Actuary ATS Checklist — Pass Every Screen

ATS Optimization Checklist for Actuary Resumes

Actuaries held 28,340 jobs in 2024 with 2,400 openings projected annually, yet the profession is growing 21.8% through 2034—nearly five times the average for all occupations—and median pay sits at $125,770 with top earners exceeding $206,430 ¹². That growth means more firms are hiring, more applications are flowing, and more resumes are being filtered through Applicant Tracking Systems before a credentialing manager or chief actuary ever opens a file. If your resume buries exam progression, lists "Excel" without specifying VBA macros, or formats your skills inside a two-column table, you are being screened out by software—not by a human who chose someone better.

This checklist is built specifically for actuaries—life, health, property & casualty, pension, and enterprise risk—who need their resumes to survive automated parsing and rank for the keywords recruiters and hiring managers actually search.

Key Takeaways

• Exam progression is the primary ATS filter. Recruiters search "FSA," "ASA," "Exam P," and "FCAS" as exact-match keywords before reviewing any other qualification. A dedicated Actuarial Examinations section above your work experience is non-negotiable.
• Actuarial software names are distinct ATS keywords. "Prophet" and "GGY AXIS" are searched independently from generic terms like "modeling software." Listing the specific platform names—including version context—triggers matches that generic descriptions miss.
• Quantified business impact separates ranked resumes from rejected ones. Reserve amounts ($145M IBNR), portfolio sizes ($2.1B annuity block), loss ratio improvements (4.2 percentage points), and premium volumes ($28M rate filing) all pass through ATS as searchable text and catch a hiring manager's attention in ranked results.
• SOA and CAS exam terminology must be current. The SOA restructured its exam pathway—FAM, SRM, PA, ASTAM, and ALTAM replaced the former IFM, STAM, and LTAM designations. Using outdated exam names signals stale credentials and may miss keyword matches for current postings.
• Format compliance prevents silent rejection. Tables, graphics-based skill bars, two-column layouts, and headers/footers cause ATS parsers to scramble field assignments—mixing your employer name into your skills section or dropping your FSA credential entirely.

Common ATS Keywords for Actuaries

The keywords below are drawn from O*NET task descriptions for SOC 15-2011, SOA and CAS competency frameworks, and analysis of current actuarial job postings ³⁴⁵. Organize them by category on your resume rather than listing them in a flat block.

Hard Skills

Programming & Analytics: Python (pandas, scipy, scikit-learn), R (actuar, lifecontingencies), SQL, SAS, Excel VBA, Tableau, Power BI, MATLAB, statistical programming, data visualization

Actuarial Modeling Platforms: Prophet, GGY AXIS (now Moody's AXIS), MoSes, Milliman MG-ALFA, IGLOO, TAS, ResQ, APL, Slope, RiskAgility FM

Quantitative Methods: Generalized linear models (GLM), survival analysis, credibility theory, stochastic modeling, Monte Carlo simulation, regression analysis, time series analysis, predictive analytics, machine learning, cluster analysis, experience studies, graduation methods

Core Actuarial Functions: Reserving, pricing, valuation, ratemaking, loss development, IBNR estimation, chain-ladder method, Bornhuetter-Ferguson, Mack method, premium adequacy testing, asset-liability management (ALM), capital modeling, reinsurance optimization, embedded value, cash flow testing

Soft Skills

Analytical thinking, stakeholder communication, cross-functional collaboration, executive presentation, regulatory negotiation, team leadership, mentoring, project management, peer review, technical writing

Industry Terms & Standards

Regulatory & Accounting: LDTI (Long Duration Targeted Improvements), ASC 944, ASC 960, IFRS 17, Solvency II, Actuarial Standards of Practice (ASOP), risk-based capital (RBC), NAIC, state regulatory filing, ORSA (Own Risk and Solvency Assessment), Dodd-Frank, PBR (Principle-Based Reserving)

Credentialing: SOA, CAS, Exam P, Exam FM, FAM (Fundamentals of Actuarial Mathematics), SRM (Statistics for Risk Modeling), PA (Predictive Analytics), ASTAM (Advanced Short-Term Actuarial Mathematics), ALTAM (Advanced Long-Term Actuarial Mathematics), ASA, FSA, ACAS, FCAS, CERA (Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst), MAAA (Member of the American Academy of Actuaries), VEE (Validation by Educational Experience)

Practice Areas: Life insurance, health insurance, property & casualty, pension, annuities, group benefits, workers' compensation, medical malpractice, commercial lines, personal lines, reinsurance, enterprise risk management (ERM)

Resume Format Requirements

ATS parsers read documents sequentially—left to right, top to bottom—and assign content to fields based on section header recognition ⁶. Actuarial resumes must comply with these formatting rules to parse correctly.

