VP- Investment Analytics - Norfolk, VA (Hybrid)

We invite you to explore a future with us at PRA Group, a diverse and growing company that has a tangible impact on the global economy.

Position Summary:

Leads a strategically important function and/or multiple related sub-functions. Achieves goals through 1-3 layers of managers and Sr Managers. Has in-depth knowledge of PRA, technology and economic or social implications of organization activities; seen as an internal and external "expert" and influencer. Responsible for budget planning and justification. Accountable for the performance and achievement of objectives of a strategically important large function and/or multiple related sub-functions, potentially comprising of various related disciplines.

Develops and implements strategic plans and objectives for their business unit in alignment with corporate strategy, typically at regional/global level. Mid-term to long-term strategic planning. Is accountable for overall decisions on administrative or operational matters and ensures operations effective achievement of functional objectives; erroneous decisions will have a serious impact on the fiscal, strategic, and company operations. Communicates with Senior Leadership Team (SLT), outside counsel, regulatory officials, counterparts at other companies, industry representatives and may communicate with Board of Directors. Requires negotiating with customers or management to influence matters of significance to PRA or critical matters in area of responsibility. May drive internal implementation and communication for their department; assists in cascading the vision and strategy for PRA Decisions guided by functional strategy. Identifies and resolves complex technical, operational, and organizational challenges. Demonstrates and fosters partnering across organizations and builds relationships across function, internally and/or externally; is recognized as an internal leader.

A very comprehensive and generous relocation package will be offered for the right candidate.

Professional Experience, Skills and Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of Discount Cash Flow Modeling.

• Knowledge of Financial Services and/or non-performing loan market.

• 10+ years' work professional work experience in Investment Analytics.

• Minimum 5-year SQL experience.

• 5+ years management experience in Analytics.

Competencies:

• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate complex coding procedures into standard documentation for leadership and other departmental uses.

• Exceptional conceptual thinking and problem-solving skills using data analysis and utilizing excel or other statistical packages.

• Strong management abilities to mentor and develop department analyst in their understanding of the business and PRA processes.

• Strong investigative oversight into the quality of a team's output.

• Oversees multiple business processes and new project initiatives at one time.

• Ability to advance processes through creative solutions and automation.

• Exceptional project management skills. Must have strong organizational, time-management and high attention to detail.

Technical:

• Ability to manage investment/forecasting strategies and monitor their performance. Ability to use charts and graphs to explain a cause and effect approach to analyzing data.

• Strong financial and analytical skill set including loan underwriting processes and financial modeling that supports annuity evaluations.

• Knowledgeable with investment metrics and indicators such as IRR, growth rates, and NPV measures.

• Strong SQL programming skills.

• Familiarity with computerized modeling processes and how they can be utilized for better predictions.

• Conceptual thinking and problem-solving skills using data analysis though excel or other statistical packages.

• Capable of building automation into processes and reports.

• Ability to review and manage other data analyst level work including the oversight of any SQL coding efforts.

• Strong financial modeling skills leveraging linear regression, discount cash flows, sensitivity analysis.

• Basic Machine learning knowledge, including ability to apply supervised machine learning techniques such as K-Nearest Neighbors.

• Education: BA/BS in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) or quantitative field.

• Certifications: Advanced Degree/ Certifications: MS, MBA, CFA; Actuarial Certifications preferred.

DIRECTS THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS:

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the overall direction, development, coordination and evaluation of employees in accordance with policies and applicable laws. Interviews, trains and appraises employees, plans, assigns and directs work and addresses and resolves issues.

• Leads the development of the Investment Analytics (Underwriting) function improving insight, efficiency and accuracy. Further develop and lead an environment than continuously improves through people development, toolkit optimization, model development, process efficiencies, etc.

• Develop and maintain the relationship with Decision Science and Collection Strategy to optimize use of data and tools. Develop Investment Analytics' contribution to Collection Strategy, Operations, Finance, Compliance and other stakeholders to optimize their insights and work.

