range. Affirm focuses on providing a simple and transparent pay structure which is based on a variety of factors, including location, experience and job-related skills. Base pay is part of a total compensation package that may include equity rewards, monthly stipends for health, wellness and tech spending, and benefits (including 100% subsidized medical coverage, dental and vision for you and your dependents.)

USA base pay range (CA, WA, NY, NJ, CT) per year: $185,000 - $245,000

USA base pay range (all other U.S. states) per year: $164,000 - $224,000

#LI-Remote

Affirm is proud to be a remote-first company! The majority of our roles are remote and you can work almost anywhere within the country of employment. Affirmers in proximal roles have the flexibility to work remotely, but will occasionally be required to work out of their assigned Affirm office. A limited number of roles remain office-based due to the nature of their job responsibilities.

We’re extremely proud to offer competitive benefits that are anchored to our core value of people come first. Some key highlights of our benefits package include: 

Health care coverage - Affirm covers all premiums for all levels of coverage for you and your dependents 

Flexible Spending Wallets - generous stipends for spending on Technology, Food, various Lifestyle needs, and family forming expenses

Time off - competitive vacation and holiday schedules allowing you to take time off to rest and recharge

ESPP - An employee stock purchase plan enabling you to buy shares of Affirm at a discount

We believe It’s On Us to provide an inclusive interview experience for all, including people with disabilities. We are happy to provide reasonable accommodations to candidates in need of individualized support during the hiring process.

[For U.S. positions that could be performed in Los Angeles or San Francisco] Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, Affirm will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

By clicking "Submit Application," you acknowledge that you have read Affirm's Global Candidate Privacy Notice and hereby freely and unambiguously give informed consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of your personal information as described therein.

Source: Affirm careers (Greenhouse)

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