Executive Director - Pensions Actuary

Overview

This Executive Director role within the Assurance Unit leads EY's pensions actuarial practice, focusing on intricate defined benefit pension schemes. Positioned in either Cork or Dublin, this full-time permanent role offers a remarkable career experience by combining actuarial expertise with audit and strategic advisory across pensions.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive actuarial audit support for audits involving defined benefit pension plans, examining valuations, models, and assumptions to ensure IFRS/IAS 19 compliance, and communicate closely with audit teams and clients.
• Provide actuarial technical leadership by overseeing IAS 19 reporting, funding valuations, liability modelling, and the refinement of actuarial methodologies and best practices.
• Offer advisory services on pension risk management, funding strategies, asset-liability alignment, and sustainability, including guidance on risk mitigation options like buy-ins and buy-outs.
• Lead actuarial input during M&A transactions and due diligence, evaluating pension exposures, funding shortfalls, and options for risk transfers to support deal negotiations.
• Manage multi-disciplinary engagements, sustain senior stakeholder relationships including CFOs and trustees, contribute to business growth, and participate in market positioning and thought leadership activities.
• Coordinate and lead responses to pension advisory tenders and proposals.
• Build and mentor actuarial teams, providing technical coaching and fostering a culture of high performance and quality.
• Ensure all work complies with EY's quality, risk, and governance standards and act as a technical escalation point.

Required Qualifications and Expertise

• Fully qualified actuary (IFoA or equivalent) with extensive post-qualification experience in pensions actuarial consulting, preferably within professional services or advisory environments.
• Substantial knowledge of defined benefit pension valuations, IAS 19 accounting standards, pension scheme funding, risk assessment, and financial reporting.
• Proven leadership in major client engagements, capability in senior stakeholder management, business development skills, and the ability to clarify complex actuarial issues.

Benefits and Work Culture

• Competitive remuneration with a flexible Total Rewards package allowing customization of benefits related to holidays, insurance, health, and savings.
• Supportive environment featuring coaching from experienced colleagues and opportunities to grow professionally.
• Flexibility through hybrid working arrangements and various wellness benefits such as discounted health insurance, bike-to-work schemes, online GP consultations, wellness rooms, free gym membership, and paid TECH MBA programs.
• Inclusive culture encouraging diversity, equity, and belonging, with accommodations in the recruitment process and flexible working to balance career and personal priorities.

Career Development

• Continuous skill enhancement and tailored career journey opportunities to support leadership growth and meaningful impact.
• Access to transformative leadership training and development in an inclusive environment.