Scheme Actuary

First Actuarial; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days holiday

Pension scheme

Life insurance 4x salary

Income protection

Private medical insurance

Volunteer days

Job summary

First Actuarial is seeking nearly or newly qualified actuaries to join our seven UK offices. You will contribute to pension consulting projects across schemes, using your actuarial skills and exam progress to deliver clear, practical insights.

We encourage a collaborative, supportive environment with hybrid working and opportunities for career progression, professional development, and client-facing experience.

Qualifications

• 4+ years actuarial experience or in progress of exams.
• UK pensions consulting background and sound technical knowledge.
• Clear concise communication of complex ideas.
• Good technical understanding of UK pensions work.
• Proactive and collaborative mindset.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing actuarial calculations e.g. triennial valuations.
• Drafting and reviewing standard and bespoke communications.
• Liaising with Trustees at meetings, by telephone and e-mail.
• Monitoring deadlines and actions on a portfolio of schemes.

Skills

Actuarial exams

UK pensions knowledge

Strong communication

Team collaboration

Job description

First Actuarial has been around since 2004, when a small group of like-minded actuaries came together to bring fresh thinking to pensions consultancy. More than two decades later, our strong growth path has continued year on year, and we now employ over 500 people across seven locations.

First Actuarial is owned by Gallagher, one of the world’s leading insurance brokers, risk management and consulting firms. First Actuarial forms part of Gallagher’s UK Benefits & HR Consulting division (GBS UK).

GBS UK is a leading provider in the pensions consultancy market, offering a full end-to-end retirement proposition, including actuarial and investment consulting, risk transfer, pensions administration and retirement communications. With experts positioned across all regions, we support pension schemes of all sizes across the full range of solutions.

First Actuarial operates nationally with more than 550 colleagues across seven UK offices. Our focus is on delivering high-quality advice and service at a fair and transparent level of fees.

As we develop our business, opportunities for our people grow. Our Basingstoke, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Peterborough, Tonbridge, and London offices provide supportive work environments where everyone can make a difference. We enjoy work and celebrate our successes. And we provide support and helpful feedback, so we all learn and improve.

We love numbers, but we love people more. Staff wellbeing and work-life balance have always been core values. Beyond the firm, we’re known for our integrity. We’re happy to challenge conventional thinking and speak up. Our pioneering work is set to transform the lives of millions of younger people with a new type of pension.

The role

We’re looking for nearly or newly qualified actuaries to join any of our seven offices.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing actuarial calculations e.g. triennial valuations
• Drafting and reviewing standard and bespoke communications
• Liaising with Trustees at meetings, by telephone and e-mail
• Monitoring deadlines and actions on a portfolio of schemes

Not all the work we do is traditional actuarial work – you probably know we often challenge conventional thinking. So, we’d be able to give you lots of variety and challenge – utilising your well-honed actuarial skills and bringing your own thinking.

Your Skills and Experience

• E xperience: from 4 years, with at least most, if not all the actuarial exams.
• A UK pensions consulting background and sound technical knowledge
• Skills: an excellent communicator who understands how to express complicated ideas in a concise and clear way.
• A good technical understanding of UK pensions work.
• Characteristics: a can do, enthusiastic approach to tackling problems, and a desire to build pro-active teams with your colleagues and clients.

What we offer you

On top of a competitive salary, great teams and exciting career opportunities, we also offer a wide range of benefits.

Below are the minimum core benefits you’ll get, depending on your job level these benefits may improve:

• Minimum of 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, and the option to ‘buy’ 10 more days
• Defined contribution pension scheme, which Gallagher will also contribute to
• Life insurance, which will pay 4x your basic annual salary, which you can top-up to 10x
• Income protection, we’ll cover up to 50% of your annual income, with options to top up
• Health cash plan or Private medical insurance

Other benefits include:

• Three fully paid volunteering days per year
• Employee Stock Purchase plan, offering company shares at a discount
• Share incentive plan, HMRC approved, tax effective, stock purchase plan
• Critical illness cover
• Discounted gym membership, with over 3,000 gyms nationally
• Season ticket loan
• Access to a discounted voucher portal to save money on your weekly shop or next big purchase
• Emergency back-up family care

We have hybrid working in place for colleagues who prefer homeworking for part of the week. We’re also flexible on working day arrangements and will happily accommodate a range of personal commitments from day one.

Our straightforward, interview-based approach to recruitment ensures equal opportunities for all applicants.

Please note that we can only accept candidates who have a right to work in the UK.