Location:
Dublin, IE
Company: Canada Life Group Services
Description:
We have embraced a hybrid working model for most of our positions, which means that you can enjoy a balanced approach of working from home for part of the week and working from the office for the remainder of the week.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including competitive salaries and bonuses, robust Learning and Development support, excellent Defined Contribution pension and comprehensive Wellbeing initiatives and support to name but a few.
Role Overview
Canada Life Group supports Equal Opportunity and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
- Full Time Permanent position
- Hybrid role based in our City Centre offices
What we offer
We have embraced a hybrid working model for most of our positions, which means that you can enjoy a balanced approach of working from home for part of the week and working from the office for the remainder of the week.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including competitive salaries and bonuses, robust Learning and Development support, excellent Defined Contribution pension and comprehensive Wellbeing initiatives and support to name but a few.
Role Overview
- The primary objective of the role is to lead Financial Risk Audit activity over Great-West Lifeco (Lifeco’s) entities operating out of Ireland, namely Irish Life Group (including its subsidiaries) and Canada Life Europe (which distributes into Germany). This activity includes developing and executing Audit Plans (i.e. comprising a range of relevant engagements), testing Lifeco’s Financial Reporting Controls under its Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICOFR) Program, forging effective relationships with senior stakeholders, providing Financial Risk Opinions to the relevant Chief Internal Auditors, and being an active member of Internal Audit’s Ireland based Senior Management Team. In the context of the role, Financial Risk activity includes Product Development & Pricing, Actuarial Operations, Actuarial Systems, Actuarial Valuation, Risk Oversight, and aspects of Financial Oversight (e.g. ALM, Hedging). To achieve this primary objective, the roleholder will lead and manage a Team of 3 FTEs in Ireland, in addition to other FTEs in Financial Risk Audit’s global Team as required.
- Additionally, the roleholder will collaborate with the relevant regional Heads of Operational Audit to lead and oversee Financial Risk Audit activity over Lifeco’s entities based in the UK (under the Canada Life brand) and the US (under the Empower brand). As part of this, the roleholder will jointly lead and manage 1 FTE in each region.
- The secondary objective of the role is to oversee and monitor the quality of other Financial Risk Audit activity, globally. To discharge this secondary objective, the roleholder will assume ownership of the Team’s Benchmark Control Framework, and review all key Reporting for all engagements (i.e. not just those relating to Lifeco’s Irish based entities) to ensure appropriate levels of quality/consistency across all Financial Risk Audits, globally.
- The successful execution of the above are key to the delivery of Internal Audit’s overall strategic roadmap.
Key Responsibilities
Developing Appropriate Assurance Strategies
- Develop appropriate assurance strategies for the relevant entities that align to strategic objectives and Board approved Chief Internal Auditor Mandate(s).
Audit Plan Execution
- Drive Audit Plan execution, effectively and efficiently, in a manner that is consistent with Lifeco standards, methodologies and processes, and the Team’s benchmarks.
- Take a logical approach, anticipate all implications of actions and consider all relevant factors.
- Review and quality assure audit issues for approval, and communicate these to audit clients, agreeing action plans and tracking such issues for resolution with agreed timelines.
- Deliver high quality written reports on relevant governance, risk management and control issues.
- Participate in wider (e.g. across Lifeco’s Global Internal Audit function) audit initiatives (e.g. methodology developments, enterprise wide audits, etc) as required.
Leadership and People Management
- Lead a Team of direct and indirect reports, based in multiple locations ensuring work is evenly distributed and responsibilities are clear.
- Provide executive leadership as part of the Irish Audit Leadership Team (i.e. Internal Audit Managers and above based in Ireland) and Financial Risk Audit Leadership Team (i.e. Actuarial Internal Audit Managers and above across all Lifeco locations) to staff, supporting the changes they will need to make in terms of mind-sets, behaviours and practices.
- Act to sustain and improve performance by ensuring the Financial Risk Audit Team is resourced effectively and continuous development is promoted.
- Foster a team culture that supports personal development, creating opportunities for team to thrive—growing into confident, capable, and positive contributors through continuous development and support.
Maintain and monitor the embeddedness of the Benchmark Control Framework
- Monitor and oversee the embeddedness of comprehensive control and testing benchmarks for Lifeco’s Financial Risk processes, to facilitate consistent audit evaluations and ensure actions identified are value-adding, achievable and cost effective.
- Continuously maintain benchmarks to reflect emerging audit and industry sound practices, regulatory requirements, and technological developments (e.g. AI).
Provide Oversight Over All Financial Risk Audits Across Lifeco
- In conjunction with the VP Internal Audit, ensure appropriate protocols (i.e. roles and responsibilities) are in place for all Financial Risk Audits across Lifeco.
- Review, challenge, and recommend for approval all key audit documents prepared in support of Financial Risk Audit engagements, in accordance with the developed protocols.
Relationship Management
- Establish and maintain high impact personal relationships with a wide range of internal & external stakeholders and drive the data analytics service with business objectives in mind.
- Deliver effective presentations to senior management.
Risk, Control and Regulatory Environment
- Ensure familiarity with risk management programmes as they impact on own area, and follow appropriate risk management procedures to control, monitor and report on business activities.
- Ensure compliance with Lifeco policies, regulatory, professional and legal requirements. Ensure familiarity with and assist in the development of risk management programmes.
Personal Development and Learning
- Committed to continuing own professional and personal development.
- Maintain a high personal profile in the Internal Audit and risk management external community, adding value and raising the profile of Lifeco as a champion of analytics use, best governance practice and an employer of choice.
What you will need to be successful in the role
- A relevant professional actuarial qualification (e.g. FSAI, FIA)
- Significant experience operating in an actuarial environment, in an insurance or reinsurance company.
- Demonstrated experience across some/all of the following:
- Actuarial Valuation (Solvency II and/or IFRS),
- Product Development and Pricing,
- Asset Liability Management (e.g. hedging),
- Capital Optimisation
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to approach a problem by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach.
- A passion for success and making an impact.
- Strong communicating, influencing and negotiating skills with ability to ask difficult but necessary questions constructively.
- Proven ability to lead, inspire, and develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of trust, accountability, and continuous growth while adapting leadership style to meet diverse individual and team needs.
- Demonstrates strong organisational awareness and political sensitivity, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments, build effective relationships, and influence outcomes with tact and discretion.
Key Competencies
- Functional & Technical
- Drive for Results
- Planning & Organising
- Communication & Influencing
- Building and Maintaining Relationships
- Leadership
The company reserves the right to draw up a shortlist as part of the selection process. Where Agency assistance is required the Irish Life Recruitment Team will engage directly with suppliers. Unsolicited CVs / profiles supplied to Irish Life by Recruitment Agencies will not be accepted for this role.
Canada Life Group is proud to be an Equal Opportunities employer. We have created an environment of inclusion and growth to help people achieve their potential, to ensure they can bring their whole selves to work and to feel valued. We celebrate diversity of thought and perspective and want all of our employees to feel valued, respected and supported.
We have built a culture that promotes equality and inclusion for all of our current and future employees and strive to ensure that our behaviours, processes and practices are aligned to this culture.
If you require any accommodations during the recruitment process please contact lifecareers@irishlife.ie and we will be delighted to ensure you are fully supported to be your best.
Canada Life Group supports Equal Opportunity and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.