Symetra is seeking an accomplished actuarial executive to serve as SVP & Corporate Actuary, providing enterprise leadership across actuarial modeling, statutory valuation, international reporting, and actuarial governance while helping shape the strategic and financial future of the organization.
About the role
Reporting to the Chief Actuary, this highly visible executive will provide strategic oversight of Symetra's enterprise actuarial infrastructure, including enterprise modeling, statutory valuation, experience studies, international reporting, and the Office of the Appointed Actuary. The role serves as a critical bridge between actuarial insight and enterprise decision-making, helping shape financial strategy, capital management, regulatory compliance, and long-term growth. This is an ideal role for an accomplished leader who excels at influencing strategy, developing high-performing teams, and modernizing actuarial capabilities through innovation, analytics, and technology.
Leading through senior actuarial leaders, you will provide strategic direction across:
- Enterprise Modeling
- Experience Studies
- International Reporting including European Embedded Value and International Capital Standards
- Office of the Appointed Actuary
- Actuarial Governance
A key focus of this role is advancing next-generation actuarial capabilities through automation, modern data platforms, advanced analytics, and AI while enhancing the strategic value actuarial brings to enterprise decision-making.
What You will Do
Enterprise Strategy & Executive Partnership
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the Chief Actuary, CFO, and senior executives on financial performance, risk & capital management, and strategic decision-making.
- Provide an enterprise perspective that connects actuarial insights to long-term value creation.
- Support major strategic initiatives, including corporate transactions, capital strategy, and enterprise planning.
- Build strong partnerships across Finance, Actuarial, Data & IT, offshore Bermuda team, Investments, Risk, and business divisions.
- Lead the day-to-day actuarial relationship with Sumitomo Life and support international reporting requirements.
- Serve as a key enterprise voice on actuarial implications affecting the balance sheet, capital position, earnings, and long-term financial performance.
- Translate complex actuarial, valuation, and capital concepts into actionable business insights for executive leaders and non-actuarial stakeholders.
Actuarial Transformation, Innovation & Modernization
- Champion the modernization of enterprise actuarial capabilities and operating models.
- Accelerate adoption of automation, advanced analytics, AI, and modern modeling technologies.
- Drive scalable, enterprise-wide technology, data, and process solutions that improve efficiency, governance, and decision support.
- Challenge existing paradigms and drive organizational change that improves how actuarial insights are developed, communicated, and applied across the enterprise.
Organizational Leadership & Talent Development
- Lead a highly visible organization of actuarial professionals through a team of experienced leaders, fostering strategic thinking, enterprise perspective, and business partnership capabilities.
- Establish clear priorities, accountability, and decision-making frameworks.
- Strengthen succession planning and develop the next generation of actuarial leadership.
- Promote collaboration and alignment across actuarial functions and enterprise stakeholders.
Enterprise Oversight & Governance
- Provide strategic oversight of enterprise actuarial modeling, statutory valuation, experience studies, international reporting, and the Office of the Appointed Actuary, ensuring high-quality analysis and sound governance across the enterprise.
- Ensure strong governance, effective controls, and high-quality actuarial decision support.
- Support regulatory, rating agency, and parent company reporting obligations while maintaining appropriate actuarial independence and accountability.
- Partner closely with Finance, Investments, and Risk Management leaders to advance asset-liability management (ALM), capital optimization, financial projections & estimates, and enterprise balance sheet insights.
Executive Communication & Influence
- Translate complex actuarial and financial concepts into actionable insights for executive and board audiences.
- Build credibility through sound judgment, transparency, and strategic thinking.
- Represent corporate actuarial perspectives in governance forums, executive discussions, and key external relationships.
What Success Looks Like
- Executive leaders view actuarial insights as essential inputs to strategic and capital decisions.
- Modernized actuarial capabilities enable stronger balance sheet analysis, governance, and enterprise decision support.
- A highly aligned organization operates with strong leadership, accountability, and collaboration.
- Enterprise modeling and analytics provide timely, decision-ready insights.
- Trusted partnerships are established across executive leadership and key stakeholders.
- Strong leadership pipelines and succession plans create long-term organizational strength.
Why Work at Symetra
Here’s what some of our employees have to say about why they work at Symetra:
“If you want to invest in yourself and build a career, this is a great place to work. If you don't want to put in the effort to learn the industry and become a student of the business (it takes real effort!), there are easier places to work.” - Cris H., VP Internal Sales
“We're big enough to make an impact on the country, but small enough to care and know who you are and what you're contributing to the organization. All new ideas are welcome!” - Stephanie F., VP Customer Service & Operations
What we offer you
Benefits and Perks
We don’t take a “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to our employees. Our programs are designed to make your life better both at work and at home.
