What’s your current role – and what does it involve?
I’m the actuarial team leader at Hughes Price Walker (HPW). In a nutshell, I manage the workflow: making sure the right work lands with the right people, and that it gets sent
on time.
Alongside leading the team, I work with trustees and sponsors on actuarial valuations, plus consultancy support for a few clients. On the DC side, I’m also involved in running the calculations our admin team sends out to members – so my days are a good balance of conversations, client work and hands-on number crunching.
I’m also starting to get involved in buy-in project work, as that’s the way a lot of our schemes are heading. It’s completely new to me, so there’s a learning curve ahead but I’m looking forward to adding it to my skillset.
What’s the best and worst thing about your job?
The best part is the people. It’s a genuinely great team, and I feel very lucky to lead such a strong group. I also like getting stuck into calculations, whether I’m doing or checking them. This includes day-to-day and bespoke work – is there anything more satisfying than a beautifully built spreadsheet?
The worst part is probably the blank looks from people when I say I’m an actuary. My go-to follow up is “maths and spreadsheets”, and I award bonus points to anyone who actually knows what an actuary is. I did have an amusing conversation with a taxi driver once who thought I’d said actor, and I decided to play along when they asked me what I’d been in. Fortunately it was a short taxi ride!
What made you apply for a role in the pensions industry?
After university, I took a temporary role at a pensions firm, covering maternity leave in their financial services team. They also had an actuarial team who I did some work experience with over the summer, which helped me realise I wanted to explore it as a career.
That same summer I found out that HPW was hiring an actuarial student and I’m still here 11 years later.
When I was choosing universities, someone tried to talk me out of an actuarial mathematics degree because “it’s so many exams”. They weren’t wrong but I’m very glad I ignored them. It’s hard work, but it’s incredibly rewarding when you come out the other side.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I’m enjoying what I’m doing at the moment, so more of the same really, and hopefully still enjoying it! With the way pensions actuarial work is heading, I can see myself doing more buy-in work, while continuing to lead a team and support clients.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Only look back to see how far you’ve come.” My coach has said this to me a few times, and it’s one piece of advice I’ve ended up using in both my personal and professional life. It’s a great motto to keep in your back pocket.
How can the pensions industry attract and engage more young people?
I often see people younger than me at pensions events, so I think the industry is already pulling in young people at a fairly steady rate. To keep that momentum going, it would help to start the conversation earlier in schools – I don’t remember learning much about pensions when I was a student.
Social media could also play a big part too, for example through sponsored posts or job adverts that show what the work actually looks like day to day — and why it’s more interesting than people assume!
What was your dream job when you were at school?
Like a lot of kids at primary school (or at least in my friendship group), I wanted to be a shop assistant. That later evolved into “anything involving maths” when I realised maths was basically the only subject I liked and was good at. Both my parents worked in finance, so I always had a feeling I’d end up doing something not too far from my current role.
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