Context

A global reinsurer is hiring the Head of Life and Health Transactions Origination for Japan, based in Tokyo. The seat owns the Japan origination strategy and pipeline for structured life reinsurance and leads the local financial solutions team. It works with client management, pricing, local functions and regional and global specialists to take transactions from origination to execution.

Mission

• Own the Japan origination strategy and pipeline, prioritising the clients and opportunities with the greatest strategic and economic potential
• Originate with a combined asset and liability view, using financial markets and investment expertise to design reinsurance and capital solutions
• Build relationships with CFOs, Chief Actuaries and capital leaders of Japanese life insurers around their capital and balance sheet priorities
• Lead strategic transactions across biometric risk, asset intensive reinsurance, financing and other structured solutions, including the commercial negotiation
• Lead, coach and develop the Japan financial solutions team
• Track Japanese regulation, capital and accounting (ESR / J-ICS, JGAAP), the competitive landscape and new transaction structures, and represent the firm externally

Must have

• 20+ years in life and health insurance, reinsurance, actuarial, investment banking or financial services
• Deep knowledge of the Japanese life insurance market and an established senior network in it
• Both sides of the life insurance balance sheet, including ALM and investment strategy
• Life insurer financials and structured reinsurance, including JGAAP and ESR / J-ICS
• A track record of originating and executing complex transactions, with commercial judgement and negotiation skills
• Executive presence with C-suite client stakeholders, and the leadership to mobilise multidisciplinary teams and develop people
• An actuarial, finance, accounting or capital markets background
• Strong Japanese and English

Preferred, not required

• A professional qualification - actuarial, CFA, accounting or equivalent

Terms

• Tokyo, hybrid, at least 3 days a week in the office
• Base salary range shared during the interview process, plus performance-based variable compensation