Xafinity Consulting has reinforced its commitment to emerging local talent by sponsoring the prize for ‘Best performing student in Actuarial Science & Risk Management’ at Queen’s University Belfast, Management School.
This year the accolade, which is awarded to a final year student, went to Laura McAllister from Glenariff, Co Antrim, who received £400 from the pensions and employees’ benefits firm and the offer of a permanent role as an actuarial assistant at the Belfast based consultancy.
Geoff Clarke, director, Xafinity Consulting said: “Xafinity is committed to expanding its existing operation in Northern Ireland and continuing to employ the best people. As a company we take the recognition, support and development of emerging talent very seriously and we are delighted to be supporting the prize for best final year student in Actuarial Science & Rick Management again in 2012. I would like to congratulate Laura on her great achievement and we look forward to welcoming her into our team.”
Xafinity Consulting also offers a graduate placement scheme for two students annually, giving under-graduates the opportunity to work with one of the UK’s leading specialist providers of pension, employee benefits and payments expertise.
Mr Clarke continued: “By experiencing life inside a large professional services organisation, placements students at Xafinity Consulting have the opportunity to build on their commercial awareness and develop their interpersonal, communication and problem solving skills.
“During their 11 month placement, we ensure that our placement students are exposed to a variety of real client issues in order to become a valuable member of a motivated, supportive and sociable team.
“Every day is different and poses a new challenge with students working on everything from individual member calculations, to creating actuarial valuation reports and supplying information to the Pensions Regulator and the Pension Protection Fund.
“Students also benefit from one on one mentoring, job and structured technical training including how to use our specialised software for pension administration, actuarial valuation and data analysis.
“Together all of these activities help to boost the students ability to absorb complex business information, use their initiative and develop their professional confidence – factors which make a real difference when they return for their last year at university and of course help to prepare them for a role as a consulting actuary.”