Simon Laurie – Actuarial Contractor
Experience
Current contract
Munich Re
March 2023 to December 2024
Biometrics and Inforce Management work, including process development and testing
Nine-month contract with one extension
- Assist with Longevity quote production using LIMA.
- Development of process to load Longevity quote data into a new data pool, using R.
- Migration of SQL script to python py-spark following data pool migration
- Design process improvements for Longevity quote production.
Previous contracts
Phoenix Group
October 2022 to March 2023
Development of downstream reporting process
Five-month contract
- Development of downstream process taking output from actuarial systems/models to produce reporting numbers for a new legal entity.
Holloway Friendly
September 2021 to October 2022
Assist with understanding and testing of Income Protection Mo.net model
Three-month contract with three extensions
- Mo.net investigation work to assist with morbidity basis setting for Income Protection products.
- Assisted with Analysis of Change and ORSA reporting.
- Improvements to model point creation process using Excel and VBA.
- Functional and regression testing of new Income Protection product in Mo.net.
Munich Re
March 2018 to February 2021
Variety of projects using MoSes, AXIS and LIMA
Three-month contract with eleven extensions
- Creation of an Excel based tool to replicate an existing MoSes Longevity pricing model.
- Creation of a single, simplified Excel based tool to generate assumptions and model points for MoSes Protection pricing model.
- Assisted with migration of Term, Longevity, Annuity and Income Protection MoSes valuations models to AXIS.
- Assisted with migration of Longevity and Protection MoSes pricing models to AXIS.
- Development of associated assumption and model point generation and output tools.
- Functional and regression testing of new Longevity quotation data preparation system.
- Development of Protection Pricing process systems using Excel and VBA, including efficiency and stability improvements.
Just
January 2017 to March 2018
Development and testing of MoSes and Mo.net models for valuation of Annuities and Defined Benefit Pensions
Six-month contract with two extensions
- Investigation work into issues related to Annuities and Defined Benefit Pensions MoSes models.
- Functional testing of developments to Annuities and Defined Benefit Pensions MoSes models.
- Regression testing to existing valuation models.
- Development of Defined Benefit Pensions Mo.net model to include functionality for pricing and valuation of deferred pensioner cases.
- Development of Defined Benefit Pensions Mo.net model for new basis calculation approach.
Partnership
January 2015 to June 2015
Development and testing of MoSes model for pricing and valuation of Defined Benefit Pensions.
Six-month contract
- Functional testing of new Defined Benefit Pensions MoSes model.
- Regression testing to existing pricing and valuation models.
Prudential UK
October 2014 to January 2015
Development and testing of stochastic with-profits MoSes model.
Three-month contract
- User acceptance & functionality tested changes to MoSes asset liability model for with-profits products.
Partnership
March 2014 to October 2014
Development and testing of MoSes model for pricing and valuation of Defined Benefit Pensions.
Three-month contract with one extension
- Functional testing of new Defined Benefit Pensions MoSes model.
- Regression testing to existing pricing and valuation models.
HSBC Life UK
November 2012 to December 2013
BAU development and support
Two-month contract with three extensions
- Assisted with design & implementation of MoSes HPC & subsequent user acceptance testing & training.
- Assisted with developing & testing MoSes data file creation process in SAS.
- Provided MoSes development & testing support & training.
- Model documentation of unit linked pension MoSes model.
- Provision of day-to-day support & task management to MoSes development team of four people.
HSBC Life Malta
October 2012
MoSes development
Fixed price contract
- Implemented & tested asset share projection within the HSBC Malta Life unitised with-profits MoSes model, based on a spreadsheet specification.
HSBC Life UK
October 2010 to September 2012
Solvency II Project
Six-month contract with three extensions
- Investigated existing MoSes models with a view to improving model efficiency, including specification of changes & reporting of anticipated impact on run times.
- Implemented existing stand-alone stress test runs into a single projection run to significantly reduce overall model run times.
- Designed & implemented MoSes model changes to improve AoS / P&L attribution process.
- Implemented MoSes model changes to calculate projected balance sheet capital positions.
- Provided UAT testing support & training.
- Performed analysis & investigation into existing MoSes models & subsequent documentation of faults & inconsistencies between models.
- Provided day-to-day support & task management to MoSes development team of four people.
Prudential UK
October 2014 to January 2015
Development and testing of stochastic with-profits MoSes model.
Three-month contract
- User acceptance & functionality tested changes to MoSes asset liability model for with-profits products.
Pacific Life Re
May 2009 to June 2009
Development and testing of MoSes models
One-month contract with one extension
- Developed, tested & implemented changes to MoSes models for annuities.
- Incorporated existing pension annuity pricing spreadsheet into existing MoSes longevity model.
- Integrated pricing, valuation & planning MoSes models into a single application for all annuities business.
HSBC Life UK
December 2008 to March 2009
Development and testing of MoSes models
Three-month contract
- Development, testing and implementation of changes to MoSes models for Term, IP and Unit Linked Life and Pensions.
- Data manipulation using FoxPro and SQL.
Prudential UK
December 2007 to December 2008
Testing of MoSes model changes and associated data and reporting tools
Four-month contract with two extensions
- User acceptance and functionality testing of changes to MoSes asset liability model for with-profits products.
- Creation, testing and review of patched MoSes models to incorporate code fixes or additional functionality between official model releases.
- User acceptance and functionality testing of Access/VBA data manipulation tool for production of summary reports from MoSes model results.
- Regression and step-through analysis between model versions.
- Review of other people’s testing processes and results.
- Analysis of changes to data input into MoSes model.
Cardif Pinnacle
November 2007
ICAS capital modelling work in Igloo
Four-week contract
- Igloo model specification, design & build for creditor, warranty & shortfall insurance products.
Previous permanent roles
Zurich Financial Services
May 2004 – October 2007
Capital modelling, reserving & reporting
Permanent employee
- Production of ICAs for 11 legal entities; Created, improved & maintained Igloo/Excel models for Credit, Market & FX risks & an integrated model.
- Project management of: quarterly reserve report production for UK executive; and annual ICA modelling & report creation over a 3-month period.
- Created & implemented reserve variability calculations.
- Quarterly reserve review & peer reviews of Zurich Municipal lines of business.
- Reviewed & documented annual Asbestos reserve analysis, involving SAS.
- Provided IT support to department, including technical coding & software questions, hardware and other general IT set up and support.
Skanida Life
September 2001 – May 2004
Financial Reporting Development team
Permanent employee
- Specified, created & reconciled new MoSes models to previous VB programs for life assurance & pension products.
- Implemented MoSes COM functionality, linked to VB & Access.
- Obtained requirements, wrote specification & coded data cleaning & manipulation program in VB, with interaction to Access & FoxPro.
- Maintained & provided support for MoSes models & associated VB programs.
- Ensured accurate version control of all models & programs.
- Designed & maintained department intranet site.