Occupation: Actuarial Assistant - Reading
Degree: MMath (Hons) Mathematics, University of Bath
Joined Xafinity Consulting: September 2007
Having enjoyed my degree in Mathematics my first consideration was to study for a PhD. However, hearing some of my university friends talking about the actuarial profession inspired me to research what it would be like to have a career as an actuary. It was not long before I was very keen to enter the profession.
I was completely new to the pensions industry, and was surprised at how much I learned in the first few weeks at Xafinity Consulting. Even some of the more elementary tasks, such as calculating transfer values, gave me a great insight into how pension schemes operate. As I got more involved in client work, I could feel my knowledge base expanding by the week, and now consider myself to be an, albeit junior, industry professional!
I did have concerns about how I would pass such a long and tricky exam stream whilst simultaneously learning in my job. However, Xafinity Consulting have done a lot to help me with this, providing me with extensive study days and paying for all my tuition material.
Because the studying is largely mathematical, I feel that I have not abandoned my roots, and have found that the actuarial profession is an excellent compromise between further study and a full time job.
Of course, none of the positives about working at Xafinity would hold if I didn’t have such excellent colleagues to work with, both professionally and personally, striving to help me whenever I am in need of assistance. Socially, there are constantly new events taking place, the most recent being a trip to the dogs. Some people are even going to a roller-disco in the near future, although I somehow think I will give that a miss (!)
I have made a good choice in Xafinity Consulting. My work load is quite varied, ranging from individual calculations and severance exercises to valuation and scheme accounting work. I am looking forward to a prosperous career with them.