"My route was reasonably direct. I was good at maths so, before I applied to university, a careers adviser suggested the actuarial profession. As it was a shorter degree than dentistry I went for it! I also knew that it was a reputable profession that solved practical problems.

I love the team ethos. On my very first day at PricewaterhouseCoopers, I was taken to a client meeting so I really felt part of things and that I was making a contribution. Strangely enough, another highlight came when I had to work late one evening. I didn't expect to enjoy it (as normally, I'm off home by 6pm) but I was working with seven or eight other people and I look back on it as a key moment. You get a huge sense of achievement when you complete a tough project and there's a lot more variety than I expected.

I particularly enjoyed meeting senior people on a recent project. I remember one meeting where I was obviously less experienced than many of the Board members, but they really listened to my opinions because I had the specific actuarial knowledge. I also enjoy the non-actuarial aspects of my job, for example, I advise companies generally on risk management, not just general insurance issues, and I enjoy the early responsibility I have been given to manage junior members of my team.

And because the profession is constantly evolving, you never get bored. You can also develop a lot of transferable skills. The exams are definitely challenging so you do need to be focused. I qualified in under three years but I had to give up quite a few weekends to do this! But it is definitely worth it. If you're numerate and analytical, this is a fun, challenging job with great rewards."