- Flexible full-time or hybrid telecommuting arrangements
- Plan for your future with our 401(k) plan and take advantage of immediate vesting and company matching up to 6%
- Paid time away including vacation and sick time, flex days and ten paid holidays
- Give back to your community and double your impact through our company matching
- Want more details? Check out our Symetra Benefits Overview
Compensation
Salary Range: $315,000 - $350,000 plus eligibility for annual bonus program and long-term incentive plan
Qualifications
Who You Are
- 15+ years of actuarial experience, including significant leadership of senior actuarial professionals.
- Deep expertise across life insurance and annuity actuarial disciplines, including valuation, financial reporting, enterprise modeling, capital management, and regulatory oversight required.
- FSA and MAAA required.
- Bachelor's degree typically in Actuarial Science, Mathematics, or Finance, or a high school diploma with FSA required.
- Deep understanding of U.S. statutory valuation, actuarial reporting requirements, and the governance responsibilities associated with appointed actuary functions.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate company financial results, balance sheet dynamics, and actuarial implications to executive and non-actuarial audiences.
- Experience leading enterprise actuarial functions within a life insurance and annuity organization.
- An accomplished actuarial executive who combines technical depth, strategic vision, and exceptional leadership.
- A proven leader of leaders with experience building, developing, and empowering high-performing actuarial teams.
- A strategic thinker who connects actuarial insights to financial performance, capital management, risk, and business strategy.
- An experienced change agent who has led modernization, transformation, or large-scale organizational initiatives.
- Passionate about leveraging technology, analytics, automation, and AI to drive business value.
- International reporting, parent company relationships, or global actuarial coordination experience preferred.
- Familiarity with Bermuda regulatory frameworks, European Embedded Value, Asset Adequacy Analysis, and international capital standards preferred.
- Ability to travel approximately 10-15% annually.
Travel:
Required Training & Professional Development
All newly hired people leaders with direct reports are required to complete a comprehensive leadership development program within their first year. This program includes both virtual and in-person training. The in-person sessions will take place at Symetra’s corporate headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. Symetra covers all travel and accommodation expenses.
Reasonable Accommodations
Symetra is committed to providing equitable access to all job-related responsibilities, including required travel. If reasonable accommodations are needed for travel, Symetra’s HR department will work to provide appropriate solutions in alignment with individual needs and company policies.
We empower inclusion
At Symetra, we aspire to be the most inclusive insurance company in the country. We're building a place where every employee feels valued, respected, and has opportunities to contribute.
Inclusion is about recognizing our assumptions, considering multiple perspective, and removing barriers. We accept and celebrate diverse experiences, identities, and perspectives, because lifting each other up fuels thought and builds a stronger, more innovative company. We invite you to learn more about our efforts here.
Creating a world where more people have access to financial freedom
Symetra is a national financial services company dedicated to helping people achieve their financial goals and feel confident about the future. In our daily work, we're guided by the principles of Value, Transparency and Sustainability. This means we provide products and services people need at a competitive price, we communicate clearly and openly so people understand what they're buying, and we design products--and operate our company--to stand the test of time. We're committed to showing up for our communities, lifting up our employees, and standing up for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Join our team and help us create a world where more people have access to financial freedom.
Work Authorization
Employer work visa sponsorship and support are not provided for this role. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at hire and must maintain authorization to work in the United States throughout their employment with our company.
Please review Symetra's Remote Network Minimum Requirements:
As a remote-first organization with a cameras-on culture, reliable internet connectivity is important to how we connect, collaborate, and serve our customers. To support a positive experience for both employees and customers, Symetra has the following standards for employees' internet connection:
- Minimum Internet Speed:100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, in alignment with the FCC's definition of "broadband."
- Internet Type:Fiber, Cable (e.g., Comcast, Spectrum), or DSL.
- Not Permissible:Satellite (e.g., Starlink), cellular broadband (hotspot or otherwise), any other wireless technology, or wired dial-up.
When applying to jobs at Symetra you'll be asked to test your internet speed and confirm that your internet connection meets or exceeds Symetra's standard as outlined above.
Identity Verification
Symetra is committed to fair and secure hiring practices. For all roles, candidates will be required (after the initial phone screen) to be on video for all interviews. Symetra will take affirmative steps at key points in the process to verify that a candidate is not seeking employment fraudulently, e.g. through use of a false identity.
Failure to comply with verification procedures may result in:
- Disqualification from the recruitment process
- Withdrawal of a job offer
- Termination of employment and other criminal and/or civil remedies, if fraud is discovered
— Sarah J.
·
Marketing Manager
★★★★★
Verified
