Finance

Actuarial Work

Insurance
Pensions
Tax

Accountancy
Actuarial Work
Banking and Building Societies

Actuaries apply financial and statistical theories to solve real business problems and conduct risk assessment for the future. They consider past and present information to develop and communicate a picture of the financial future. Actuaries traditionally worked in insurance and pensions but are increasingly working in areas such as banking and risk assessment. Essentially, actuaries are problem solvers, business analysts, consultants and financial risk assessors. The work is varied and diverse.

If you're interested in becoming an actuary you need to be very numerate, normally with a related degree, and be an excellent communicator as your likely to find yourself explaining complex information. You will also need to be good team worker, highly motivated with good interpersonal, problem solving and creative thinking skills.

Commercial awareness is also very important and you must have a good understanding of how changing legislation can impact on the economy and organisations themselves.

The area requires further study towards actuarial exams although some graduates may find exemptions depending on their degree discipline.

Actuaries in Yorkshire are employed in large organisations such as KPMG and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, both based in Leeds. There are also some specialist actuary consultancies in the region such as First Actuarial Plc and there are also opportunities with larger insurance companies such as Norwich Union. Many of the organisations in the region are based around the bigger cities of Leeds, York and Sheffield although opportunities exist across Yorkshire.

Useful links:

The Actuarial Profession (including the Yorkshire Actuarial Society)

The Actuary Magazine

Royal Statistical Society