Hedging Analyst

at  PIC

Pension Insurance Corporation (“PIC”) provides secure retirement incomes through comprehensive risk management and excellence in asset and liability management, as well as exceptional customer service. Our purpose is to pay the pensions of our current and future policyholders. We achieve our purpose by setting Companywide strategic objectives and driving a healthy culture based on our PIC Values of Resilient, Adaptable, and Loyal.
PIC has a fantastic opportunity within its ALM Securities & Derivatives department: we are recruiting for a Hedging Analyst who will join a growing team that supports PIC’s hedging strategy and investment platform development.
The Investment Integration and Hedging Analytics team is responsible for producing regular, accurate and timely metrics to support PIC’s interest rate, inflation and exchange rate hedging programmes, across all of PIC’s balance sheets. This covers production of both asset and liability hedging benchmarks. The team is also responsible for the close monitoring of PIC’s Matching Adjustment (MA) portfolio.
This is a wide-ranging role, where understanding of both sides of the balance sheet will be developed. This is also a technology driven role as all the team’s models and processes are fully scripted and sit behind significant tech infrastructure, which support over 120 users.
The team also plays a vital role in across a wide variety of activities including our new business pipeline, building and maintaining models to value PIC’s private placements and supporting the firm’s balance sheet PnL process. The team significantly contributes to the development of PIC’s asset modelling systems. Due to our growth and a changing regulatory landscape, the role-holder will likely play a key role in several high-profile projects including Solvency UK implementation.

EXPERIENCE:

• Experience of working in a life insurer or consultancy, although any background would be considered.
• Strong academic record in Mathematics, Statistics, Economics or Actuarial Science or related field.

KNOWLEDGE:

• Interest, and some knowledge, of the UK PRT market and its trends
• Understanding of life insurers balance sheets
• Knowledge of asset and derivative valuations and risk modelling

SKILLS:

• Good organisational skills
• Ability to explain complex subjects to less technical audiences
• Excellent numerical skills and analytical aptitude
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Knowledge of at least one programming language, Matlab or Python preferred

SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES ASSIGNED TO THE ROLE OF HEDGING ANALYST WITHIN THE ALM TEAM:

• To support the production of Hedging MI, which measures balance sheet movements in a wide-variety of complex scenarios, and resultant explanation to key stakeholders. It is a requirement as you progress in the role to understand PIC’s balance sheet.
• Help to maintain and develop the scripted models, and related technology infrastructure, required to produce Hedging MI.
• Engage with relevant stakeholders across Investments, Finance and Risk by responding to queries in an accurate and timely manner, as well as participating in regular meetings.
• Support the pricing and calculation of risk metrics for private placement loans and contribute to PIC’s asset system design and controls.
• Involvement in Investment and firm-wide projects e.g. Solvency UK.
• Keep up to date with internal balance sheet changes, regulatory changes and market trends in line with the proper performance of your role.

DESIRABLE PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES ALIGNED TO WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE IN THE ROLE:

• Intellectually curious with a willingness to learn through own research.
• Strong problem-solving skills utilising consultative questioning to challenge current norms and drive change within the business function.
• Effective communicator – structures insights into clear messages and effectively engages others within business function, as well as internal stakeholders, professional and regulatory bodies.
• Innovative thinker – positive attitude to change and a willingness to embrace new ideas and techniques to improve performance.