Executive Director - Pensions Actuary

Role overview

This is a permanent, full-time Executive Director position within EY’s Assurance unit, focused on pensions actuarial work. The post is based in Dublin or Cork, Ireland, and the employer has confirmed that work visa sponsorship is not available.

The role brings together actuarial review, accounting under IAS 19, and audit support for complex defined benefit pension arrangements. The successful candidate will work with audit teams and corporate clients, providing senior-level technical guidance, strategic pension risk advice, and leadership across multi-disciplinary engagements.

Key responsibilities

• Provide actuarial support on audits involving defined benefit pension schemes, including review of valuations, models, assumptions and disclosures for IFRS/IAS 19 reporting.
• Challenge and assess core assumptions such as discount rates, inflation, mortality and longevity, and prepare technical memoranda for audit use.
• Work closely with audit teams, scheme actuaries and client finance teams to resolve technical issues.
• Lead technical actuarial input on IAS 19, funding valuations and liability modelling, while overseeing model quality, scenario testing and experience analysis.
• Develop and improve actuarial methodologies, tools and working practices.
• Advise clients on pension risk, funding consequences and balance-sheet effects, including strategic options such as buy-ins and buy-outs.
• Provide insight on asset-liability matching, scheme sustainability and changes in regulation or accounting standards.
• Support actuarial work on transactions, M&A and restructuring, including pension exposure reviews, funding gap assessment, risk-transfer options and deal support.
• Lead complex engagements and manage relationships with CFOs, trustees and boards.
• Help grow the practice through business development, cross-service collaboration and market-facing thought leadership.
• Lead and coordinate tender and proposal responses for pensions advisory opportunities.
• Build, coach and mentor actuarial teams, supporting technical development, recruitment, retention and a quality-focused culture.
• Ensure work meets EY quality, independence, governance and regulatory standards, and act as an escalation point for technical judgments and engagement risks.

Candidate profile

This role calls for a qualified actuary with substantial post-qualification experience in pensions actuarial consulting. A background in professional services or advisory work is preferred.

You should have strong expertise in defined benefit pension valuations and IAS 19, along with a solid understanding of pension funding, risk management and audit/financial reporting processes. Experience reviewing actuarial models, assumptions and outputs is important.

The position also requires the ability to lead significant client assignments, manage senior stakeholders effectively, contribute to business development and explain complex actuarial topics in a clear, practical way.

Working at EY

EY offers a competitive remuneration package and a flexible total rewards offering. Benefits may include holiday-related options, health and wellbeing support, insurance, savings opportunities and discounts, offers and promotions through FlexEY.

Additional benefits mentioned include pension, maternity and paternity leave, discounted health insurance, bike-to-work support, free unlimited online GP consultations for employees and family, recognition awards, the option to buy extra annual leave, referral cash incentives, hybrid working, a work mobile, free gym membership, EY-paid TECH MBA, travel pass support and wellness rooms in some offices.

EY also emphasises flexible working, career development, coaching, learning opportunities and an inclusive culture that values different perspectives and supports people from all backgrounds. Reasonable accommodations are available at every stage of recruitment.

Career development

From the first day, employees are supported in building their skills. EY highlights continuous learning, personalised career journeys, leadership development and a diverse, inclusive environment. Hybrid working is part of the approach, giving employees greater flexibility and autonomy.

Additional information

Business area: UKI Assurance. The role is available in Dublin or Cork. Work visa sponsorship is not available. Client-facing professionals may need to travel regularly and may at times be based at client sites.

EY notes that agency-supplied CVs or profiles should not be sent directly to hiring managers. If agency support is needed, the talent team will deal directly with suppliers, and unsolicited submissions will not be accepted.

About EY

EY describes itself as a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, with a culture focused on training, opportunity and the freedom to make an impact. The organisation says its mission is to help build a better working world.

Inclusion and equal opportunity

The company states that it is committed to inclusion, diversity and equity, and that it aims to create a workplace where differences are respected and everyone feels they belong. Applications are welcomed from people of all backgrounds, and reasonable accommodations are available throughout recruitment.