Senior Fraud Data Scientist

ACC is hiring a Senior Fraud Data Scientist to join its Fraud Prevention and Investigation team in Wellington. This is a permanent, full-time, onsite position that blends advanced analytics with practical impact. The role suits someone who enjoys leading technical work, guiding others, and influencing senior stakeholders to deliver real outcomes. ACC values an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing environment where learning and improvement are part of daily work.

The person in this role will help design and deploy analytical solutions that detect fraud, misuse, and waste, turning complex data into actionable intelligence. You’ll work closely with investigators, prevention teams, and a range of stakeholders to translate difficult problems into solutions that support prevention efforts, targeted investigations, and informed decision making. As a senior technical leader, you’ll coach teammates, contribute to governance of models and systems, and own solutions from problem framing through deployment and ongoing optimization. This opportunity sits within the Fraud Prevention & Investigation team in Wellington.

Turning data into action against fraud

Day to day, you’ll shape high-value analytical products that identify emerging risks and suspicious behaviour at both individual and system levels, using a mix of statistical modelling, machine learning, and AI techniques. You’ll translate complex analytical findings into clear recommendations that investigators and prevention teams can act on, ensuring that insights translate into practical controls and interventions. You’ll also guide the end-to-end lifecycle of solutions, from defining the problem and building the model to deploying it into production and continuously improving it with governance in mind.

As a senior contributor, you’ll provide mentorship and coaching to data scientists and intelligence analysts, helping the team tackle multiple priorities with quality delivery. You’ll engage with a broad set of stakeholders and bring a disciplined approach to model governance, privacy, security, and ethical data practices, while keeping a continuous improvement mindset at the core of how solutions are developed and used.

Foundations you bring

Here’s what ACC is looking for in the must-have column, rephrased from its requirements:

• You have three to five years of hands-on work applying data science or a closely related field (such as fraud detection, risk analysis, or analytics) with a solid grasp of fraud indicators.
• Your SQL and Python skills are advanced, and you’ve demonstrated applying machine learning or statistical modelling in real business settings, not just theory.
• You’ve delivered data science or analytical/automation projects end to end, from problem framing and modelling through deployment, optimisation, and ongoing governance.
• You’ve shown technical leadership, mentoring or coaching analysts or data scientists, and delivering strong results across multiple priorities.
• You’re skilled at engaging with stakeholders and translating complex analyses into clear, actionable insights that inform decisions.
• You understand or have experience with privacy, security, and ethical data frameworks, including responsible AI and secure production standards, and you bring a continuous-improvement mindset.
• You are eligible to work in New Zealand.

Nice-to-have extras that can boost your application include a track record of collaborating with investigators and prevention teams, and a proactive, collaborative approach to helping teammates grow and adapt, along with a comfort with continuous learning and applying new analytics techniques.

Pay, benefits and practical details

The appointing salary for the role is between $101,287 and $129,885, and ACC offers an additional 9% superannuation contribution. The organization provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes a generous superannuation scheme with no mandatory employee contribution, optional life and income protection insurance, and the flexibility to switch to a locked plan. This is a full-time onsite position based in Wellington, with options for flexible working to suit both needs. The role requires eligibility to work in New Zealand.

ACC runs a structured set of employee networks to support diverse backgrounds, and supports flexible working arrangements where feasible to fit personal and organisational needs.

Advice for applicants

Put your fraud-focused data science work up front on your resume, highlighting concrete end-to-end projects where you defined the problem, built models, and delivered results in production. Show 3–5 years of relevant experience and include a quick line on the business impact of your work.

In your cover letter, give evidence of your SQL and Python capabilities with a specific example of value delivered through modelling or automation. Tie the example to measurable outcomes, like reduced fraud indicators or improved decision speed.

Be ready to discuss how you coach or mentor others and to share a concrete instance where you helped a colleague or a team build capability and raise delivery quality.

Prepare to address privacy, security, and ethical data practices in your projects. You may be asked how you’ve applied responsible AI or secure production standards in real-world work, so have a succinct example ready.

Ask a thoughtful question about governance and production standards, such as how the team balances rapid analytics with governance requirements, or how model updates are managed from approval to deployment.

How to apply

Please attach your CV and cover letter telling ACC why you would be a great fit and what strengths you would bring to the role.

As part of your application, please tell ACC in your cover letter:

Why do you want to be a senior data scientist in a fraud team?

Describe your approach to coaching and mentoring others. Include an example of how you’ve helped build capability in a colleague or team.

Describe your experience with SQL, Python, and other relevant tools. Include an example of the value or impact your work delivered.

If you are currently based outside Wellington, please clarify your willingness to relocate.

Applications will run through till 11:59 pm Monday 26 October 2026, however if an ideal candidate is found ACC may progress screening and interviewing sooner.

Applications can only be accepted through the ACC Career Website. For accessibility support or pātai (questions), email [email protected].