Asset Strategy and Investment Oversight

Canada Life UK looks after the retirement, investment and protection needs of individuals, families and companies. We help to build better futures for our customers, our intermediaries and our employees by operating as a modern, agile and welcoming organisation.

Part of our parent company Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life UK has operated in the United Kingdom since 1903. We have hundreds of respected and supported employees committed to doing the right thing for our customers and colleagues.

Canada Life UK is transforming to create a more customer-focused business by providing our customers with expertise on financial and tax planning, offering home finance and annuities propositions, and providing collective fund solutions to third party customers.

Purpose of the role:

The role holder will support the Head of Asset Strategy and investment Oversight (ASIO) in the provision of technical, regulatory, and governance expertise and guidance to Canada Life UK.  Ensuring compliance with applicable regulation, investment policy and mandates by ensuring appropriate monitoring activity, oversight and reporting.

Provide external insight into the development of the business strategy and the communication of investment strategy and policies.

Contribute to the development of processes to ensure investment policies are followed, provide insights on asset allocation, and risk management across portfolios.

What you'll do:

• Support the development and communicate investment strategy and policies, contribute to business strategy
• Support the Head of ASIO in their responsibilities for the relationship with internal and external Asset Managers inclusive of:
  • Responsible for investment oversight and governance for IMAs entered into by Canada Life UK
  • Contribute to the On-boarding of  new asset manager(s)
  • Serve as a primary point of contact for asset management partners, incl. 3rd party due diligence
  • Third party risk management and oversight, including compliance with relevant regulatory requirements
  • Performance assessment of internal and external Asset Managers
• Contribute to the identification, assessment, and mitigation of risks associated with the investment portfolio:
  • Identify asset universe and risk/return characteristics - gather information on available global and regional assets
  • Ongoing monitoring of portfolio to assess risks and portfolio balanced for risks
• Work with the Head of ASIO in the delivery of their responsibilities for the need and opportunities for Structured Assets:
  • Set demand for structured assets, and characteristics for raw assets (e.g., duration, return, tranche types
  • Negotiate with internal / external issuers on potential asset structures and pricing
  • Work to obtain final credit rating and regulatory approval for new asset structures
• Contribute to the development  and maintenance of the  relevant ASIO Policies and Standards: 
  • Develop and maintain relevant investment related Canada Life UK policies
  • Develop and maintain Canada Life UK investment standards/mandates
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, as well as the organization's own policies and standards
• Contribute to ASIO Reporting and communication:
  • Preparation of regular reporting in order to update the Executive Committee and Board's on the investment portfolio's performance and the progress toward achieving investment goals.
• Continue to develop own skills and capabilities in order to continually evolve the output from the area.
• Network with other financial institutions, asset managers, and other investment professionals.

What you'll bring to the role:

• Knowledge of regulations impacting investments in Life Insurance companies
• Experience in developing and communicating investment strategy and policies, contributing to business strategy
• Understand global markets, with specific knowledge fixed income markets
• Support the development of the ASIO team, supervise and oversee the ASIO process, establish processes to ensure investment policies are followed, and make decisions on strategic asset allocation, and risk management across portfolios
• Project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Understand investment principles and processes
• Commercial outlook
• Communication skills, demonstrating a clear and articulate standard of written and verbal communication in a complex environment, tailored for all levels of management.
• Influencing skills, with experience of engaging with senior management to get desired outcome
• Interpersonal/networking skills, with the ability to maintain a variety of relationships with multiple stakeholders
• Proven track record of delivery under tight time pressure

Benefits of working at Canada Life

We believe in recognising and rewarding our people, so we offer a competitive salary and benefits package that's regularly reviewed. As a Canada Life UK colleague, you'll receive a competitive salary and comprehensive reward package including a generous pension and bonus scheme, along with, income protection, private medical insurance and life assurance.  We have a fantastic number of other benefits and support services as well as regular personal and professional development.

How we work at Canada Life

Our culture is unique and incredibly important to us.  We care about doing the right thing for our people, customers and community and helping others to build better futures.  Our blueprint behaviours shape and influence how we work, and are central to the relationships we have with others.  Every day we are encouraged to be more curious, own the outcome, face into things together and find a way forward. 

We want colleagues to have rewarding careers with us so we invest in the development of our people, technology and workplaces. That's why we offer a range of training, flexible working and opportunities to grow and develop.

Diversity and inclusion

Building an inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce where everyone can feel they belong and achieve their potential regardless of gender, ethnicity or any other characteristic is a key commitment for us.  We are proud of the progress we're making in DEI, and we continue for it to be a significant focus. 

"At Canada Life we believe in the power of great people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives coming together to build better futures. Emerging talent is crucial to our growth and creating an environment that continues to inspire us all."  Nick Harding, Chief People Officer, Canada Life UK

We appreciate that everyone has different work and life responsibilities. We're happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, including part time, for any of our roles should this be a requirement for you.