ABOUT THE ROLE
Achieving Samara’s ambitious strategic priorities presents significant complexity and challenge. Sustained success hinges on the development and retention of an exceptional, world-class team.
We seek a seasoned pension actuary to fill a senior position within our actuarial consulting team.
The ideal candidate will take a lead role in directing pensions actuarial projects, cultivating and overseeing client relationships, approving and finalizing actuarial reports, and fostering the expansion of our pensions advisory services.
This position presents a prime opportunity for an Associate or Fellow actuary with robust pensions expertise to assume a prominent leadership role within an expanding advisory firm. The successful candidate will collaborate with diverse pension schemes, trustees, employers, regulators, and other key stakeholders on critical functions such as valuation, funding, risk management, governance, and strategic advisory engagements.
The ideal candidate must demonstrate a robust technical actuarial skill set alongside sound commercial acumen, exceptional client management abilities, and a proven capacity to mentor and nurture junior team members.
As a Senior Pensions Actuary, you will be tasked with overseeing and executing a wide range of actuarial duties related to pension schemes, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks and delivering accurate financial assessments. Your role will encompass the analysis and valuation of pension liabilities, the development of funding strategies, and the provision of expert advice to trustees and sponsors on optimal pension arrangements. Additionally, you will lead the preparation and review of actuarial reports, manage client relationships, and mentor junior members of the team to foster professional growth and maintain high standards of actuarial practice.
The primary duties and obligations encompass overseeing project execution, ensuring adherence to deadlines, and maintaining alignment with organizational objectives. Key responsibilities include collaborating with cross-functional teams, identifying process improvements, and delivering high-quality results consistently. Additionally, the role demands strong analytical skills, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to prioritize tasks efficiently in a fast-paced environment. Qualifications include a minimum of five years of relevant experience, proficiency in industry-specific tools, and demonstrated leadership in driving impactful initiatives. The ideal candidate should exhibit exceptional communication abilities, adaptability to evolving challenges, and a commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.
Leading and overseeing pensions actuarial projects, encompassing actuarial valuations, funding assessments, financial reporting disclosures, benefit evaluations, member calculations, as well as additional advisory services.
Responsibilities include meticulously examining and endorsing actuarial reports to confirm adherence to technical precision, the caliber of recommendations provided, and compliance with relevant professional and regulatory obligations.
We deliver expert actuarial guidance to pension scheme trustees, sponsors, employers, and other relevant stakeholders.
Providing guidance to clients on various aspects of pension scheme administration, including funding strategies, risk mitigation, investment planning, benefit formulation, liability optimization, and governance frameworks.
Serving as a pivotal liaison with clients, you will provide expert guidance and trusted counsel on matters pertaining to pensions, actuarial science, and retirement planning.
Responsibilities include managing project delivery from initial planning through completion, ensuring adherence to budgetary constraints, allocating necessary resources, overseeing billing processes, and facilitating timely collections, all while maintaining consistent progress on client deliverables.
Conducting thorough assessments of actuarial models, calculations, assumptions, methodologies, and report outputs to ensure accuracy, reliability, and compliance with established standards.
Coaching, supervising, and mentoring junior actuarial staff to enhance their technical expertise and professional growth, alongside delivering targeted training and skill development initiatives.
Facilitating business development, proposal preparation, and the expansion of the pensions actuarial practice.
Collaborating effectively with professionals across actuarial science, administrative operations, investment management, consulting services, and other corporate divisions.
Driving innovation and advancing industry insights through thought leadership initiatives, technical research, and the development of internal methodologies and tools.
Seeking a candidate with a proven track record in the field, encompassing a minimum of [X] years of relevant experience. Ideal applicants must hold [specific degree or certification, if applicable] and demonstrate expertise in [key skills or areas of knowledge]. Proficiency in [specific tools, software, or methodologies] is essential, along with a strong ability to [specific soft skills, e.g., collaborate, problem-solve]. The role demands meticulous attention to detail and the capacity to [specific task or responsibility], ensuring alignment with organizational objectives. Prior success in [relevant industry or function] is highly preferred, as is a commitment to continuous professional development.
The perfect candidate must possess:
Qualification as an Associate or Fellow from a recognized actuarial professional body is essential.
At least 8 years’ relevant experience in pensions actuarial consulting or a closely related pensions advisory role.
Demonstrates deep technical expertise in pension scheme valuations, funding mechanisms, accounting principles, benefit calculations, and actuarial reporting.
Seeking professionals with prior involvement in reviewing actuarial reports or a demonstrated capacity to assume signing responsibility for such documents.
Demonstrates a robust knowledge of pension scheme governance, trustee advisory services, and the perspectives of employers and sponsors.
Demonstrated proficiency in fostering and sustaining strong client relationships, coupled with the capacity to articulate complex technical concepts in a manner that is readily comprehensible to high-level stakeholders.
Demonstrates exceptional project management capabilities, with proven expertise in handling diverse assignments, adhering to strict deadlines, and consistently meeting or exceeding client expectations.
Demonstrated skill in guiding, mentoring, and advancing the professional growth of actuarial students and junior team members.
Commercial acumen, encompassing a strong grasp of revenue generation, billing accuracy, debt recovery processes, and overall profitability objectives.
Possesses exceptional written and oral communication abilities to convey ideas clearly and effectively.
Maintains strict professionalism, ensures accountability, and upholds rigorous quality control standards.
Proactive individuals who demonstrate accountability, problem-solving skills, and the capacity to cultivate trusted relationships.
Proven experience in the relevant field would be highly beneficial for this role, offering a competitive edge in performance and efficiency. Additionally, familiarity with industry-specific tools, methodologies, or best practices could significantly enhance the ability to deliver high-quality results. Candidates with a track record of success in comparable roles or who have demonstrated adaptability in dynamic environments would also be strongly considered.
An additional consideration would be if you possess the following attributes:
Seeking candidates with hands-on experience in occupational pension schemes, retirement funds, umbrella funds, or public-sector pension arrangements.
Advising both trustees and employer sponsors is an essential part of the role, requiring a deep understanding of their distinct needs and objectives.
Proficiency in pension reform initiatives, retirement policy frameworks, social security systems, regulatory advisory services, or public-sector pension engagements is required.
Proficiency in creating actuarial models, implementing automation solutions, conducting data analytics, or leading pensions administration transformation initiatives is essential.
Prior experience managing a team or leading a portfolio of client assignments.
Proven track record collaborating in diverse international markets, with demonstrated adaptability and cross-cultural proficiency.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , Professional Certificate
Experience Required
8 years
