Actuarial Analyst

About Discovery

Discovery’s core purpose is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. We seek out and invest in exceptional individuals who understand and support our core purpose, and whose own values align with those of Discovery. Our fast-paced and dynamic environment enables smart, self-driven people to be their best. As global thought leaders, Discovery is passionate about innovating in order to not only achieve financial success, but to ignite positive and meaningful change within our society.

About the Area

People increasingly want to transact faster, on their terms, in fluid, and dynamic ways. Discovery Connect facilitates this need as a direct sales channel, leveraging the best of technology with the best in people. We are often a client’s first impression of Discovery so we must have the best Discovery ambassadors in our team. At the forefront of client acquisition methodology, Discovery Connect continues to be one of the fastest-growing divisions in the group. Representing all product lines (including Discovery Bank) there is an opportunity for forward thinkers, innovators, and people who thrive on complexity in a growing business.

Key Purpose

The primary focus of the role is to assist and add value to technical projects within the Growth & Strategy and Sales Analytics teams at Discovery Connect. Both teams are invested in integrating data science into a dynamic sales / marketing environment to provide business insights for future growth. The successful applicant will be involved in all stages of model development, from a critical analysis, understanding to the modelling and communication of results to stakeholders. This also includes data extraction, analyses, modelling and BI reporting.

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to

• Provide analysis and insight into various business issues – this will involve all steps from assisting to identify issues, problem solve solutions and subsequently develop the models to address these issues and finally communicate the solutions to stakeholders.
• Measuring the expected financial impact of a number of key decisions and communicating results with senior management to aid in the decision-making process.
• Liaising with key stakeholders in the relevant teams as the model and processes are implemented.
• Additional ad-hoc technical investigations and reports as required by senior management.
• Perform analyses, provide insights, and build predictive models that will assist with sales, distribution, and general marketing analytics.
• Expand the suite of automated analytical/KPI reports used by clients of the Discovery Connect team (relating to lead volumes, call centre metrics, campaign performance etc.).
• Be an enabler of performance marketing, i.e. perform analyses, provide insights, and build predictive models that will assist with:
  • Client segmentation and ideal client identification.
  • Development and implementation of targeted marketing strategies.
  • Optimisation of call centre operations.
  • Digital marketing optimisation.
• Source and provide customised data to the business.
• Improve processes and databases where opportunities arise.
• Interpret and disseminate information via reports and publications.

Personal attributes and skills

• Strong analytical and statistical modelling/machine learning skills.
• Skill in producing BI reports and working with BI software tools (big advantage).
• Above average ability to work with, analyse and report on data.
• Ability to source data from both structured and unstructured sources.
• Good communication skills and ability to build relationships with key stakeholders.
• Ability to work under pressure and in conditions of change.
• A team player who can work alone when required and without supervision.
• Ability to multi-task and to manage workload.
• Organized
• High level of attention to detail.
• Resilience, enthusiasm, energy and drive.
• Positive, can-do attitude.
• Ethical and able to maintain confidentiality and manage boundaries.
• Aligned to Discovery values and core purpose .

Technical Skills and Knowledge

Essential:

• Knowledge of statistical packages (R, SAS, SPSS, Python etc.)
• Knowledge of BI reporting tools (Power BI, Tableau, QlikView)
• Experience in statistical and machine learning modelling techniques
• High level of computer literacy (advanced MS Offering including Excel, PPT and SQL)

Advantageous:

• Exposure to IFRS 17 Standard
• Knowledge of the Life Insurance market
• Prophet modelling experience

Education and Experience

Essential:

• Matric with mathematics
• Bachelor’s / Honours degree in Actuarial Science or Mathematical Statistics from an accredited institution

Advantageous:

• At least 1 years of working experience as an Actuarial Analyst / Data Analyst, Quantitative Analyst or Data Scientist
• At least 1 years experience in a Valuations, SAM or IFRS 17 technical role within the Life Insurance industry
• Strong progress made in Actuarial exams

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY   
                             
The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.