PC Reserving Actuary
Posted Sep 18, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
Where are you in the exam process, and how do you balance study time with work deadlines?
What they are checking: Whether they can make steady exam progress while still delivering quarterly work on time.
Tell me about a time your analysis led to a different answer than people expected. How did you handle it?
What they are checking: Whether they can stand behind sound work with care when results are unwelcome.
What would you do
Claims tells you they have sped up how fast they close claims. How does that affect your reserve analysis?
What they are checking: Whether they recognize that a change in settlement speed distorts development patterns and adjust for it.
You pull data for your analysis and something looks off in one accident year. What do you do?
What they are checking: Whether they check data for reasonableness and trace issues to the source before using it.
How would you explain to a finance leader why reserves went up this quarter even though fewer claims were reported?
What they are checking: Whether they can translate actuarial results into plain reasons non-actuaries can act on.
About the work
Walk me through the chain ladder method and when it gives you a misleading answer.
What they are checking: Whether they understand the method's assumptions and know when changing patterns break it.
When would you rely on Bornhuetter-Ferguson instead of a pure development method?
What they are checking: Whether they know that immature years and sparse data call for blending in an expected loss ratio.
This role supports monthly storm reserve analysis. How would you estimate reserves for a hail storm that happened two weeks ago?
What they are checking: Whether they can use claim counts, average severity and past events when normal development data is not yet there.
What is the difference between case reserves, IBNR and loss adjustment expense reserves?
What they are checking: Whether they have the core reserving vocabulary needed for financial reporting.
What tools have you used for reserving, like Excel, SQL, R or Python, and what did you build?
What they are checking: Whether they can build and maintain the spreadsheet and database files the role depends on.
How would you spot an emerging loss trend, like rising severity in auto claims, before it shows in the full results?
What they are checking: Whether they look at leading indicators and partner with Claims to understand what is driving changes.
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As published by COUNTRY Financial.