At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead reserving oversight for a multi-billion-dollar international short-tail portfolio.
- Company: Global specialty insurer based in Dublin with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Collaborate with global teams and contribute to special projects enhancing reserving methodologies.
- Why this job: Shape financial reporting and business strategy while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Qualified actuary with non-life reserving experience and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
A senior actuarial leadership opportunity within a global specialty insurer, responsible for reserving oversight across a large international short-tail portfolio including Property, Construction, Climate and Structured Risk Solutions. The role covers multi-billion-dollar reserves and a significant annual premium base, playing a key part in shaping financial reporting, performance insight, and business strategy.
You will lead the reserving function across attritional losses, large losses, and catastrophe events, ensuring robust valuation frameworks and high-quality quarterly reporting. This includes leading Actual vs Expected analysis, assessing and challenging methodologies and assumptions, and driving improvements where needed. You will present results, insights, and recommendations to senior stakeholders across actuarial, finance, underwriting, and executive leadership.
A core part of the role involves close partnership with underwriting and pricing teams to understand portfolio performance, inform loss ratios, and support annual business planning. You will also contribute to profitability analysis, legal entity reporting, and strategic portfolio management, ensuring reserving outputs are fully embedded into business decision-making.
You will manage and develop a local actuarial team in Dublin, while working within a global actuarial network. This includes coordinating with central and regional actuarial teams, supporting external actuarial opinions, and ensuring consistency and governance across reporting cycles.
Beyond core responsibilities, you will contribute to special projects focused on enhancing reserving methodologies, improving processes, and developing analytical tools and insights across the wider actuarial function.
This is a high-impact role suited to a qualified actuary with deep non-life reserving experience, strong technical expertise, and proven ability to operate in complex, global environments. You will bring excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate technical actuarial results into clear, actionable business insight.
Head of Short Tail Reserving in London employer: Oliver James
As a global specialty insurer based in Dublin, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. Our team enjoys competitive benefits, including flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional advancement within a supportive environment. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the actuarial field while collaborating with talented professionals across the globe.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Short Tail Reserving in London
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help land that dream job.
✨Show Off Your Skills
When you get the chance to meet potential employers, make sure to highlight your unique skills and experiences. We want to see how you can add value to their team, so prepare some examples of your past successes and how they relate to the role you're after.
✨Ace the Interview
Interviews can be nerve-wracking, but we’ve got your back! Research the company and the role thoroughly, and practice common interview questions. Remember, it’s a two-way street, so prepare some questions to ask them too – it shows you’re genuinely interested!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to check out our website for job openings! Applying directly through us can sometimes give you an edge, as we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged. Plus, it’s super easy to navigate and find the right role for you!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Short Tail Reserving in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that align with the Head of Short Tail Reserving role. Highlight your non-life reserving experience and any leadership roles you've held, as we want to see how you can contribute to our team.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this position. Mention your experience with multi-billion-dollar reserves and how you've successfully led teams in the past. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since you'll be presenting insights to senior stakeholders, it's crucial to demonstrate your communication prowess. Use clear and concise language in your application, and consider including examples of how you've translated complex actuarial results into actionable business insights.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Oliver James
✨Know Your Numbers
As a candidate for the Head of Short Tail Reserving, you need to be on top of your game with numbers. Brush up on your understanding of multi-billion-dollar reserves and how they impact financial reporting. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've managed large portfolios and the methodologies you've used.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role involves managing a local actuarial team and collaborating with global teams. Prepare to share your experiences in leading teams, driving improvements, and fostering collaboration. Think about how you've developed talent in the past and how you can bring that to the table.
✨Communicate Clearly
You’ll need to present complex actuarial results to senior stakeholders. Practice translating technical jargon into clear, actionable insights. Consider preparing a few key points or a mini-presentation that demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively with non-technical audiences.
✨Understand the Business Context
Get familiar with the company's portfolio performance and how it relates to loss ratios and business planning. Research recent trends in the insurance market, especially in short-tail lines. This will help you engage in meaningful discussions during the interview and show that you’re not just an actuary but a strategic partner.
