What did you study for your degree?

I studied Economics and Finance at the University of Exeter with an industrial placement at Pacific Life Re.

What attracted you to Pacific Life Re?

The internship role at PL Re job was advertised at my university and it matched everything I was looking for – problem-solving, analysis, responsibility, exposure, communications and teamwork. From joining and completing my first year, I really enjoyed the work and being part of the team. Everyone was willing to answer questions, which helped me learn and understand more about the business/industry.  Not forgetting the social side of regular company-sponsored events, which helps build relationships.    

Are you studying for any other qualifications at the moment? If so how do you manage to fit it all in?

Since returning to the business as a graduate, I’ve started studying for the actuarial qualifications. It’s quite an additional consideration from the internship, but there’s a lot of support through PL Re with time off for studying and providing all the materials needed. The help from current graduates and qualified actuaries is also really useful, knowing what to expect and offering advice on the best way to approach studying.

Describe your job responsibilities and share which aspects you enjoy the most

I work in the valuation team and produce quarterly results for the protection line of business. It’s a whole team effort to update data and assumptions, run this through our modelling software and then carry out lots of analysis of results, with controls to ensure they’re accurate. Outside of this, various tasks can arise to improve processes, implement new business and get involved in key projects.

I enjoy the problem-solving and teamwork aspects the most, collaborating to find efficient solutions to problems, with owned responsibilities, which are jointly relied on.

What are the 3 most important or surprising things you’ve learned here?

• Independence and responsibility – the company gives you a project, trusts you to own it, and see it through to completion.
• The desire to constantly improve and rethink the way things are done, finding the most logical approach that works best for the business needs.
• The social aspect – having fun and building friendships outside of work with lots of different hobbies and groups you can easily get involved in.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? 

Mainly lots of sport, both watching and playing, including football, cycling and tennis. Then socialising with friends and family, especially when it involves nice food.

What’s the best thing about working here?

The work-life balance – feeling rewarded and appreciated while working with like-minded people. The social side makes the job enjoyable and you’re more productive in an environment where you’re comfortable asking questions and challenging processes.