Graduate Trainee Actuary - Edinburgh

Can you solve the puzzles of government?

Can you be the architect of a better tomorrow?

If you enjoy applying statistical theories to assess risks and estimate the odds of future outcomes—and have a passion for presenting your findings—a rewarding career as a Graduate Trainee Actuary in the heart of government could be the perfect fit for you!

About us

The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) are at the centre of actuarial expertise within government. We enable government to better understand and quantify risk and uncertainty and in turn help shape better outcomes for the UK public. We do this on our core work by diving into client challenges and ensuring our advice enables success. We identify critical challenges to co-create solutions with our partners so that actuarial expertise can have more impact on significant policy initiatives.

We are an inclusive organisation that values the unique perspectives and strengths of a diverse team, supported through our staff networks and active Diversity and Inclusion strategy, we ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We are seeking motivated individuals to join our analytical team, where your contributions will be valued, and your voice heard.

As a Graduate Trainee Actuary, we will support your development to become a future Actuary in Government who is able to produce high quality, impactful advice and analysis for government and adapt to emerging societal challenges.

This will include participation in our rotation programme which includes:

Analytical Focussed Placement: Apply theoretical actuarial concepts and modern techniques to actuarial processes to deliver accurate analysis efficiently. As time progresses, take on more responsibility for the validity of your work and others as well as delegating and developing junior colleagues.

Consulting Focussed Placement: Work with actuaries to turn analysis into impactful advice through drafting communications and presenting to clients. Build relationships with stakeholders (internal and external) to support effective delivery of advice. As time progresses, build relationships with clients, support scoping of actuarial advice and business development.

Specialised Focussed Placement: Build upon experience of previous placements to try a new actuarial area in GAD or continue specialising within a certain domain to take on more ownership of advice and/or analysis.

Throughout the rotation programme, secondment opportunities exist to work directly with clients in government.

A significant proportion of GAD’s actuarial advice is either pensions or emerging policy areas. Therefore, during the rotation programme, all trainees will be exposed to typical pensions work (such as delivering actuarial valuations and other pension calculations, managing costs and risks associated with public service pension schemes or providing advice on funded pension schemes) as well as working in a different area to develop adaptability to new problems.

GAD works across a wide range of actuarial areas and we would look to provide opportunities for you to get involved in areas of interest where business needs allow.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.

Application deadline: 2355 hrs on 08 November 2026

Assessment Centre

Dates: w/c 18 January 2027

Location: Edinburgh

Process

Please apply via the recruitment portal below. The selection process will consist of an online application form, online assessment, video interview and in person assessment centre in Edinburgh to be held week commencing Monday 18th January 2027.

The closing date for applications is 8th November 2026, so if this role feels like the right fit for you, we invite you to apply now and take advantage of this exciting opportunity to join our team!

Please DO NOT email your CV as shortlisting will be carried out based on information provided in your application form only.

Shortlisting criteria is based on the Person Specification as set out in the Assessment Criteria section of the Job Description. Please ensure you provide examples of how you meet the Assessment Criteria; a strong application will also demonstrate that you meet the required criteria that are identified as key for this role. Applications will be shortlisted in line with the essential criteria for the role. The desirable criteria will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates. Behaviours will be assessed at sift and interview stage. Candidates who are successful at shortlist will be contacted as soon as possible and advised of the interview process and assessment (exact times and dates will also be confirmed).

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Agency Notice: We will not pay agency fees for any candidate submitted in response to this advertisement unless we have explicitly agreed and contracted with an agency to support that specific role prior to advertising. Agency referrals will only be recognised where prior approval has been obtained from the Recruitment Team for the specific vacancy. Any other candidate submissions will be treated as direct applications.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.