Graduate Trainee Actuary - Edinburgh

Can you solve the puzzles of government?

Can you be the architect of a better tomorrow?

If you enjoy applying statistical theories to assess risks and estimate the odds of future outcomesand have a passion for presenting your findingsa rewarding career as a Graduate Trainee Actuary in the heart of government could be the perfect fit for you!

About us

The Government Actuarys Department (GAD) are at the centre of actuarial expertise within government. We enable government to better understand and quantify risk and uncertainty and in turn help shape better outcomes for the UK public. We do this on our core work by diving into client challenges and ensuring our advice enables success. We identify critical challenges to co-create solutions with our partners so that actuarial expertise can have more impact on significant policy initiatives.

We are an inclusive organisation that values the unique perspectives and strengths of a diverse team, supported through our staff networks and active Diversity and Inclusion strategy, we ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We are seeking motivated individuals to join our analytical team, where your contributions will be valued, and your voice heard.

As a Graduate Trainee Actuary, we will support your development to become a future Actuary in Government who is able to produce high quality, impactful advice and analysis for government and adapt to emerging societal challenges.

This will include participation in our rotation programme which includes:

Analytical Focussed Placement: Apply theoretical actuarial concepts and modern techniques to actuarial processes to deliver accurate analysis efficiently. As time progresses, take on more responsibility for the validity of your work and others as well as delegating and developing junior colleagues.

Consulting Focussed Placement: Work with actuaries to turn analysis into impactful advice through drafting communications and presenting to clients. Build relationships with stakeholders (internal and external) to support effective delivery of advice. As time progresses, build relationships with clients, support scoping of actuarial advice and business development.

Specialised Focussed Placement: Build upon experience of previous placements to try a new actuarial area in GAD or continue specialising within a certain domain to take on more ownership of advice and/or analysis.

Throughout the rotation programme, secondment opportunities exist to work directly with clients in government.

A significant proportion of GADs actuarial advice is either pensions or emerging policy areas. Therefore, during the rotation programme, all trainees will be exposed to typical pensions work (such as delivering actuarial valuations and other pension calculations, managing costs and risks associated with public service pension schemes or providing advice on funded pension schemes) as well as working in a different area to develop adaptability to new problems.

GAD works across a wide range of actuarial areas and we would look to provide opportunities for you to get involved in areas of interest where business needs allow.

1. Have an inquisitive and open mind to learn and apply new concepts
2. Produce actuarial analysis to inform GADs advice to government departments, across areas of insurance, investments, pensions, and risk.
3. Consider the validity of your, or others, analysis through self-checks and communicate areas of concerns to senior colleagues.
4. Support client engagement by drafting reports and advice as well as providing support in meetings and presentations.
5. Manage your time to deliver your work to time and budget. You may also be responsible for assisting with broader project management and development of junior staff.
6. Proactively develop your knowledge and understanding of actuarial methods and analysis, data science, the issues and risks facing government as well as how GAD can best provide advice to our clients.
7. Identify and suggest new ways of working, innovative solutions, modern outputs and new areas where GAD can provide advice.
8. Work within GADs and Actuarial professional standards and departmental procedures and guidance notes.
9. Use MS Office and advanced tools like R, Python or our Pension Valuation Software to carry out analysis and prepare advice for clients.
10. With materials and time provided, independently work towards actuarial qualification through exams and Personal Professional Development requirements.