News & Views

Microsoft Excel is widely used throughout the industry for a wide variety of different purposes. In this article, Jack Foley takes a look at the introduction of the new LAMBDA function in Excel which allows the user to define their own Excel functions.

Open-source software is powering more commercial business than ever. In this article Joseph Barnett introduces open-source and why people and businesses might embrace it. He also gives an overview of some of the principles and variations involved when using and producing open-source software especially within an actuarial context.

In February, APR staff competed in teams to run, walk, or otherwise exercise their way almost 1,000 miles as part of APR’s Charity Challenge, all while raising some much needed funds for the Trussell Trust.

Model run-times in actuarial work are heavily dependent on what tool has been chosen to perform the calculations. In this article Phil Creswell summarises a model optimisation project that APR’s Technology Team has recently carried out, highlighting the dramatic differences in run-times and the benefits of engaging APR on a consultancy basis.

As APR continues to grow as a business, changes to our recruitment process have been necessary to handle the increasing volume of applications. In this article, James McConnell of APR’s Technology Team discusses the challenges of automating the recruitment process while still retaining the personal touch that allows candidates to demonstrate their full potential.

Expert judgement is inherent in actuarial work but often does not receive the attention that it deserves. In this article Conor Marshall provides an introduction to the subject, drawing on research carried out by Roger Austin and the IFoA.

With schools shut once more many working parents must again attempt to balance homeworking alongside childcare and homeschooling. In this article Rhianna Hutchins collates the thoughts of some APR staff to see how they manage this most difficult of balancing acts, drawing out some tips for how we can all cope better during this latest, and hopefully final, lockdown.

In the first article from APR’s new Dublin office, Adam Finn and James McConnell reflect on the differences in how financial services companies are regulated in the UK and Ireland.

What impact will climate change have on insurers? James Robinson explains why it should be a priority issue. He discusses the types of risk posed and the actions insurers can take. He also considers the relevant regulation and timescales.

The September 2020 exam results have now been published and APR staff achieved a 74% pass rate across all exams taken. In this article, Ajay Kotetcha compares our performance with the industry average.