At Aon, we shape decisions for the better to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. As an organisation, we are united through trust as one inclusive, diverse team, and we are passionate about helping our colleagues and clients succeed.
Catastrophe Modelling at Aon
Catastrophe analytics allows insurers and reinsurers, financial institutions, corporations, and public agencies to evaluate and manage natural and human-made catastrophe risk from perils ranging from earthquakes and hurricanes to floods, wildfires and cyber.
Catastrophe analysts come from a wide range of backgrounds in science, economics and engineering and perform risk quantification using a wide range of commercial models as well as internal tools developed by Aon.
Our graduate colleagues will learn how to use an Aon’s risk quantification tools, interpret results, and present to internal and external customers. We also offer the opportunity to experience some degree of specialisation by rotating though some of the more focussed teams like cyber, model development or model evaluation where models, methodologies and outputs get tested and peer reviewed.
Your role as a Catastrophe Modelling graduate
Within our Catastrophe Modelling Graduate programme, we recruit graduates into one of the three following specialist teams:
Catastrophe Management
A highly analytical role embedded within a commercially focused team. Working within a large team of Catastrophe Modellers across UK and India who have a wide range of technical skills: Meteorology, Hydrology, Structural Engineers, Statisticians, Programmers. A highly collaborative environment enabling you to engage with commercial aspects of the reinsurance placement.
What your day could look like
- Running catastrophe models to quantify the likelihood and severity of natural catastrophes for current and future climate: including hurricanes, floods, earthquake, tornadoes, terrorist attacks.
- Interpreting client exposure data and processing it into a format suitable for use in catastrophe models.
- Undertaking sensitivity testing to help clients understand impact of data quality, data and modelling assumptions and any planned portfolio change.
- Event-Response - provide up-to-date information to clients helping them quantify the impact of ongoing/recent catastrophes e.g. Hurricane Ian.
- Collaborating with academic and industry partners to validate and create innovative solutions for the (re)insurance market.
- Working closely with the model evaluation team to revise and challenge existing catastrophe models to deliver client views of risk that is more relevant to their business.
- Contribution to the development of new Impact Forecasting models e.g. freeze models.
Catastrophe Cyber
You will be part of the Global Cyber Practice group alongside broking and analytics colleagues, with team members based in the UK and North America. It is a friendly and collaborative team made up of technical specialists with backgrounds in Actuarial Science, Catastrophe Modelling and IT Security. Our job is to support our clients to grow and manage their cyber risk insurance portfolios, with our analytical insights.
What your day could look like
- Work with cyber insurance datasets and cyber catastrophe risk models to generate analytical insights for our clients (cyber insurance companies).
- Support team efforts to develop and maintain our global data sets and suite of analytics offerings.
- Evaluate and validate cyber models, including sensitivity testing, model methodology review.
- Contribute to client relationship management including preparing presentations.
- Carry out research, work with colleagues and research partners to provide clients insights into latest cyber catastrophe risk.
- Responsibility for working in accordance with the Aon UK Limited Risk Management Framework, and compliance with the Aon UK Limited policies, including participation in the management of risks (including completion of required training) that may adversely affect the business, interests or reputation of any Group Company.
Catastrophe Evaluation/Research
You will be part of a global team with team members based in the UK, India, Singapore, Japan and Australia. It is a friendly and collaborative team made up of technical specialists with backgrounds in Natural Catastrophe Modelling and peril specialisms such as Meteorology, Hydrology, Geology and Structural Engineers.
What your day could look like
- Event-Response - Provide up-to-date information to colleagues and clients on Natural Catastrophes around the world.
- Evaluating and validating vendor & internally developed Natural Catastrophe Models.
- Reviewing model methodologies.
- Test model sensitivities to input variables.
- Validate model components using third party data.
- Identify and educate stakeholders on model strengths and weaknesses.
- Evaluate climate change components of Natural Catastrophe Models and other climate analytics providers.
- Analyse claims experience and incorporate into a view of risk.
- Build solutions to quantify the climate change influence on Natural Catastrophes.
- Work with research partners to provide clients insights into latest Natural Catastrophe risk.
We have opportunities available in three different teams within the Catastrophe Modelling Graduate stream. Please review the information on each team and select your first-choice preferred team should you be successful. Please note that where possible, we will try to consider you for your first-choice preference, however we cannot guarantee your first choice due to availability of roles. If your first choice is unavailable at the time of your Assessment Centre, we will also consider you for the other teams.
Your development
As an Aon Graduate, you will be enrolled onto our Launch Programme when you join. This development programme is built around 3 core elements:
- Business learning – on the job learning and experiences giving you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of the team and solution line you have joined.
- Centralised learning - UK graduates complete in an Aon Induction, monthly webinars, business skills training and workshops; all designed to help you develop your knowledge of Aon, build your confidence and your network across our business.
- Professional Qualifications – we want you to be as successful as possible, so through our Go Further Apprenticeship programmes, we’ll fully support your study towards the level 4 Diploma in Insurance from the CII (Chartered Insurance Institute). To support you as you study for your exams, you’ll receive paid study leave, plus an extensive range of study and tuition materials.
Your career beyond your Graduate programme
Once you’ve completed the formal graduate programme, you’ll continue to receive lots of support at Aon. As well as continued technical and business skills training, you’ll receive support for your professional qualifications. To aid your professional development you’ll receive regular performance feedback, and work with your line manager towards promotions, enabling you to progress.
Next steps
If you are interested in this graduate programme and would like to apply, here are some things to help you:
Entry requirements
- You will need to have or be on track to achieve a 2:1 degree (or equivalent) in mathematics/statistics, finance/economics, sciences/technology, or similar quantitative field
- Programming skills (ideally in Python or R)
- Desirable qualifications include a PHD / master's degree, or equivalent experience.
Our Graduates are on permanent contracts from day one, so applicants for this programme must be eligible to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship now or in the future; or you have pre-settled or settled status from the EU Settlement Scheme – or if you have applied and you're waiting for a decision.
What are we looking for?
- Logical thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Attention to detail
- Good communication skills, particularly being able to present complex ideas in a simpler, more understandable way
- A self-starter that can take the initiative, work independently when needed but can also work collaboratively in a team environment
- Commercial awareness – this helps us to provide support and advice to our clients with clarity and confidence
- Cyber: Curiosity and enthusiasm about being at the forefront of the emerging area of cyber catastrophe risk quantification
Locations
Here are the locations where we have graduate opportunities this year: London
We recognise the value for our Early Career colleagues of being in the office environment from the beginning of their programme. As a new graduate, you will spend the first 6 months based in the office to support your learning, development, and progression. This will enable you access to support from managers, collaborate with colleagues as well as grow your network across Aon. After completing this initial training period, you will then have the opportunity to work more flexibly, spending at least 3 to 4 days face to face in the Aon office or with clients.
How we support our colleagues
In addition to our comprehensive benefits package, we encourage a diverse workforce. Plus, our agile, inclusive environment allows you to manage your wellbeing and work/life balance, ensuring you can be your best self at Aon. Furthermore, all colleagues enjoy two “Global Wellbeing Days” each year, encouraging you to take time to focus on yourself.
Our continuous learning culture inspires and equips you to learn, share and grow, helping you achieve your fullest potential. As a result, at Aon, you are more connected, more relevant, and more valued.
Aon values an innovative, diverse workplace where all colleagues feel empowered to be their authentic selves. Aon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran, marital, domestic partner status, or other legally protected status.
We provide individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment in accordance with applicable law. If you require any reasonable accommodations or adjustments, please contact graduates@aon.co.uk and a member of the UK Early Careers team will contact you.