File Format

Submit as .docx unless the posting explicitly requests PDF. Word documents parse more reliably across all major ATS platforms (Workday, Taleo, iCIMS, Greenhouse, Lever). If PDF is required, export from Word rather than designing in a layout tool—this preserves the underlying text layer that ATS reads.

Layout Structure

• Single column only. Two-column layouts cause ATS to interleave left and right content. A sidebar listing exams alongside work history will merge unpredictably.
• No tables, text boxes, or graphics. Actuaries frequently use tables to organize exam pass dates or software proficiency grids. ATS reads table cells in unpredictable order or skips them entirely.
• No headers or footers for critical content. Your name, credentials (FSA, MAAA), and contact information belong in the document body—many ATS platforms ignore header/footer content during parsing.
• Standard section headings. Use exactly: "Actuarial Examinations," "Professional Summary," "Professional Experience," "Technical Skills," "Education," "Certifications." Avoid non-standard headings like "Quantitative Toolkit" or "Modeling Expertise."

Font and Spacing

Use 10–12pt in a standard font (Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman, Garamond). Minimum 0.5-inch margins. Avoid condensed or decorative fonts. Use bold for section headers and job titles only; avoid italic for critical keywords since some OCR layers misread italic characters.

Name and Credentials Header

Format your name with credentials on the first line of the document body:

MICHAEL ZHANG, FSA, MAAA, CERA
Actuary | Life & Annuity Pricing
michael.zhang@email.com | (555) 234-5678 | linkedin.com/in/michaelzhangfsa

This ensures ATS captures your FSA designation in the name field and your practice area in the title field. Including "FSA" both after your name and in your certifications section creates redundancy that guarantees parsing.

Professional Experience Optimization

Actuarial achievements become ATS-competitive when they include portfolio size, quantified outcomes, specific methodologies, and regulatory context. Generic descriptions like "performed actuarial analysis" contain no searchable differentiators.

Bullet Formula

[Action verb] + [actuarial deliverable] + [tool/method] + [scale metric] + [outcome/impact]

Before and After Examples

1. Reserve Analysis - Before: "Calculated reserves for insurance portfolio" - After: "Calculated IBNR reserves of $145M across auto liability portfolio using chain-ladder and Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods, reducing reserve margin volatility by 18% quarter-over-quarter"

2. Predictive Modeling - Before: "Built predictive models for pricing" - After: "Developed GLM-based predictive model in R improving loss ratio 4.2 percentage points on $380M personal auto portfolio, generating $16M incremental underwriting profit annually"

3. Rate Filings - Before: "Prepared rate filings for multiple states" - After: "Managed annual rate filing process across 12 states using SAS and Excel VBA, achieving regulatory approval for $28M aggregate premium increase within 90-day average turnaround"

4. Experience Studies - Before: "Conducted mortality and lapse studies" - After: "Conducted experience studies analyzing 2.3M policy records in SQL and Python to update mortality and lapse assumptions, resulting in $12M reserve release upon adoption by appointed actuary"

5. Stochastic Modeling - Before: "Ran stochastic projections for annuity products" - After: "Implemented 1,000-scenario stochastic reserve model in MoSes for $2.1B variable annuity block, quantifying tail risk at CTE 95 and supporting $45M capital optimization recommendation"

6. Process Automation - Before: "Automated reporting processes" - After: "Developed automated reserving pipeline in Python (pandas, sqlalchemy) reducing monthly close cycle from 12 days to 4 days while eliminating 3 manual data reconciliation steps"

7. Reinsurance - Before: "Analyzed reinsurance programs" - After: "Evaluated 8 reinsurance treaty structures using IGLOO catastrophe model, recommending quota share / excess-of-loss combination that reduced net retained volatility by 34% while saving $2.8M in annual cession costs"

8. Pension Valuation - Before: "Performed pension valuations" - After: "Directed ASC 960 pension valuation for 14,200-participant defined benefit plan with $1.2B in plan assets, applying PRI-2012 mortality tables with MP-2024 improvement scales and presenting funded status analysis to plan sponsor CFO"

9. Capital Modeling - Before: "Worked on capital modeling" - After: "Built economic capital model in Prophet projecting required capital across 5 risk categories, informing $500M capital allocation strategy and supporting ORSA filing submitted to lead state regulator"

10. Product Development - Before: "Helped develop new insurance products" - After: "Priced new indexed universal life product projecting $85M first-year premium, constructing hedging strategy for equity-linked crediting and achieving 12.3% IRR on statutory basis at expected persistency"

Skills Section Strategy

The skills section serves a dual purpose: keyword density for ATS matching and quick-scan reference for human reviewers. Structure it for both audiences.

Recommended Format

Group skills under 3–4 sub-headers rather than listing them in a single block. This improves both ATS parsing (clear categorization) and readability.

