Sr. Data Analyst

Senior Data Analyst, Data Solutions

Location: Chicago, IL (or willing to relocate)

Employment Type: Contract, Contract to Hire

The Senior Data Analyst will play a key role in delivering data engineering, integration, and analytics capabilities supporting the client's direct lending platform. This role sits at the intersection of technology and business, enabling data-driven decision-making across originations, loan servicing, portfolio monitoring, and investor reporting. The position requires a hands-on technical leader with strong domain expertise in commercial lending and private credit, combined with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally and deliver scalable, automated data solutions. This role is ideal for a candidate who can translate complex business requirements into high-quality data pipelines, curated datasets, and reporting solutions while contributing to broader platform modernization efforts.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain SQL-based data models, ETL/ELT pipelines, and integrated data solutions leveraging the Microsoft Stack (Platforms and Tools)
• Build and optimize data pipelines using: Microsoft SQL Server, SSIS and/or Azure Data Factory, Azure Data Lake / Synapse Analytics
• Leverage modern data processing frameworks (e.g., Databricks / Spark) where applicable
• Develop and maintain curated datasets and data models to support enterprise reporting and analytics
• Ensure scalability, performance, and maintainability of data solutions
• Implement and enforce data quality checks, validation rules, and reconciliation processes
• Ensure consistency and integrity across data assets used for reporting and analytics
• Maintain documentation for data pipelines, business logic, and data models
• Support adoption of standardized data governance practices and controls
• Partner with stakeholders across Portfolio Management, Investor Reporting, Finance & Accounting, Originations and Underwriting
• Translate private credit and lending requirements into scalable data solutions
• Support use cases across the lending lifecycle, including Deal origination and underwriting, Loan servicing and borrower monitoring, Portfolio performance tracking, Investor reporting and fund analytics
• Provide insights and analysis using loan-level and portfolio-level datasets
• Develop and support Power BI datasets, dashboards, and reporting solutions
• Enable self-service analytics through well-structured, governed datasets
• Support business-critical reporting, including Portfolio monitoring, Investor reporting, Operational and performance analytics
• Ensure clear data lineage, transparency, and usability of enterprise data assets
• Support delivery of multiple concurrent initiatives across data engineering, Reporting enhancements, Platform modernization
• Collaborate with cross-functional global teams to manage Requirements gathering, Development and testing, Deployment and post-production support
• Contribute to structured delivery practices including tracking milestones, dependencies, and risks
• Act as a senior individual contributor and technical lead for data initiatives
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior team members and developers
• Collaborate effectively with distributed teams (onshore/offshore model)
• Contribute to knowledge sharing, documentation, and standardization efforts

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, Finance, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in: Data engineering, Data warehousing, Business intelligence or analytics
• Minimum 5 years of experience within financial services, preferably: Private credit, Commercial lending, Direct lending or asset management

Technical Skills

• Strong expertise in: SQL Server (advanced T-SQL, query optimization, stored procedures), ETL development (SSIS and/or Azure Data Factory), Data warehousing and dimensional modeling
• Experience with Azure data platform (Data Lake, Synapse, or similar)
• Exposure to Databricks or distributed data processing frameworks
• Experience with BI tools (Power BI preferred)
• Experience with Agentic AI based Software Development approach

Domain Expertise

• Strong understanding of: Lending lifecycle (origination to servicing and monitoring), Loan products (e.g., term loans, revolvers), Portfolio and investor reporting
• Experience working with loan servicing systems such as FIS, WSO, or similar platforms as well as other platforms such as Salesforce, Oracle, etc.

Core Competencies

• Analytical Thinking: Ability to break down complex data challenges into actionable solutions
• Business Acumen: Understanding of how data supports lending operations, risk management, and investor reporting
• Communication: Ability to translate technical concepts into business-relevant insights
• Execution: Strong ownership mindset with ability to deliver high-quality work across multiple priorities
• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively across business and technology teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in private credit or middle-market lending environments
• Exposure to cloud modernization or enterprise data platform transformation initiatives
• Familiarity with data governance frameworks and best practices
• Experience working in hybrid onshore/offshore delivery models