Graduate Profiles

Catherine Stone

I graduated from Oxford in 2002 with a degree in Classics and very little idea about what to do next! I spent a year making my way around the world before deciding that actuarial work was the direction in which I wanted to head. Despite having an arts degree, I have always been very mathematically minded and I wanted a job in which I could build high levels of technical and analytical expertise. The idea of working in insurance and reinsurance also appealed as risk analysis would provide an interesting context in which to apply these skills.

When I saw the advert for graduate positions at Aspen on my university career website it had instant appeal. What I liked particularly about Aspen was the idea of being part of an organisation where there was room for rapid growth and innovation.

It was also important to me to work for a company that was committed to offering excellent professional development which is reflected through the generous study support Aspen offers. The study package has certainly eased the workload that the actuarial exams demand and has helped me to make great headway on my path to qualification. The academic challenges, although they can be burdensome at times, certainly make my job more rewarding!

My role at Aspen has definitely lived up to my expectations. It has been a steep learning curve and I have gained valuable experience in reserving and capital modelling. I am now about to move into the pricing team so there continues to be new challenges ahead! Having opportunities to work in these 3 core actuarial areas gives me a fantastic grounding for whatever path I choose for the future.

Outside of my day to day work, I have had other great opportunities. I have been involved with the graduate recruitment and have also attended actuarial conferences which have been great fun as well as giving an insight into current issues and developments. The graduate programme provided me with a broader perspective across the various business areas and now that I have left the programme, Aspen continues to provide many opportunities for career development.