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The 3 rd Younger Members Convention 29-30 November 2004, The Chessboard Grange Hotel, Kenilworth
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WORKING IN THE CARIBBEAN Andrew Long, Watson Wyatt 29 November 2004
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AGENDA Introduction and Background Main Employers, People Range of work Skills required and gained Challenges Study Support and Incentives Returning to the UK Q&A
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BACKGROUND - MAP OF REGION
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BACKGROUND Historical and Geographical facts General statistics Language barriers/challenges Actuarial Hot Spots: Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados
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INDUSTRY PLAYERS ConsultanciesInsurers Jamaica Eckler Partners Watson Wyatt Guardian Life of the Caribbean Sagicor (formerly Life of Barbados & Barbados Mutual) Trinidad & Tobago Bacon Woodrow & De Souza Eckler Partners PWC Guardian Life of the Caribbean Guardian General (formerly NEMWIL & Caribbean Home) Colonial Life (CLICO) Sagicor Trinidad & Tobago Insurance American Life & General Barbados Eckler Partners Sagicor Royal Bank of Canada (Reins) First Caribbean (Reins) CLICO Other countries
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PEOPLE / CLIENTS People Senior actuaries – very experienced, UK/US/Canada/Caribbean Junior staff – Caribbean graduates of local and overseas universities Warm, friendly, professional Some things happen as quickly / some things happen more slowly Clients Demanding Include: - Traditional (Sugar; Oil; Bauxite, Shipping etc) - Government- Banking (Offshore) - Multinationals- New industries (Tourism)
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WORK Pensions - DB/DC schemes, Accounting, Mergers, Communications, Legislation Life Insurance - strategic planning, financial reporting, product design and pricing, appraisal and embedded values, mergers, demutualization Investment - offshore business for the financial services industry
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WORK (cont) Government - social security, healthcare, pensions, compensation, budgeting General Insurance - assessments of general (non-life) insurance tenders of various government agencies Other - risk management for local organizations, lecturing at University of the West Indies
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SKILLS REQUIRED - Newly/Nearly qualified, good technical knowledge - Willingness to learn, effective communicator - Flexibility, patience GAINED: - Client meeting exposure, varied work (cross disciplines) - People management skills, increased responsibility - Practical, Pragmatic - doing things differently
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CHALLENGES Little legislation to guide in some aspects eg Cayman, Barbados and Jamaica have recently enacted pensions legislation, others have none Unions and industrial action (Strikes, sit-ins, no shows, walkouts!) Technology Cultural Languages (Dutch, Patois and Carib)
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STUDY SUPPORT / INCENTIVES Study support varies between insurers and consultancies and generally includes: - study materials - study time (more generous for later exams) - residential UK Acted courses for later exams Incentives: - lower cost of living, better quality of life - similar salary to the UK, allowances for housing/car - non-salary perks - life in the Caribbean!
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COMING BACK TO THE UK GAINS: - wider experience, more opportunities - problem solver vs compliance officer - diverse contacts - unforgettable experience LOSSES: - changes in UK specific legislation whilst away - coming back to the UK
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More information Caribbean Actuarial Association Websites for companies, consultancies listed Your colleagues
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Q&A
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