IFoA brings prestigious Quality Assurance Scheme to Asia

The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) is announcing the pilot of its prestigious Quality Assurance Scheme (QAS) in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. This follows the successful launch of the QAS across the UK in September 2015. In its first 18 months, the scheme has already had strong take-up, with around 25% of UK-based actuaries now working for a QAS accredited organisation.

The QAS allows an organisation to give stakeholders a new level of assurance around its commitment to high quality actuarial work. The voluntary scheme is open to any organisation which employs one or more actuaries. Once accredited, an organisation will be able to use the QAS mark and branding to show that it adheres to the rigorous criteria.

Colin Wilson, IFoA President, said:

For the IFoA, promoting and maintaining high standards in actuarial work and protecting the profession’s strong reputation is in our DNA - that’s why we created the QAS. We are delighted to be extending the scheme to Asia and our engagement in the region has been consistently positive and welcoming. It’s great to see such a wide range of interest from actuarial employers with Actuarial Partners,  AIA Group, the insurance consulting practice of Willis Towers Watson and an international insurance broking firm taking part in the pilot.”

To gain accreditation, organisations must demonstrate that they maintain and apply high quality policies and procedures to their actuarial work, and that these are embedded within the organisation’s culture.  An independent assessment team will oversee the evaluation process, highlighting new ideas or different approaches.

Colin Wilson continued:

We believe the QAS provides recognition of excellence and helps to ensure that actuaries are supported by their employers. It also gives organisations displaying the QAS mark an added advantage, as it acts as a clear signal to clients and peers that those accredited are promoting best practice in their actuarial work. As we bring the scheme and all its benefits to Asia, running it as a pilot allows us to be nimble and adapt the scheme as necessary to ensure it provides the best fit for the region.”

Mr Zainal Abidin Mohd Kassim, Managing Director of Actuarial Partners, a consultancy based in Malaysia that is participating in the pilot, said:

Actuarial Partners have always had a strong focus on quality, so with QAS now available outside of the UK we are proud to be a part of this."

Mr Garth Jones, Group Chief Financial Officer of Hong Kong based AIA Group said:

Participation in the QAS demonstrates our commitment to AIA's operating philosophy of doing the right thing, in the right way and with the right people.  An effective actuarial function that upholds our quality and control requirements is critical to ensuring our strategies and financial results are delivered in a sustainable way.”