Head of Capital & ALM Strategic Programmes

Location: Potters Bar (Hertfordshire) or Lombard Street (Bank) (with hybrid working options)

Canada Life UK looks after the retirement, investment and protection needs of individuals, families and companies. We help to build better futures for our customers, our intermediaries and our employees by operating as a modern, agile and welcoming organisation.

At Canada Life, we share one common purpose - to help build better futures for our customers and each other. That's why we invest in the development of our people, technology and workplaces.

We have over 1,550 colleagues working together across 5 locations - including those working virtually. Potters Bar, our largest site, has over 600 colleagues. We also have teams based in Bristol, Isle of Man and Central London

Job Purpose
Canada Life is undertaking a number of strategic changes to redefine and transform the capital and ALM function to facilitate business growth plans in the UK and for wider global customers. In particular the role exists to support the Capital and ALM Director in defining, leading and building these changes in order to substantially grow Canada Life's UK Bulk Annuity business and capability.

This is an exciting opportunity where the role holder will leverage their technical and market expertise to define an innovative strategy including solutions for capital funding, asset structuring and ALM capability. They will leverage their strategic relationships in the market to deliver the Bulk Annuity Goals. The role holder will build and maintain complex relationships at an Executive level in Canada Life and at Life Co to gain approval to the strategy and plan. The role holder will then lead and deliver these plans.

The role holder will have a focussed analytical approach, be able to influence and guide stakeholders and develop long term relationships across a range of global customers.

What you'll do
• Define, lead and gain approval of the Capital and ALM elements of the change agenda in order to redefine and transform Canada Life's Bulk Annuity business, delivering an ambitious growth plan. This includes challenging the current way of operating; build market knowledge of asset sourcing, asset structuring, ALM and derivative solutions, leveraging technology to improve the efficiency of the operational model and creating innovative solutions in capital and liquidity funding
• Define, lead and build a team to deliver the required changes
• Build external strategic relationships to deliver the Capital and ALM function goals using market insights into capital, asset strategies and investment tools
• Build and manage internal strategic relationships across our global customers, in particular partnering with the wider global Investment and ALM teams
• Deputise for the Capital and ALM Director with day-to-day management and leadership of the function, providing additional bandwidth and acting as a representative for the Director in leadership forums and committee/board meetings.

Desired Knowledge, Skills & Experience
• Significant market knowledge of capital and ALM strategies with sound understanding of all asset classes in the context of ALM
• Demonstrates personal drive, energy, persistence and self-motivation and awareness of the needs of the wider business.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and implementing Strategic programmes or business change initiatives to improve business and organisation performance.
• Broad understanding of the Bulk Annuity and/or Capital/ALM market with strong market relationships
• Strong senior stakeholder management skills with demonstrable experience of navigating and building relationships across matrix organisations in a global environment
• Experience of developing and implementing Business Transformation Projects
• Experience of regulatory environments in UK and global jurisdictions
• Experience of operating with board-level executives, presenting, and gaining agreement on business plans and initiatives.
• Ability to build, lead and motivate a team of senior professionals, some who are individual contributors and who sit across different teams in the organisation
• Ability to understand and apply actuarial techniques to business problems and to see wider implications.

Qualifications
• Qualified accountant or actuary (or equivalent qualification)

Benefits of working at Canada Life
We believe in recognising and rewarding our people, so we offer a competitive salary and benefits package that's regularly reviewed. As a Canada Life UK colleague, you'll receive a competitive salary and comprehensive reward package including a generous pension and bonus scheme, along with, income protection, private medical insurance and life assurance. We have a fantastic number of other benefits and support services as well as regular personal and professional development.

How we work at Canada Life
Our culture is unique and incredibly important to us. We care about doing the right thing for our people, customers and community and helping others to build better futures. Our blueprint behaviours shape and influence how we work, and are central to the relationships we have with others. Every day we are encouraged to be more curious, own the outcome, face into things together and find a way forward.

We want colleagues to have rewarding careers with us so we invest in the development of our people, technology and workplaces. That's why we offer a range of training, flexible working and opportunities to grow and develop.

Diversity and inclusion
Building an inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce where everyone can feel they belong and achieve their potential regardless of gender, ethnicity or any other characteristic is a key commitment for us. We are proud of the progress we're making in DEI, and we continue for it to be a significant focus.

"At Canada Life we believe in the power of great people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives coming together to build better futures. Emerging talent is crucial to our growth and creating an environment that continues to inspire us all." Nick Harding, Chief People Officer, Canada Life UK

Please ensure you inform your manager of any internal job application

We appreciate that everyone has different work and life responsibilities. We're happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, including part time, for any of our roles should this be a requirement for.