Job Description

This is an opportunity to join Ascot Group - one of the world's preeminent specialty risk underwriting organizations.


Designed as a modern-era company operating through an ecosystem of interconnected global operating platforms, we're bound by a common mission and purpose: One Ascot. Our greatest strength is a talented team who flourish in a collaborative, inclusive, and entrepreneurial culture, steeped in underwriting excellence, integrity, and a passion to find a better way,

The Ascot Way

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The Ascot Way guides our people and our organization. Our underwriting platforms collaborate to find creative ways to deploy our capital in a true cross-product and cross-platform approach. These platforms work as one, deploying our capital creatively through our unique Fusion Model: Client Centric, Risk Centric, Technology Centric.


Built to be resilient, Ascot maximizes client financial security while delivering bespoke products and world class service -- both pre- and post-claims. Ascot exists to solve for our clients' brightest tomorrow, through agility, collaboration, resilience, and discipline.

Job Purpose:

This position provides an excellent opportunity for the candidate to further develop Ascot's exposure management R&D capabilities across all lines of business and for all group entities.


The candidate will undertake research projects, both as part of the wider R&D team and self-guided. They will develop knowledge on various aspects of models and tools built by the R&D team, or by third parties. Research project work will generally be allocated to team members based on personal skillsets and interest, but could reasonably cover any natural or man-made peril, or other related topics, some of which may be completely unfamiliar.


The candidate should have an interest in applying and learning new technology and exploring how this can be utilised from an EM perspective. Adding efficiency and building future workflows / reporting capabilities are areas of priority for EM, and the candidate is expected to feed into those initiatives with their experience. Engagement is expected with the wider exposure management, other teams within Ascot as well as externally to Lloyds and other regulators/rating agencies as required. Knowledge sharing / transfer and training of colleagues in the wider EM team is an important element for this role.

Detailed Duties:

Undertake R&D projects, both as part of a team and self-guided, to enhance Ascot's understanding of natural and man-made perils which the group are exposed to. Contribute to the enhancement of Ascot's view of risk Have, or develop, excellent knowledge of existing catastrophe modelling software, its capabilities and limitations, depending on experience. Help develop and enhance Ascot's approach to assessing the credibility of specific models and be prepared to make recommendations to management about their use and limitations to inform their selection. Perform evaluation and validation of natural catastrophe models for relevant lines of business by applying methodologies in line with Ascot's model evaluation framework. Perform evaluation of external casualty catastrophe liability models to help determine their relevance for the group Be able to update and build on existing evaluation work and interpret new developments in scientific understanding and modelling approaches as they arise. Help devise implementable model adjustments to address any specific deficiencies identified or apply scenarios. Provide feedback on research projects to senior members of the exposure management team, underwriters and to committees, demonstrating an in-depth grasp of modelling components and materiality to the group portfolio. Contribute to novel research and development projects to enhance Ascot's overall approach to modelling, exposure management and non-modelled perils. Work with senior members of Exposure Management on writing documentation and presenting material to senior management and externally

Other expectations:

Participation in the wider activities of the exposure management team as well as the overall risk function From time to time, taking part in relevant projects throughout the wider business as needed Keeping up-to-date with technological and research developments applicable to our field Performing other related duties to meet the on-going needs of the organisation

Technical Skills:

Educated to at least Masters level in a relevant scientific/numerate subject. Awareness of the probability and statistical concepts behind cat models. Knowledge of at least one vendor catastrophe modelling framework is an advantage Demonstrable competence in querying SQL is desirable. Knowledge of other non-SQL alternatives useful. Experience using high-level coding languages like VBA, R, Python. C++ or C# and development experience using version control would be an advantage. Experience of platforms like Databricks would be an advantage. Understanding of GIS systems and principles. Ability to script using GIS packages in R or Python is desirable. Creative and able to confidently advocate novel ideas and solutions. Details orientated, while being efficient and timely. Good problem solver, with strong communication skills.

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