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Employer Profile

The best of the best
This exciting company offers career challenges that are not readily available in the majority of financial services companies. Unique opportunities exist for talented actuarial students across both the finance and strategy, capital and risk functions.

Strategic goals
Our strategic aim is to build a profitable and sustainable business. We will:

• Compete where we have the edge
• Make more of what we have
• Run a leaner operation.

To enable us to do this we are committed to developing an aligned, engaged team determined to succeed.

Points of distinction

• Numerous awards won from industry bodies for the quality of our products and services
• Reputation for leading-edge technology evidenced through numerous awards
• Values-driven approach to business – Friends Provident was the first company to launch retail ethical investments in the UK.

Office locations
We have a substantial actuarial population across Bristol, Dorking, London and Salisbury as well as an international presence. It won’t be long before you’ll find yourself part of a community of people working towards the same goals.

A perfect mix
Actuaries at Friends Life come from a wide range of backgrounds. As well as being diverse in terms of ethnicity and age, the group isn’t always made up of students fresh out of university. We value the life experience that parents and older students can bring. Diversity can also be seen in students’ backgrounds, which range from engineering and IT to more traditional actuarial backgrounds.

Whatever route people have taken in their career to date, we believe in giving them real responsibility from day one. As well as getting involved in business-critical projects, there’s plenty of opportunity to spend time with other trainees, qualified actuaries and mentors.

The support you need
Managers really understand the importance of your actuarial exams and are determined to help you succeed. Friends Life provides financial support towards covering the substantial cost of study materials and professional fees and our flexible study leave package is designed to help you take control of your own development. We’re sure you’ll find it very generous and there’s a commitment in the business to help you to take advantage of study time.

We also believe in developing your softer skills, ensuring when you have finished passing your exams, you’re not only a fully qualified actuary, but you are also confident in your communication and team working abilities.

Seeing the business from every angle
As you work towards qualification, our rotation scheme allows you to move between departments. Not only does this ensure great variety in your work, but it also means you’re able to make intelligent decisions about where your professional interests ultimately lie. In a business the size of Friends Life, there will, after all, be first class opportunities for career progression.

Remuneration package
A competitive starting salary of £26,000 is combined with an excellent remuneration package, which includes:

• Defined contribution pension scheme
• Four times pensionable salary death in service lump sum
• Performance related bonus.

In addition we offer flexible working hours, sports and social facilities and 23 days’ holiday.