Head Buying and Actuarial

What will you do?
This is a senior position in Santam Re involving leading the Buying of Santam’s complete Reinsurance program, the largest RI program on the continent. The position involves meeting with reinsurers and evaluating and assessing new products and services that could be of benefit to the wider Santam Group. This role will be based in Cape Town and reports to the Head: Reinsurance.
What will make you successful in this role?
The Actuarial role is leading and supervising the actuarial team that works closely with Santam Re and the pricing and risk analysis of its business. This is a pro-active role since the actuarial team is expected to also engage with clients and markets and make their own assessment of the trends in business development
The Head of Buying, in conjunction with the various Business Unit Heads in Santam, and the Head of Santam Re determine the optimal cost effective reinsurance program for Santam.
Whilst the Head of Buying is primarily tasked with managing the successful, cost effective, security satisfying standards of the group, the Head of Buying is also expected to engage with reinsurers to establish what new products or services they may be developing or offering which could be of benefit to the business units in Santam. Qualifications and Experience
At least 10 years of experience leading and managing an actuarial team.
Minimum of 10 years of TREATY reinsurance experience.
Demonstrated track record of having managed / placed / negotiated reinsurance programs.
Should be able to work with and build a team of competent staff. including training and developing younger staff members
Must have solid experience in articulating and directing plans for how the reinsurance program will look in future Skills
They have a capacity to cope emotionally with the vagaries of reinsurance.
A good grasp of all aspects of treaty reinsurance structures and treaty reinsurance programs.
Ability to immediately recognize the most comprehensive and cost-effective way to contain Santam’s exposures to its Risk appetite.
A sound understanding of international reinsurance markets and can articulate Santam’s needs and engage with comfortably with reinsurers.
A sound grasp of understanding statistics, trends and “what-if’ scenarios will be important.
A strong statistical background will be helpful
A thorough understanding of treaty wordings, reinsurance clauses and being up to date with trends and developments in the industry is important
Increasing governance requirements both internally and externally requires that the successful person has a sound grasp of good governance and is committed to good governance in the everyday practice of the business.
The ability to market and engage Santam to brokers and international reinsurers, is important.
The importance of using and developing technology to minimize administrative processes and to improve the speed and accuracy of administration is crucial.
A solid understanding of reinsurance accounting and statistics is important.
Attention to detail
Pragmatism
Problem solving
Strategic thinking
Systems thinking
Navigating ambiguity
Effective communication
Demonstrating courage and grit
Competencies
Drives Results
Cultivates Innovation
Client Focus
Flexible and Adaptable
Collaborates
Interpersonal Savvy
Decision Quality
Plans and aligns
Negotiation
Risk Management
Reporting and Administration
Business acumen About the company
Santam is the market leader in the general insurance industry in Southern Africa. We are a large, diversified, expanding and transforming company and whilst based in South Africa, we are rapidly moving into a number of emerging markets, both in Africa and Asia.
Our success is rooted in our passion for our clients and everything we do is centered on our delivery of Insurance Good and Proper. We’re about people. People drive our business so it follows that we want to recruit the best people possible whether they work for us permanently or for a short time as temporary employees.