Senior Actuarial Associate

American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company is a leading provider of annuity solutions designed to help clients protect and grow retirement income. Part of Brookfield Wealth Solutions, we partner with more than 40,000 financial professionals and help fund over half a million retirements nationwide. Recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies and named a Top Workplace in Iowa, American Equity fosters a collaborative and purpose-driven culture where employees are empowered to ignite their passion and help shape the future of financial services.

Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, with satellite offices in New York, NY, American Equity provides opportunities for employees to support work across the enterprise, including our sister company, American National, headquartered in Houston, Texas.

 

GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

The Senior Actuarial Associate supports the Company’s VM-22 valuation function through the execution of actuarial modeling, reserve calculations, validation activities, and analytical review. The role contributes to quarterly valuation processes, model implementation efforts, production controls, and reserve reporting while partnering with stakeholders across Actuarial, Finance, Investments, Product, and Technology. The Senior Actuarial Associate develops technical expertise in principle-based reserving and helps ensure valuation results are accurate, well-supported, and delivered on a timely basis.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Execute components of the quarterly VM-22 valuation process, including reserve production, reconciliation, documentation, and analytical review.

· Prepare reserve movement analysis and investigate drivers of changes in valuation results.

· Support quarterly and annual financial reporting processes through preparation and validation of actuarial exhibits and supporting materials.

· Support validation, testing, and implementation activities for VM-22 valuation models.

· Perform user acceptance testing, regression testing, and model result verification.

· Assist in the development and maintenance of model documentation and validation materials.

· Identify modeling issues, propose solutions, and support implementation of enhancements.

· Perform actuarial analyses related to annuity reserving, cash flow projections, and asset-liability modeling.

· Develop and maintain analytical tools used to monitor valuation results and key performance indicators.

· Conduct sensitivity testing and experience analysis to support valuation and assumption review activities.

· Research and explain reserve impacts resulting from changes in assumptions, models, products, or market conditions.

· Execute valuation controls and reconciliations to support a well-controlled reporting process.

· Prepare documentation supporting actuarial analyses, valuation processes, and model changes.

· Ensure work products are completed in accordance with applicable professional standards, Company policies, and internal controls.

· Partner with colleagues across Actuarial, Investments, Product, Finance, Risk, and Technology to support valuation initiatives.

· Support implementation of regulatory and business changes affecting VM-22 valuation processes.

· Assist in evaluating the impact of new products, model enhancements, and reporting requirements.

· Maintain and expand knowledge of principle-based reserving, actuarial valuation methodologies, and annuity products.

· Participate in special projects and continuous improvement initiatives related to valuation processes and systems.

 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

None required for this position.

 

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

· Bachelor’s degree in actuarial science, or related field of study; plus a minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible related actuarial experience, or equivalent combination of education/and experience;

· At least three actuarial exams completed;

· Experience with annuity products, financial reporting, valuation, modeling, or related actuarial functions.

· Experience with principle-based reserving, stochastic modeling, asset-liability modeling, or financial projections is preferred.

· Experience with actuarial modeling platforms such as PathWise, AXIS, Prophet, MG-ALFA, or similar systems is preferred.

 

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

· Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents from regulatory agencies, and other members of the business community.

· Ability to effectively present information to the Actuarial management team.

 

MATHEMATICAL and TECHNICAL SKILLS:

· Programing experience is highly desirable using VBA, SQL, R or some other language and the desire to apply these programming principles.

· Modeling of annuity products within MG-ALFA (or similar actuarial software) and using tools in Excel, SQL and R to manage model input and output.

· Database inspection in MS SQL server for data collection and validation.

· Ability to comprehend and apply principles of advanced mathematical concepts and

theory.

· Intermediate level experience with MS Excel including pivot tables, VLookup, Indirect, charts, and macros.

· Exposure to MS Teams, Word, Outlook and other day-to-day business applications.

 

REASONING ABILITY:

· Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.

· Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism in its most difficult phases.

· Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.

 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS:

· Actively pursuing successful completion of actuarial examinations.