Actuaries
Job description
These individuals specialize in analyzing, modelling, and managing the financial consequences of uncertain events. They use concepts related to mathematics, statistics, probabilities, and risk. They are self-employed or work for:
- Banks and trust companies
- Insurance companies
- Universities
- Science, engineering, and pension consulting firms
- Actuarial firms
- The federal and provincial governments
- Financial institutions
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
Main tasks
- Analyze financial markets, economic developments, and the social situation of clients.
- Design, develop, and evaluate insurance products using mathematical and statistical techniques.
- Calculate premiums, contributions, and benefits associated with insurance policies, plans, and retirement pensions according to the needs of customers.
- Evaluate the impact of these costs on the financial situation of clients and companies.
- Calculate the risk of economic failure for a business or insurance company.
Advancement and mobility
- Experience leads to management positions in finance, insurance, and consulting.
Training and requirements
Formation
University studies
Also required
- Recognition by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Mathematics
- Information processing
- Data collection
- Critical thought
- Solving complex problems
- Active learning
- Reading comprehension
- Judgment and decision-making
- Science
- Oral expression
- Result evaluation
- Written expression
- Learning strategies
- Persuasion
- Active listening
Abilities
- Mathematical reasoning
- Basic numeracy
- Deductive reasoning
- Inductive reasoning
- Awareness of issues
- Information organization
- Near vision
- Written comprehension
- Written expression
- Oral comprehension
- Classification
- Selective attention
- Information processing speed
- Perception speed
- Originality
- Verbal skills
- Speech clarity
Knowledge and attributes
- Critical thinking
- Focussed on results
- Perseverance
- Knowledge of administration and management
- Autonomy
- Knowledge of economics and accounting
- Strategic sense
- Knowledge of mathematics
- Rigour
- Desire to upgrade one’s competencies
Interests
- Draft, communicate, and inform
- Work with numbers
- Work in an office
- Carry out research
- Self-employment
- Collect, verify, sort, and classify data or information
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
- Conventional
- People with this profile prefer specific, well-defined tasks. They like to respect the order of things and follow established rules.
Appellation d’emploi liée (à traduire)
Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries (CNP 21210)
Skill type
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026
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