Sr. Financial Analyst (Life and Health)

Overview

The Sr. Financial Analyst will be responsible for analyzing and assigning ratings to domestic and some international life and annuity companies. They will analyze and report on the financial strength of a portfolio of companies, under the guidance and support of an analytical team leader, as well as mentoring more junior analysts. They must act at all times with the highest standards of professional excellence, ethics and integrity.

 

Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough, objective and efficient industry and company research in respect of increasingly complex financial and non-financial information, including audited financial statements, public accounts and other relevant management information.
• Produce timely, high quality credit reports to support the assigned ratings, documenting analysis and recommendations to be reviewed and updated by the analytical team leader.
• Present analysis at rating committee meetings demonstrating good judgment in communicating rating recommendations.
• Conduct on-going monitoring and surveillance of assigned portfolios, including rating changes, market/industry/regulatory developments, news events etc. identifying early warning signs that need to be brought to committee for event driven rating actions.
• Keep up to date with relevant industry, market and professional developments through continued professional development and learning, including, for example, undertaking research, attending seminars, market briefings and presentations etc.
• Manage the relationship with rated companies, including leading management meetings, clearly communicating rating outcomes and effective management of expectations.
• Proactively identify areas for performance or process improvement, recommending actions and positively contributing to the implementation of changes.
• Continue to develop a network of contacts in the insurance market (clients, brokers, regulators and prospects) utilizing contacts as a source of informal market research.
• Maintain or work to develop strong analytical skills through a professional designation and continuing education (CFA, Actuarial, MBA, CLU, FLMI, FRM, etc.)
• Willingness to travel up to 20%.

Qualifications

• 5 to 7 years Financial Analysis experience in life insurance or rating agency, or related experience is required.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Actuarial, Accounting or Economics is required.
• 3 plus years’ of financial analysis experience or related experience is required.
• Experienced in conducting financial analysis, ideally within another credit rating agency, the insurance industry, financial services sector, or a financial services consulting firm.
• Math, accounting, financial or economics background preferred with knowledge of financial ratios and financial statement analysis.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office with excellent organizational and administrative skills.
• Advanced degree or professional designation is preferred (CFA, Actuarial, MBA, CLU, FLMI, FRM, etc.).

Skills

• Developed analytical skills and knowledge of financial markets and economic/industry trends. • Strong written and verbal communication skills in English. • Experience presenting in a conference setting is a plus. • Evidence of developing and managing professional relationships with external stakeholders. • Self-starter and pro-active in bringing new ideas and solutions to the table and aggressively seeking knowledge. • Demonstrated ability to manage own time efficiently and effectively, and be able to multitask, absorb ideas and facts quickly, while maintaining a strict eye for detail.