Staff Actuary

What we need

The Staff Actuary will be a part of TCDRS’ Decision Support Team. This role helps ensure the plan’s funding and actuarial practices remain sound, data-driven and aligned with professional standards and applicable guidance. The Staff Actuary works closely with internal teams (Finance, Investments, Employer Services, Communications and IT) and TCDRS’ external consulting actuaries to produce valuations, experience analyses, GASB reporting support and employer-facing deliverables.

What you’ll do

• Support actuarial valuations and projections used to determine employer contribution rates and assess plan funding

• Prepare and review actuarial exhibits, reconciliations and results summaries for internal and external audiences

• Review consulting actuary’s deliverables for reasonableness

• Provide GASB-related financial reporting support (e.g., schedules, disclosures and audit/data requests) and coordinate with internal stakeholders and external auditors

• Partner with business, consultants and technical teams to translate policy into clear actuarial calculations and employer-facing outputs

• Use SQL and relational database tools to extract, validate, reconcile and analyze data, identify anomalies and help resolve issues

• Help maintain and improve actuarial models and templates, and explore opportunities to improve automation

• Contribute to documentation and controls that support repeatable, auditable processes

• Stay current on developments affecting public pension plans (assumption trends, actuarial standards, funding policy practices, pension rules and regulatory guidance)

• Communicate projections and initiate fresh ideas based on possible trends in actuarial standards, policies, practices and governance to ensure best practices to actuarial analyses are applied

• Evaluate changes to possible funding arrangements and plan design as opportunities arise

•  Consider TCDRS plan changes that may be beneficial to employer plans and participants

• Complete pro forma analyses on potential legislation, cash flow analysis and updates to actuarial or compliance guidelines

• Attend and participate in actuarial conferences and participate in actuarial professional organizations to stay abreast of actuarial changes and trends

• Educate staff about actuarial concepts to help communicate plan funding and compliance 

What you should have

• Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA) designation required

• Bachelor’s degree in actuarial science, mathematics, statistics, economics, finance or a related field

• Ability to align actuarial deliverables with organizational strategy, balancing cadence, effort and impact

• Experience with pension plan actuarial valuations, preferably with public pensions

• Working knowledge of GASB concepts and how actuarial results tie to financial reporting

• Proficiency with relational databases, Microsoft Access and SQL, including writing and interpreting queries and using them to manipulate, reconcile and validate data

• Advanced skills in Excel, including complex formulas, data analysis and macros/VBA for process automation and efficiency

• Strong analytical skills, sound judgment and attention to detail

•  Clear written and verbal communication skills (able to translate technical concepts to non-technical audiences)

• Willingness to work from TCDRS’ office in Austin (currently four days in office with Fridays as an optional work-from-home day)

What you’ll get

TCDRS offers a competitive salary and excellent health benefits with a dynamic, stable and pleasant work environment in Austin, Texas, overlooking Zilker Park. Our hybrid schedule combines four days in the office fostering connection and teamwork with one remote day each week to support focus and flexibility. This is not just a job, but a chance to help thousands of Texans plan for the future.