You may have noticed that GAD is recruiting a new Head of the Analytical Solutions Team, or AST, and wondered: what exactly is AST, and what does the role involve?
AST is GAD’s centre of analytical excellence and actuarial expertise. It is a multidisciplinary team of around 90 actuaries, analysts, data scientists and modelling experts, working across GAD’s varied portfolio.
The team contributes to everything from public service pensions and insurance work to financial modelling, bespoke policy analysis and wider public sector financing.
You may be familiar with consultancy models where technical work is delivered by a separate or offshore team. There are some similarities, but AST operates differently.
We work side-by-side with GAD’s client-facing teams, often as an integrated part of the same project. Our actuaries and analysts are directly involved in understanding the detail, reviewing the analysis and, where appropriate, signing off the final work.
That integration is fundamental to what AST does. We are not simply a delivery resource. At our best, we act as a lynchpin for excellent delivery and continuous improvement across GAD. We bring together different disciplines, challenging existing approaches and helping teams find better, more consistent and more efficient ways to work.
What does it mean to lead AST?
One of the things I have loved most about being Head of AST is the opportunity to shape and mould the team itself.
AST includes people with a wide range of skills, experiences, perspectives and career aspirations. A central part of the role is creating an environment in which those people can develop and thrive, while maintaining a clear focus on delivering high-quality work.
That has meant thinking carefully about the team’s structure, the capabilities we need and the career paths available to our people. It has also meant creating opportunities for colleagues to work across different areas of GAD, gaining experience of new clients, subject areas and analytical approaches.
I have been fortunate to be supported by 8 excellent functional leads, who each bring different expertise and perspectives. Working collaboratively with them – and building strong relationships with the leaders of GAD’s client teams – has been essential to driving meaningful change.
The role is therefore not about being the most technical person in the room. It is about bringing people together, creating the conditions for them to succeed and helping translate good ideas into better delivery.
Three things I will remember
As I prepare to leave GAD and venture to pastures new in Kenya, there are 3 things I will particularly take away from the role.
The first is the privilege of helping to shape AST. Seeing the team grow and evolve, developing clearer career pathways and giving people more opportunities to broaden their experience has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time at GAD.
The second is the breadth of the work. AST has contributed to some of GAD’s largest projects, including the public service pension valuations, while also supporting bespoke and innovative work across government. Few roles provide the same opportunity to move between major projects, specialist technical challenges and organisation-wide improvement.
The third – and most important – is the people. I have worked with brilliant colleagues across AST and the wider department. I have seen the difference that can be made when actuaries, analysts and client teams work together with a shared sense of purpose.
For the next Head of AST, this is a fantastic opportunity to lead a talented and ambitious team, continue shaping its future and strengthen its contribution across GAD.
It is a role with variety, challenge and considerable scope to make it your own – and I will be very sorry to leave it.
Disclaimer
The views expressed are the author’s own and the opinions in this blog post are not intended to provide specific advice. For our full disclaimer, please see the About this blog page.
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