Executive Director - Pensions Actuary

EY; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Support and coaching from colleagues

Opportunities to develop new skills

Hybrid working

Free gym membership

Discounted health insurance

Wellness rooms

Job summary

EY in Dublin seeks an Executive Director – Pensions Actuary to lead their pensions actuarial offering. Responsibilities include providing technical actuarial expertise, audit support for DB pension schemes, and advising corporates on pension risks.

The ideal candidate will be a qualified actuary with significant post-qualification experience. This role offers a competitive remuneration package, flexible working, and numerous additional benefits.

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in DB pension actuarial valuations and IAS 19.
• Strong understanding of pension scheme funding/risk and audit/financial reporting processes.
• Experience in leading major client engagements.

Responsibilities

• Lead actuarial support on audits involving DB pension schemes.
• Provide input on IAS 19 and oversee modelling.
• Advise corporates on pension risk and funding implications.
• Lead actuarial input to M&A and restructuring.
• Manage relationships at CFO/Trustee/Board level.
• Lead and coordinate responses to tender opportunities.
• Build, mentor and develop actuarial teams.
• Ensure work meets EY quality and independence standards.

Skills

Qualified Actuary (IFoA or equivalent)

Significant post-qualification experience in pensions actuarial consulting

Senior stakeholder management

Business development capability

Education

Actuarial qualification

Job description

Executive Director – Pensions Actuary (Assurance Unit)

Location: Dublin / Cork
Available for Work Visa Sponsorship: NO
Business Area: UKI Assurance
Contract Type: Full-Time – Permanent

Lead EY’s pensions actuarial offering, providing technical actuarial expertise and audit support across complex defined benefit (DB) pension arrangements. The role sits within the EY Assurance Business Unit, combining specialist actuarial reviews of pension accounting and strategic advisory on pension risk and financial reporting.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Audit support: Lead actuarial support on audits involving DB pension schemes; review valuations, models, assumptions and disclosures for IFRS/IAS 19 compliance; challenge key assumptions (discount rates, inflation, mortality/longevity); draft technical memoranda; liaise with audit teams, scheme actuaries and client finance teams.
• Technical actuarial leadership: Provide input on IAS 19, funding valuations and liability modelling; oversee modelling, experience analysis and scenario testing; ensure consistency and quality of actuarial outputs; develop methodologies, tools and best practices.
• Client advisory & pension risk: Advise corporates on pension risk, funding implications and balance‑sheet impact; support strategy decisions (including de‑risking such as buy‑ins/buy‑outs); provide insights on asset‑liability matching and scheme sustainability; monitor regulatory and accounting developments.
• Transactions & due diligence: Lead actuarial input to M&A and restructuring; assess pension exposures, funding gaps and risk‑transfer options; support valuation adjustments and deal negotiations.
• Engagement & practice leadership: Lead multi‑disciplinary engagements; manage relationships at CFO/Trustee/Board level; drive revenue growth via business development and cross‑service line collaboration; contribute to market positioning and thought leadership.
• Tenders & proposals: Lead and coordinate responses to tender opportunities for pensions‑related advisory work.
• People leadership: Build, mentor and develop actuarial teams; coach on technical actuarial and audit matters; foster a high‑performing, quality‑driven culture; support recruitment and retention.
• Quality, risk & governance: Ensure work meets EY quality and independence standards; manage engagement risks and regulatory expectations; act as escalation point for technical issues and key judgments.

Skills and Attributes for Success

To qualify for the role: Qualified Actuary (IFoA or equivalent) with significant post‑qualification experience in pensions actuarial consulting; professional services/advisory background preferred.

Ideally, you will also have: Deep expertise in DB pension actuarial valuations and IAS 19; strong understanding of pension scheme funding/risk and audit/financial reporting processes; experience reviewing actuarial models and assumptions.

What We Look For: Proven ability to lead major client engagements; senior stakeholder management; business development capability; ability to translate complex actuarial concepts into clear, actionable insights.

Benefits

We offer a competitive remuneration package and comprehensive Total Rewards including flexible working and career development. Additional benefits:

• Support and coaching from engaging colleagues
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career
• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you
• Pension
• Maternity & Paternity leave
• Discounted health insurance
• Bike‑to‑work scheme
• Web Doctor – free unlimited online GP consultations for you and your family
• Recognition awards
• Additional annual leave purchase
• Cash incentives for referrals
• Hybrid working
• Work mobile
• Free gym membership
• TECH MBA paid by EY
• Travel Pass
• Wellness rooms (available in some offices)

Inclusion & Diversity

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Reasonable accommodations are offered at every stage of our recruitment process.