Senior Financial Risk Actuary (ALM & Balance Sheet)

The Actuary; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 80,000 - GBP 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial services company in the United Kingdom seeks a Senior Financial Risk Leader to provide strategic oversight on life insurance balance sheets. Key responsibilities include advising on asset-liability management and leading the Balance Sheet & ALM Oversight team. The ideal candidate is a qualified actuary with strong life insurance experience and technical expertise in financial risk management. This senior role offers the opportunity to influence balance sheet strategy and work with experienced leaders in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Strong life insurance experience, particularly in annuities and BPA.
• Deep expertise in balance sheet modelling and solvency analysis.
• Experience overseeing financial risks including insurance and market risks.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior Line 2 oversight across the Group's balance sheets.
• Advise on key balance sheet risks including ALM and liquidity management.
• Lead and develop the Balance Sheet & ALM Oversight team.

Skills

Qualified Actuary

Experience in life insurance

Technical expertise in ALM

Strong leadership skills

Effective communication

Education

Qualified Actuary or equivalent

Job description

Overview

We are looking for a senior financial risk leader to provide strategic oversight and constructive challenge across complex life insurance balance sheets. You will advise on ALM, capital and balance sheet optimisation, influence executive decisions, and lead high-impact Line 2 oversight that balances strong commercial outcomes with robust risk management.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior Line 2 oversight and constructive challenge across the Group's balance sheets, supporting delivery of the long-term financial strategy.
• Advise on and oversee key balance sheet risks including asset-liability management, hedging, Matching Adjustment, liquidity and capital management.
• Oversee balance sheets across Solvency UK, IFRS 17 and UK GAAP, including balance sheet optimisation activities.
• Contribute to the Group's ORSA and Recovery & Resolution Plans, bringing balance sheet insight and risk perspective.
• Design and maintain proportionate, risk-based Line 2 oversight, clearly articulating expectations around risk identification, management and mitigation.
• Influence and challenge executive-level decisions through credible insight, market perspective and strong stakeholder engagement.
• Lead and develop the Balance Sheet & ALM Oversight team, embedding a culture focused on material risks, performance and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Qualified Actuary (or equivalent) with strong life insurance experience, particularly annuities and BPA.
• Deep technical expertise across balance sheet modelling, solvency and liquidity analysis, ALM, hedging and Matching Adjustment.
• Strong understanding of Solvency UK, IFRS 17, UK GAAP and balance sheet optimisation.
• Experience overseeing financial risks including insurance, credit, market and climate-related financial risks.
• Proven ability to provide effective, pragmatic Line 2 oversight and develop risk frameworks and risk appetite.
• Confident leader with experience driving enterprise-wide change and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Excellent communicator, able to distil complex financial issues into clear, concise executive insight.

Why join?

A senior, visible role influencing balance sheet strategy across a complex life insurance group. Exposure to sophisticated ALM, capital and balance sheet optimisation activities. Opportunity to shape how financial risk oversight is delivered at scale. Work closely with experienced risk and finance leaders in a collaborative environment. Platform to lead thought leadership in areas such as climate financial risk, data and technology-enabled risk oversight.