At WTW, our Retirement team offers so much more in pensions than the usual spreadsheets, calculations and quiet offices.
To help potential candidates understand what we do and what makes us different, we spoke with Shriti Jadav and Matt Wood, both Directors in our UK Retirement team.
They shared insights on the real impact of our work, the qualities we look for in new team members and why so many of our actuaries choose to stay and grow their careers here.
What do we do within our Retirement Team at WTW
As Matt Wood puts it, our UK Retirement team “traditionally advises companies and trustee boards on how to manage their pension schemes - not individuals.”
This includes helping clients ensure their schemes are well-funded, appropriately invested and capable of meeting their long-term promises to employees.
“Some of these pension schemes can be larger than the companies themselves,” Matt explains. Part of the Retirement team also provides guidance and advice to individuals.
Shriti adds that the role extends far beyond pure actuarial work.
“We also advise on governance, risk management, cyber security and sometimes individual member cases,” she says. “It’s varied and dynamic - no two days are the same.”
Why should an actuary choose Pensions? Our Directors respond
Many assume pensions is a “boring maths” field - but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Here's how our team sees it:
- Variety: Pension actuaries don’t just crunch numbers. They’re involved in strategic conversations, operational decisions and regulatory compliance.
- Consulting & people focus: Unlike insurance actuaries, pensions actuaries work closely with a wide spectrum of senior business leaders, HR and finance professionals. It’s a consultative, people-driven role.
- Innovation: WTW leads the way in innovative areas like Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) schemes and Artificial Intelligence. “We’re working on future-facing solutions that push the industry forward,” says Shriti.
- Longevity: While Defined Benefit (DB) pensions may be closing to new entrants, the work is far from over. The run-on journey is decades long and with innovative plans on the rise, this is a space full of growth.
- Diverse Clients: We work with companies big and small, each offering new challenges and opportunities.
Why WTW is a place to build your career
Shriti, who’s been here for 14 years says "Working in a large firm like WTW gives you access to a huge breadth of opportunities. This gives you the ability to try different things and the power to shape your career to what suits you best."
Matt, who joined almost 20 years ago, agrees. “I’ve worked with different clients, in different teams and in different locations. WTW is supportive of career development and enabling you to dive into the opportunities that interest you most."
Both credit WTW’s people-focused culture as a key reason they’ve stayed. Many of our team members have been with us for their entire careers, some for many decades. " We make strong team bonds, have flexible working and a real sense of purpose, all of which make the job easier" says Matt.
Are you the candidate we’re looking for?
You don’t need to come in with all the answers, just curiosity and the drive to grow.
“Soft skills are as important as technical skills,” says Shriti. “We can teach people how to do the maths, but we’re looking for people who like solving problems, working collaboratively and communicating effectively.”
At WTW, we’re looking for:
- People who want to make an impact and help clients solve real-world problems
- Individuals who can communicate complex ideas in a simple, clear way
- Actuaries who are team-oriented, curious and eager to learn
- Professionals ready to embrace a variety of challenges, not just routine work
We also encourage early-career colleagues to grow into leadership - and we give them the tools to do so.
Join WTW and build a career focused on growth
At WTW, we’re proud to build careers that last. Whether you’re an experienced pensions actuary or looking to pivot into the field, our team offers the support, variety and culture to help you succeed.
If you want to work with industry leaders, take on meaningful client challenges and enjoy true flexibility, we’d love to hear from you.
We’re currently hiring Pension Actuaries across the UK - including in Reigate, Manchester, London, Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
Explore our open roles today and build a career where people matter as much as numbers.
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