Director & Actuary: Model Development

What you can expect as the Director & Actuary: Model Development
Responsible for an actuarial function that may support a specific business unit or may support multiple business units. This position is a part of the Model Development team within Corporate Actuarial. May lead a team of actuaries and/or analysts to implement changes to actuarial models used for financial reporting and projections in accordance with the Company's model governance process and develop processes and tools in line with best practices. Provide leadership, oversight, and direction on analysis and documentation, develop recommendations and present to management to drive decisions. Prioritize the team's work, providing technical guidance and reviewing the results. Manage multiple projects and work collaboratively with other departments. Understand Sammons Financial Group (SFG) Member Companies' and business unit financial goals and objectives and deliver results that support those objectives. Lead special projects as directed.

• Apply strong knowledge of SFG products, new business and in-force. Understand new products and make recommendations regarding how to incorporate into existing models and/or actuarial processes.
• Apply strong knowledge of insurance contracts and actuarial related regulations to perform existing functions. Recommend enhancements to existing processes or develop new processes to accommodate regulatory changes. Oversee preparation and review of materials needed to comply with applicable regulations.
• Lead the identification, development and implementation of assumptions needed for actuarial calculations or financial projections. Leverage company data, industry data and/or any other information indicating a potential change in the future to justify recommendations for individual assumptions. Distinguish between best estimate and prudent assumptions. Oversee the use of actuarial models to understand and explain the impact of a change in assumptions. Ensure assumptions and sources of underlying data are well documented.
• Create, understand and interpret complex financial models in line with best practices. Apply judgment over the choice of tools and models through an understanding of limitations and the use of the financial information produced. Maximize efficiencies. Oversee and review analysis and explain the results of both deterministic and stochastic projections. Ensure proper governance, peer review and documentation is completed.
• Leverage knowledge of accounting standards and other reporting requirements covering insurance liabilities and the assets backing liabilities to understand, analyze and explain financial reporting as needed. This includes balance sheets and income statements produced by actuarial models. Understand how model results compare to actual financials results, document and explain any differences that may impact conclusions drawn from the models. Assist in interpreting and implementing changes in accounting and/or actuarial standards.
• Design and develop efficient data systems and oversee analysis of data. Recommend appropriate data analysis techniques given the nature of the analysis needed. Use expertise to advise and challenge multiple data analysis exercises. Use key insights to make recommendations to management. Ensure proper governance and documentation is completed.
• Understand relevant actuarial risks and their underlying drivers. Lead development of appropriate methods to monitor, measure and project risk exposure. Understand the implications of failing to manage risk. Provide leadership and direction to team to assist in developing risk mitigation techniques. Prepare and present risk analysis to management.
• Manage and lead multiple projects. Effectively plan and prioritize work in accordance with broader department objectives and priorities. Provide technical guidance to the broader team and review their work for accuracy. Develop and manage team of actuaries and/or analysts, and execute performance management responsibilities on a timely basis, if applicable.
• Develop relationships and collaborate with other departments and business units. Collaborate and communicate effectively with other actuarial teams to ensure consistency in modeling approaches and assumptions across actuarial functions.
• Enhance and develop personal and professional skills through the Society of Actuaries? continuing education requirements. Attending actuarial-related conferences is strongly encouraged.
• Commitment to embrace Sammons Financial Group Companies shared values (Accountability, Connection, Openness, Respect and Integrity).
• As stated within the Company Attendance and Punctuality policy, regular attendance is required and expected in order to meet the business service levels and workflow demands.

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor's Degree preferably in the area of mathematics, or a business related field required
• 8-10 years' experience in the field of Actuarial Science preferred
• Experience leading projects and/or supervising work of others preferred
• Extensive experience with actuarial modeling software, preferably AXIS
• Prior experience with SQL desired
• Prior experience in a controlled model governance environment preferred
• Prior experience with actuarial transformation preferred
• Demonstrate a superior level of mathematical ability and attention to detail and strong analytical skills
• Demonstrate strong computer skills including proficiency in the use of applicable technical tools
• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to present highly technical information to non- technical audiences
• Ability to apply insurance industry knowledge, preferably in the fields of individual life and annuities
• Ability to identify and direct the analysis of problems or questions and provide recommendations to appropriate audiences
• Ability to work both individually and as part of a team
• Highly organized with the demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple projects and to switch priorities as necessary
• Ability to work effectively in an office environment
• Commitment to embrace SFG shared values (Respect, Accountability, Integrity, and Openness)
• Due to the financial nature and level of accountability of this position, a credit and criminal background check is required - The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires Sammons Financial Group Companies to notify you that, as a routine part of processing this application for employment, Sammons Financial Group may request a consumer report on you to verify all information contained in this application. Such report may include information about work-related behaviors, performance, character, general reputation, and personal characteristics, in addition to information about your previous employment, education, credit history and criminal records
• If the position is in the SIG business unit or if we are holding securities licenses, FINRA regulations require fingerprinting for this position; if we are holding securities licenses, a credit check will also be required. Management reserves the right to determine and approve incumbent suitability for this position.

Sammons Financial Group Companies offers some of today's most sought after life insurance, annuity, retirement planning products and portfolio-management solutions. Unlike most financial organizations, our companies are not publicly traded, which means we're focused on long-term value rather than short-term earnings pressures. As a privately held company, our leaders and employees remain consistently focused on long-term growth, making decisions that allow us to deliver on our commitments to customers, distribution partners, our employees, and our communities. Individually, our companies provide value in the products and services they offer. Together we represent a history of strength and longevity.
What you can expect when you join Sammons Financial Group:

• A casual dress code (yep - that means jeans!)
• A company you want to be a part of, driven by inspiring leaders and a fun, friendly work environment.
• Colleagues who support one another, model our core values, and drive our healthy, high-performing culture.
• Healthy balance between work and personal lives. Friday afternoons off all year long, competitive PTO, and generous number of paid holidays.
• Our competitive benefit package includes: Health, Dental, Vision, Company Paid Retirement, PTO and Holiday Pay.
• A generous retirement program. Our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a 100% company funded retirement plan, so you can save for retirement without contributing a penny of your own paycheck.
• A company that celebrates diversity, is committed to inclusion, and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We comply with all federal and state equal employment opportunity laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship
At this time, we're not considering candidates that need any type of immigration sponsorship now or in the future or those needing work authorization for this role (This includes, but is not limited to students on F1-OPT, F1-CPT, J-1, etc.)