Head of Model Development

SUMMARY:
Are you a qualified actuarial leader with deep model development expertise and advanced Prophet capability? This is a strategic opportunity to take ownership of actuarial models, influence financial reporting outcomes, and lead technical excellence within a sophisticated actuarial environment.

POSITION INFO:
This role forms part of a well‑established financial services environment with a strong actuarial function and robust governance culture. The position plays a key role in developing, maintaining, and governing actuarial models that support financial reporting, capital management, and business performance.

The successful candidate will act as the subject matter expert for actuarial models, providing technical leadership across IFRS‑based reporting, capital frameworks, and embedded value calculations, while also managing key stakeholder relationships and supporting talent development within the team.

If you are looking to step into a role with real impact, technical depth, and leadership responsibility, this opportunity offers the chance to shape actuarial methodology and strengthen model governance in a future‑focused environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, maintain, and enhance actuarial models to support financial reporting and risk management objectives.
• Act as the actuarial modelling subject matter expert, ensuring the accurate calculation of key financial metrics, including fulfilment cash flows, risk adjustments, contractual service margin, technical provisions, and solvency capital requirements.
• Provide analytics and financial reporting support, including analysis of surplus, embedded value, and own funds, as well as the preparation of management information for governance forums.
• Perform first‑line quality assurance reviews to ensure that model outputs are accurate, reliable, and suitable for sound business decision‑making.
• Ensure strong model governance through detailed documentation, oversight of model changes, and effective engagement with internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with third‑party model software providers and act as the primary point of contact for model‑related queries.
• Lead and develop actuarial talent, with responsibility for up to two direct reports.

• Education:
  
  • Qualified Actuary with all professional examinations completed and registration as a Fellow.
  • Candidates who are not fully qualified, but have more than 4 years’ actuarial valuation experience, will also be considered.
• Experience:
  
  • Extensive experience in actuarial model development and production environments.
  • Strong exposure to financial reporting and capital frameworks within a life or long‑term insurance context.
  • Proven experience overseeing model governance, quality assurance, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Demonstrated people management or technical leadership experience advantageous.
• Skills:
  • Advanced proficiency in Prophet actuarial modelling software.
  • Strong analytical capability with the ability to interpret, explain, and challenge model outputs.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
  • Strong reporting and presentation ability.
• Non‑Negotiables:
  • Advanced Prophet expertise.
  • Strong attention to detail and commitment to a robust control environment.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
  • Ability to operate with limited supervision and take accountability for complex deliverables.