Sydney to London as an Australian Actuary: Top Tips and Advice from My Recent Move

One advantage of being an actuary is the excellent global mobility of the profession.

Ask around your actuarial team and chances are you’ll find colleagues who have moved to Australia from overseas, or have returned after a stint abroad. In June 2025, I joined their ranks, taking the well-walked path of relocating from Sydney to London.

Given the large number of peers who had made this move before me, I was surprised to find limited discussion on the topic in the Actuaries Institute’s archives. For those considering a similar trip, I’d like to share some of the advice I’ve received and my own observations from my recent relocation. Everyone’s specific circumstances and goals will be different, so this is by no means a definitive guide, but I’ll focus on common considerations for those in our profession, including the process of finding work overseas.

In this three-part series, I’ll:

1. Cover when and why you might consider a career move to London;
2. Discuss pathways to securing work overseas, including where you might find advantages vs. local candidates; and
3. Dive into the application process itself, including how to present your CV and some common questions you should be prepared for before interviewing.

Author Stephen Goh standing outside Big Ben, London.

Part 1: When and why to consider a move abroad

Why London?

London is a very accessible market for the Australian actuary.

Firstly, the market is significantly larger, offering a lot of opportunity. London is a global insurance hub; the home of the centuries-old Lloyd's insurance market and fielding the offices of many global insurance companies.

The market size means more roles on offer, but also greater depth and diversity in the work. From a professional perspective, this offers excellent learning opportunities working with global exposures, and a wider range of products and systems not commonly seen in Australia.

Secondly, there are many professional similarities to Australia, making it easier to transfer your skills. My Australian actuarial qualifications were recognised here, allowing me to apply for similar level roles. I also observed many similarities (but also some notable differences!) in how regulations were applied in the UK and Australian contexts. Being an English-speaking country with similar cultural norms can reduce the friction in using your soft skills in people leadership, communication and business writing.

Thirdly, there are favourable visa conditions for Australians. I applied to the “Youth Mobility Scheme” , available to Australian citizens aged 18 to 35, which allows you to live and work in the UK for up to three years with few prerequisite conditions.

This visa can be granted up to six months ahead of your intended travel date. Not requiring employer sponsorship can make it easier to land your first role, especially if you are unknown in the UK market. That said, sponsored positions are available – typically from larger employers – and, if you work for a global company, there may be attractive internal pathways for overseas transfers, with assistance for relocation or visa expenses.

When is a good time (professionally) to go?

Below are a few considerations for different levels of experience. It should be read as a rough guide only, noting that everyone will have different specific skills and personal goals, and is heavily informed by my own opinion and the peers I’ve spoken to.

Pre-qualification (or less than four years’ experience)

For those looking to move permanently to the UK, getting London market experience and moving to a sponsored position may be beneficial if permanent residency is a goal. However, there are some challenges at this level.

Early-career professionals typically earn more modest salaries due to lack of experience and have less savings - and London can be an expensive place to live. Also, if you wish to continue working toward qualification, you may have the added challenge of balancing study and work, navigating study leave allowances and finding new support/study networks.

Newly/nearly qualified (or four to eight years’ experience)

In my opinion, this is an ideal time to move. With demonstrable work experience and a good understanding of core insurance concepts, you can better market yourself to potential employers.

In my own job search, I came across many roles advertised at this level, and there seemed to be a little more flexibility from employers for those wanting to move between specialisations (e.g., reserving to pricing).

Experienced post-qualification (or nine or more years’ experience)

This is the level I was at for my move. At this level, you are typically assuming leadership responsibilities and/or require deep market/specialist knowledge for your role. This can make it more challenging to secure a like-for-like or upward role when you are moving into a new market. Many, but not all, employers preferred previous London market experience. It may be helpful to have some flexibility around salary or position in securing your first role here. That said, with the depth of the London market, there are plenty of roles to compete for, and employers who value different skills, so a lot will depend on your ability to showcase your skills – and perhaps a bit of luck!

Finding work and more: To be explored in Part 2

From year to year, the job market can be volatile, depending on the insurance market cycle and the confidence of employers, so luck can definitely play a part in finding a suitable role. I found that the number of available roles varied significantly from month-to-month, and a few recruiters mentioned that there is often an increase in activity after the UK financial year ends in April, when people get their bonus/salary notices and assess their options!

In Part 2, we’ll cover more about how to find work from overseas, including the pros and cons of different routes to finding work, and considerations around the different types of roles available.