• Primary point of responsibility for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of individual investment opportunities.

• Collects and analyzes data for the development of investment\forecasting strategies for one or more portfolios and interprets price, yield, stability, or other financial metrics. Track and report on current or expected financial performance and makes recommendations meant to improve portfolio returns. Drives innovation and development of future techniques to continuously improve underwriting results and processes.

Portfolio Underwriting:

• Pricing for all U.S. Core portfolio purchasing. Interprets data concerning price and future trends of consumer loan purchase market to make recommendations to senior leadership including the preparations of portfolio purchase recommendations for the investment committee including recommended maximum bid price and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) levels. Continuously improve pricing processes, analytical approaches, platforms, and usage of data sources to sharpen pricing precision. Partner with Data Science Team to improve techniques and data used for evaluation, pricing, and forecasting.

Portfolio Analytics:

• In collaboration with Strategy, monitor Core portfolio performance, diagnosing performance shortfalls, recalibrating cash, and cost projections. Maintains and develops reporting for Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), performance vs forecasts, and actual activities vs. underwritten forecast activities. Develops insights and work with various departments to address opportunities. Provides feedback to underwriting, strategy, and business development to inform future bids and market opportunities.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Drives investment analytics processes by way of managing team leads and analyst who perform financial valuations to support underwriting evaluations for predicting cash flow curves on non-performing loan portfolios. Monitors prior purchase performance to inform changes to assumptions that can provide finding for process and/or model management improvements.

• Presents impact analysis for any cause and effect changes in operations or risk to stakeholders and Data & Analytics(D&A) department leadership which are impacting underwriting.

Presents alternative valuations, analytical studies, and research findings to senior leadership for the advancement the financial modeling predictive power.

• Designs and manages alternative strategies for inventory evaluations and the potential effects for cashflow annuity streams on current or future portfolios.

Provides quarterly revised CECL projections for all U.S. Core portfolio vintages to Accounting for revenue recognition purposes. Produces accurate reforecasting by analyzing performance across various slices of portfolio including pool, vintage, seller, etc.

• Assists in the exploration of new debt purchase products by conducting feasibility studies to determine product viability. Performs second review and additional resource to address questions for pricings in Australia, Brazil, Columbia, and Canada. Partners with operational leadership to build out value-adding dashboards and reporting that help track and monitor overall performance. Ensure operational reporting exists at all levels to help deliver on efficiency and effectiveness goals.

• Oversees analysis and materials for, and frequently presents to the Investment Committee and Global Investment Committees, comprised of Senior Leadership Team(SLT) members, who rely on this role's output to make investment decisions that average approximately $500 million of annual investment. Integrates and oversees critical controls into and around PRA's portfolio valuation processes to maintain and prove compliance with SOX requirements. Monitors and understands key changes in the economy and how these exogenous forces may impact portfolio performance and consumers' ability to pay.

Leadership:

• Responsible for a team of managers and analyst in the areas of D&A Investment Analytics. Responsible for the recruitment, development, engagement, retention, and management of the function(s). Develops and track progress against a product roadmap to build enhancing capabilities over time. Responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations and company policies across areas of organizational responsibility. Assures compliance during design and implementation of modeling and analysis projects. Assists team members in resolution of work problems related to valuations, project development, critical thinking development, and programming. Develops strong working relationships with the operational leaders of the different collection channels to ensure that potential results from strategy changes are fully realized.

At PRA Group, we're committed to helping our employees reach their highest potential by offering competitive salary, bonus structure and proprietary training programs which offer alternative career paths. Also, tuition reimbursement programs, comprehensive healthcare, health, dental and vision benefits, maternal and paternal leave, holiday pay and PTO, an employee assistance program, and valuable opportunities to establish a long career within our organization.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of age, race, color, sex, gender, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, citizenship, or any other classes recognized by state or local law or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law. We are a drug free workplace.