General Insurance Actuary

Job summary

Do you want an actuarial career with a difference? Where you can have a real impact working with government departments and the wider public sector. If yes, then a career at the Government Actuary's Department (GAD) could be for you.

At GAD our mission is to support effective decision-making and robust reporting within the public sector as the first-choice provider of actuarial and specialist analysis, advice and assurance. The department’s work covers valuation work and policy support in relation to pension schemes, insurance and contingent liabilities, financial risk, and social security. We also provide financial modelling and quality assurance.

We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously.

You will be a key technical supporting actuary for our general insurance clients. The purpose of the role is to support our engagement and delivery of actuarial advice to help them make more effective and informed decisions. The work is significantly more varied than a traditional general insurance reserving actuary given the public sector context. For example, supporting the client holistically on producing financial statements, cashflow and pricing considerations, adapting to changes in client remit and wider policy support, or situations where there may be limited data or novel areas of risk such as when government may act as insurer of last resort.

Further information on GAD is provided in the attached pack.

Job description

The role will be based in one of our General Insurance technical team, although we would expect you to support other client facing teams and undertake a wider variety of work as required (see Key responsibilities 6).

As an example, the Insurance Provisioning Calculation team works closely with public sector risk-pooling arrangements (such as the schemes operated by NHS Resolution and the Risk Protection Arrangement for schools),

For work within this team, the role is likely to be concentrated on working for varied technical consideration of setting provisional assumptions and calculations, calculating resulting cashflows and contribution from individual members of the governments risk pool arrangements but the work is varied, interesting, and has purpose, for example working in the best interests of the taxpayer or adapting to new challenges. You are expected to lead on aspects of core annual projects, as well as supporting and/or leading on a range of additional projects.

Core annual projects:

Calculation of the provision for government accounting, which includes:

• Producing the year-end IBNR estimates (akin to reserving in the private sector)
• Supporting the client on known claims estimates
• Supporting the production of the accounts and liaising with auditors

Cashflow projections and pricing, which includes:

• Producing short term cashflow projections to meet government budgetary requirements
• Supporting annual contribution setting within the arrangement (akin to pricing in the private sector)

Additional projects might include:

• Supporting client model development and/or system improvements
• Using insights from our work to feed into policy development and wider decision making
• Quantifying the impacts of emerging trends
• Developing and implementing process improvements

There is a wider set of projects and you will be expected to build technical expertise, identify areas where GAD can improve its processes and ensure efficiency of the approach and error-free results.

N.B. GAD is not seeking support from recruitment agencies on this campaign

Person specification

1. Leading technical calculations on general insurance related actuarial advice to public sector risk-pooling arrangements (such as the schemes operated by NHS Resolution and the Risk Protection Arrangement for schools). This includes advice in relation to reserving and pricing but also wider policy advice.
2. Leading on work involving general insurance expertise in the field of government insurance support and contingent liability management.
3. To maintain and build on existing approaches to seek efficiency savings and error-free processes.
4. Manage and oversee project delivery, through collaborating with colleagues to ensure all work is appropriately scoped and delivered in an efficient and timely manner with a focus on providing value for money for our clients. This includes:

• Specifying work, monitoring output and providing feedback
• Effective project management;
• Challenge and improve existing processes; and
• Working with more junior staff to mentor and develop them and liaising with colleagues across the organization in client leading teams.

5. The role requires a consistently high level of service to be provided and for work to be undertaken within professional requirements. This includes:

• Ensure technical outputs are robust and clearly aligned to scope
• Apply judgment in performing proportionate reasonableness checks
• Identify situations where different technical approaches might be appropriate.
• Lead on small projects and larger process driven projects.
• Able to apply skills across a broader range of work, adapting approaches and learning new tools or subject matter as required to support multiple projects.
• Scoping tasks and supporting junior staff to update appropriate quality calculations to agreed time-scales and within budget;
• Complying with peer review procedures and all professional actuarial and GAD guidance.
• Developing both your own skills, and those of junior colleagues to meet the evolving nature of GAD’s work

6. To ensure effective and agile co-operation with other teams within GAD, including flexible working across teams as required to meet client demand. In particular, the Insurance Provisioning team, the Insurance Provisioning Calculation Team (GAD’s insurance provisioning analytical hub), and the Contingent Financing team.

7. To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of role-relevant actuarial and other matters (including meeting all CPD requirements).

This job description is a broad reflection of the current duties. It is not an exhaustive list, and changes may be required, based on GAD’s immediate operational needs which are at the discretion of the relevant Unit Director and in conjunction with the post holder.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, IFoA, or equivalent actuarial professional body.
• Detailed knowledge of UK general insurance actuarial concepts and techniques.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £76,851, Government Actuary's Department contributes £22,263 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• As well as competitive salaries, we offer a substantial package of benefits:
  

  • Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day-to-day work.
  • 25 days annual leave per year, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service. In addition, we offer 9 days public and privilege days leave per year (pro rata for part time staff)
  • A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
  • 5 days of paid volunteering leave
  • Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave
  • Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year.
  • Occupational sick pay
  • Family-friendly policies such as help with caring responsibilities, special leave, generous paid maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
  • Access to employee assistance programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice.
  • The opportunity to join a trade union.
  • A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
  • Salary advances for travel costs, including annual season tickets and cycle-to-work schemes.
  • Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice.
  • Complimentary BUPA health check for permanent staff.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application sift

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained.
• A Personal statement of up to 500-words explaining how you meet the essential criteria for the role, with particular reference to the criteria provided in the person specification of the JD.

The Civil Service application process has a standardised method for assessing candidates, we strongly recommend that you read the descriptions of the civil service behaviours. Strong applications will present these in the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) method.

We will use your CV and Personal Statement to assess the Experience and Technical skills listed in the JD.

Stage 2: Panel interview

During the interview you will be assessed on the experience and behaviours listed in the Person Specification and detailed in this advert. The interview will include a presentation, details of which will be sent to those invited to interview. There are likely to be follow-up questions on the Behaviours below leading on from the presentation to ensure the panel gain a rounded picture.

Timelines

Application deadline: 2355 hrs on 29 May 2026
Shortlisting: by 5 June 2026
Interviews: W/C 15 June

Please apply via our recruitment portal below.

As part of the application form process, please submit your CV and supporting statement. Please do not email your CV outside of this process as it will not be accepted.

Shortlisting criteria is based on the Person Specification as set out in the Assessment Criteria section of the Job Description. Please ensure you provide examples of how you meet the Assessment Criteria; a strong application will also demonstrate that you meet the required criteria that are identified as key for this role. Applications will be shortlisted in line with the essential criteria for the role. The desirable criteria will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates. Behaviours will be assessed at sift and interview stage. Candidates who are successful at shortlist will be contacted as soon as possible and advised of the interview process and assessment (exact times and dates will also be confirmed).

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@gad.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@gad.gov.uk

Further information

The Government Actuary’s Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm… If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you may make a complaint, by contacting the recruitment team at recruitment@gad.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioners.

https://gad-gov.pagetiger.com/kelfyn/1