Actuarial Analyst Graduate Placement
1. Location: Stratford upon Avon – initially full-time office working before transitioning to hybrid working (2 days per week from home).
2. Start Date: July 2026 – July 2027 – flexibility available for course dates and holidays
3. Duration: 12 months
4. Entry Requirements: Penultimate year of an undergraduate degree in actuarial science, mathematics, statistics, economics or another numerically focused subject, with an ‘A’ in A-Level Maths (other A-Levels at grade B or above) and at least grade 6 (B) in GCSE English Language.
5. Salary: £30,987 + up to 10% annual bonus
6. Hours: 35 hours per week.
About the role
At NFU Mutual, actuaries sit at the heart of our business. They help us understand risk, manage reserves, and make sure we remain financially strong for our customers. As an Actuarial Placement student, you’ll be part of our Finance Actuarial department, gaining hands-on experience and real responsibility from day one.
This 12-month opportunity is ideal for undergraduates in the penultimate year of their degree – ideally in actuarial science, mathematics, statistics, economics, or another subject with strong mathematical content.
What you can expect
You’ll join one of two teams within our Finance Actuarial area. One placement will sit in Actuarial Services, which blends work across our Services and Profitability teams, supporting financial modelling, analysis and reporting. The other will be within Reserving, where you’ll help calculate and analyse the reserves we hold for customer claims. In both, you’ll contribute to meaningful work that helps inform business decisions and gives you a real insight into how a successful insurer operates.
While you’ll be based in one team, there’s plenty of opportunity to learn about what other teams do too. We’ll encourage you to shape your own development and take up opportunities that match your interests – whether that’s exploring technical skills through online courses like SQL, learning directly from qualified actuaries, or getting involved in departmental projects. You’ll receive lots of on-the-job training, regular guidance from your manager, and the chance to present your work through informal team sessions, including an end-of-placement presentation on what you’ve learnt.
This placement offers the perfect opportunity to see what life is like in a leading financial services business while gaining first-hand experience in actuarial work. By the end of your year with us, you’ll have developed valuable technical and professional skills, contributed to real-world projects, and built connections that could help shape your future career – whether that’s returning to university with a clearer direction or applying for our Actuarial Graduate Scheme after you graduate.
At the start of your placement, you’ll be office-based full time to make the most of the learning environment and build relationships with your colleagues. Once you’re settled, you’ll move to a hybrid way of working, balancing office collaboration with the flexibility to work from home. We’ll also support you with any academic requirements set by your university to ensure your placement experience aligns with your course.
Application process
If your application is shortlisted, you’ll be invited to complete an online assessment designed to measure your potential for success, such as your ability to learn and solve problems. Should you be successful, you’ll move on to a short video interview. The final stage will be a virtual interview where we’ll explore your skills and potential further.
Please note this vacancy may close at any time once sufficient applications have been received. Early submission of your application is therefore encouraged.
About you
To join our Actuarial Placement, you’ll need to be working towards an honour’s degree, studying actuarial science, mathematics, statistics, economics, or another subject with a strong mathematical focus. You’ll also need solid academic foundations in maths and English – specifically an ‘A’ in A-Level Maths (with your other A-Levels at grade B or above) and at least a grade 6 (B) in GCSE English Language.
We’ll be looking for:
7. Communication and storytelling – the ability to explain complex ideas clearly and bring data to life for different audiences.
8. Data confidence and digital literacy – comfortable working with data and eager to build your skills with tools and software used in actuarial work.
9. Analytical and numerical skills – a sharp eye for interpreting data, spotting trends, and drawing meaningful conclusions.
10. Prioritisation and time management – able to balance multiple projects and deadlines, especially while studying towards exams.
11. Problem-solving ability – creative and logical thinking to tackle challenges and recommend practical solutions.
12. Attention to detail and accuracy – ensuring your work is reliable, robust, and can be trusted to inform big decisions.
13. Knowledge of Excel and programming (SQL/VBA) – an advantage, but not essential, as we’ll support you to grow these skills.
Any work experience would be helpful, but it’s by no means a requirement. What really matters is your curiosity, enthusiasm and drive to learn. If you bring an open mind, a positive attitude, and a willingness to get involved, we’ll give you all the guidance and opportunities you need to make the most of your year with us.
At NFU Mutual, we support an inclusive workplace and value all the differences that make us unique. We celebrate the creativity and innovation that comes from diverse perspectives and experiences and share a common vision of doing the right thing for our customers and employees.
We recognise that some candidates may experience barriers during the recruitment process. So, we encourage candidates to discuss any adjustments or accommodations they need to be the best they can be throughout our recruitment process.
We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, a Race at Work and Women in Finance Charter signatory and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, regardless of age, ethnicity, disability, neurodiversity, gender, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.
Benefits and Rewards
When you join our team, you can expect a supportive culture and an attractive range of rewards and benefits including:
14. Salary £30,987
15. Annual bonus (up to 10% of salary)
16. Contributory pension scheme, up to 20%, including your 8% contribution
17. 25 days annual leave + bank holidays + buy/sell/save holiday trading scheme
18. A Family Friendly policy that helps you balance your work and family responsibilities
19. Access to savings at High Street brands, travel and supermarkets
20. £20 contribution to a monthly gym membership – subject to T&Cs
21. Health and wellbeing plan - cashback for dentist, opticians, physio and more
22. Access to voluntary benefits, including health assessments, private medical insurance and dental insurance
23. Employee Volunteering - volunteer in the community for one day each year
24. Unlimited access to Refer a Friend £500 bonus scheme
25. Life Assurance cover of 4 x salary
26. Employee discounts of 15% on a range of NFU Mutual insurance policies.
27. Salary sacrifice employee car scheme - subject to eligibility
Working at NFU Mutual
We’re one of the UK’s leading general insurance and financial services companies. For over 110 years we’ve put our customers at the heart of everything we do. Our people are just as important to us.
We pride ourselves on being “a great place to work” and our Gallup Exceptional Workplace 2025 award was not only awarded with Distinction but also named us as the first UK-based company to receive a Gallup Exceptional Workplace for ten years in a row. We are also the only Insurer to feature in the LinkedIn Top 15 Companies 2025 list of ‘Best midsize employers to grow your career in the UK’, the Glassdoor Best Places to Work UK List 2023 and 2024, and were recognised as a certified UK Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
We offer a supportive culture where we empower and inspire our people to perform, offer them opportunities to grow, and recognise and reward their contribution. Our people are proud to work for a company that respects them and their communities, and they trust us to be financially sustainable, so we are successful now and in the future.