Pricing Director from a Life Reinsurer (Japan)
Position overview
This person will lead pricing workstreams and manage reinsurance quotations within the pricing function. In this role, s/he will conduct quantitative and qualitative risk analysis, provide financial quantification, and deliver actuarial recommendations to management for assigned quote opportunities. S/he will also enhance risk understanding through pricing basis development, R&D activities, risk monitoring, and increased coaching and project leadership to support junior team members’ development.
Responsibilities
- Independently develop, and lead junior team members to develop, best‑estimate pricing assumptions and pricing models to deliver competitive quotes that meet clients’ objectives and company's minimum requirements
- Conduct independent technical and peer reviews, and provide sound actuarial advice on pricing methodology, assumptions, and results
- Ensure all pricing procedures—including pricing memos, technical reviews, peer reviews, and regional escalations—are fully compliant with company’s internal pricing standards and country mandate
- Conduct research and experience analysis as the primary actuary, and lead junior team members to develop and periodically review pricing bases for all reinsurance coverage, ensuring they are current, documented, and approved
- Provide technical and actuarial support for product development initiatives by fully assessing product risks and recommending modifications to mitigate identified risks
- Support in‑force management (IFM) by monitoring treaty and portfolio performance and identifying and escalating adverse trends in a timely manner
- Support business development by partnering with client counterparts and contributing actuarial insights that strengthen long‑term client relationships and solution development
- Provide training, coaching, and guidance to junior staff to support capability development and consistent pricing standards and best practices
- Support treaty negotiation and execution by providing pricing‑driven recommendations on treaty terms and working with the Head of Pricing and Treaty Specialists to ensure timely completion and signing
- Lead and support ad‑hoc corporate and internal projects as required
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in actuarial science, statistics, math, finance, or related fields
- Qualified actuary (IAJ or equivalent globally recognized actuarial association)
- Minimum 10 years of actuarial working experience, familiarity with reinsurance or life insurance pricing is an advantage
- Advanced Excel skills are required and experience in using actuarial software
- Knowledge of Japanese life insurance products is advantageous; candidates with strong international experience are also encouraged to apply
- Proficiency in English is required. Japanese language proficiency is preferred, and candidates without it should be willing to commit to learning Japanese on the job
- Ability to work independently with strong motivation and initiative, demonstrating clear ownership and accountability for results
- Open, honest and cooperative mindset; ability to collaborate effectively, foster a team‑based work environment, and work with multiple stakeholders across the business
- Ability to derive and communicate commercial implications from numerical analysis to non‑technical personnel, with strong client service and excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Lead and support ad-hoc corporate and internal projects, including cross-functional initiatives
- Highly motivated, results oriented and solutions focused; ability to work effectively under pressure and demonstrate creative problem‑solving
- Strong technical skills and attention to detail; ability to challenge and enhance existing analytical methodologies, and proactively identify business opportunities and areas for improvement