Actuarial Analyst (Cape Town CBD) at BDO South Africa

Primary purpose of the role:

• BDO Cape Town / Johannesburg is recruiting for an energetic ambitious actuarial analyst to support and drive the provision of actuarial audit support to our Audit Teams in the discharge of their professional audit duties as well as to help us grow our advisory business.
• This is an entrepreneurial opportunity to become part of a growing team and participate in / lead the expansion of the actuarial offering.  Future growth and development opportunities are highly attractive in tandem with the lofty ambitions for the unit.
• The primary focus for the initial phase has been delivery of actuarial audit support on a portfolio of existing clients including several blue-chip names. We are now embarking on the next phase to grow the advisory offering.  Depending on the candidate’s interests and experience, the role will offer opportunity to broaden expertise through a range of interesting projects, several outside traditional actuarial fields, working with the BDO Audit and Advisory Teams who provide services across South Africa.
• The firm’s service offering and client portfolios provide an exciting and challenging environment. This is a unique prospect in an established team within a dynamic successful growing firm, with the actuarial opportunity set largely untapped. We seek candidates who are energised by operating in a professional atmosphere using their actuarial training and experience to deliver quality actuarial audit support whilst participating in all aspects of the establishment of a broader actuarial offering within South Africa and beyond.

Main duties and responsibilities: 

Day-to-day responsibilities will include any number of activities such as, but not limited to:

• Actuarial audit support to a portfolio of clients across insurance (general and life), retirement funding, medical scheme, banking and other industries
• Input to technical work including report drafting
• Involvement in technical engagements
• Varied actuarial modelling and valuation work including liabilities, remediation, due diligence, reinsurance, capital optimisation, dashboards, special projects, etc.
• Research, data collection, analysis, internal proposals
• Engagement with internal and external stakeholders 
• Operational activities underpinning establishment of the actuarial business unit
• Business development initiatives, proposal writing, collateral compilation
• Coding, spreadsheet development, efficient deployment of technology for internal processes
• Internal process development for the actuarial services business unit.

Requirements:

Qualifications, Recognition of Prior Learning, Work Experience, and Knowledge:

Qualifications:

• Actuarial graduate with exemptions for several actuarial exams

Work Experience:

• As this is a graduate level role, no specific prior work experience is required. However, 1-3 years of relevant work experience may be advantageous and considered.

Candidates with job shadowing / vacation work / etc. experience and who demonstrate drive will receive preference.

Competencies: Technical & Behavioural:

Technical:

• Advanced computer literacy / familiarity with generally used applications / coding skills
• Business writing skills including reports, proposals, correspondence
• Outstanding communication skills (written and oral), ability to credibly engage clients and senior colleagues
• Ability to take on projects (familiar as well as new) and structure task allocations around critical goals
• Ability to prepare recommendations utilising industry knowledge, tools and technology
• Confident and credible, taking the lead in unstructured interactions, undertaking research, engaging colleagues

Structured
Behavioural:

• Likeable
• Proactive, self-driven
• Openness to acquiring new skills
• Track record of hard work
• Attention to detail, organised
• Hard-working with demonstrated ability in problem solving and managing multiple complex tasks
• Intellectual curiosity and personal flexibility to undertake new and untried approaches
• Leadership traits would be an advantage.