Actuarial Software: Prophet, GGY AXIS (Moody's AXIS), MoSes, Milliman MG-ALFA, IGLOO, RiskAgility FM

Programming & Analytics: Python (pandas, scipy, scikit-learn), R, SQL, SAS, Excel VBA, Tableau, Power BI

Actuarial Methods: GLM, stochastic modeling, Monte Carlo simulation, credibility theory, survival analysis, experience studies, cash flow testing, ALM, PBR

Regulatory & Standards: LDTI (ASC 944), IFRS 17, NAIC RBC, ORSA, Actuarial Standards of Practice (ASOP), state rate filing

Mirror the Job Posting

Read the specific job posting before submitting. If the posting says "GGY AXIS," do not write "AXIS" alone—ATS performs string matching, not conceptual matching. If the posting says "Principle-Based Reserving," use that exact phrase, not "PBR" alone. If it says "predictive analytics," use that term, not just "predictive modeling." Match their vocabulary precisely.

Certifications as Keywords

List credentials with both the abbreviation and full name on first occurrence:

• Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) — Attained 2022
• Member, American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA)
• Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst (CERA)
• SOA Exams Passed: P, FM, FAM, SRM, PA, ALTAM

This ensures ATS matches whether the recruiter searches "FSA," "Fellow," or "Society of Actuaries."

Common ATS Mistakes for Actuaries

1. Using Outdated Exam Names

The SOA restructured its preliminary exam pathway. Listing "Exam IFM" or "Exam STAM" when the current equivalents are FAM and ASTAM signals that your credentials documentation is stale. Worse, recruiters searching current exam names will not match your resume. List the exams you actually passed by their names at the time, but add a parenthetical if the name has changed: "Exam IFM (now incorporated into FAM)" ⁴.

2. Burying Exam Progression Below Work Experience

Actuarial hiring is credential-driven. Most recruiters and ATS keyword searches start with exam status. If your exam progression appears in the Education section at the bottom of page two, it may not register in ATS ranking algorithms that weight content appearing earlier in the document. Create a dedicated "Actuarial Examinations" section immediately below your contact information and professional summary.

3. Listing Modeling Platforms Without Context

Writing "Prophet" in a skills list tells ATS you have the keyword, but tells a hiring manager nothing about your proficiency level. Add brief context: "Prophet — Life insurance projection modeling, 5+ years production use, built and maintained 12 product models." This provides ATS keywords while also communicating depth to human reviewers.

4. Omitting Portfolio and Reserve Dollar Amounts

"Performed reserve analysis" contains zero differentiating information. "Performed quarterly reserve analysis for $850M individual life block" contains a practice area keyword (individual life), a function keyword (reserve analysis), and a scale indicator ($850M) that immediately communicates your level of responsibility. Dollar amounts, policy counts, and portfolio sizes are the actuarial equivalent of engineering project budgets—they signal seniority.

5. Using Graphics for Exam or Skill Proficiency

Progress bars showing "Python: 85%" or checkmarks next to exam names are invisible to ATS. The system extracts zero text from embedded graphics. Replace visual indicators with text: "Python — Advanced (5+ years: pandas, scipy, scikit-learn for GLM development and experience studies)."

6. Conflating SOA and CAS Pathways

If you are on the CAS track (property & casualty), do not list SOA fellowship-track exams you have not taken, and vice versa. Listing "FSA candidate" when you are pursuing FCAS creates confusion and may trigger a mismatch if the recruiter searches specifically for CAS credentials. Be precise about your credentialing body and pathway.

7. Submitting a Generic Resume Across Practice Areas

A life insurance actuary's keyword profile and a P&C actuary's keyword profile overlap less than candidates assume. "IBNR," "loss development," and "ratemaking" are P&C terms. "Cash flow testing," "embedded value," and "LDTI" are life terms. A resume listing all of these dilutes your relevance score for any single posting. Tailor your resume to the specific practice area.

ATS-Friendly Professional Summary Examples

Your professional summary should contain 3–5 sentences packing your highest-value keywords, credential status, years of experience, and practice area focus. ATS weights content appearing earlier in the document more heavily on some platforms ⁶.

Entry-Level: Exam-Passing Actuarial Analyst

Actuarial Analyst with 2 years of experience in life insurance reserving and financial projections. Passed SOA Exams P, FM, FAM, and SRM while developing automated valuation models in Python and SQL. Proficient in Excel VBA and Prophet with hands-on experience calculating IBNR reserves and conducting mortality experience studies for a $600M individual life block. Pursuing ASA designation with PA exam scheduled for Fall 2026.

Mid-Career: Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA)

Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA) with 7 years of progressive experience in health insurance pricing and predictive analytics. Led GLM development in R and Python improving medical loss ratio by 3.1 percentage points on $520M group health portfolio. Managed annual rate filing process across 15 states, directing team of 4 analysts while maintaining 100% regulatory approval rate. Experienced in SAS, GGY AXIS, and Tableau with demonstrated ability to translate complex actuarial analysis into executive-level recommendations.

Senior: Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA)

Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), MAAA, and CERA with 14 years of actuarial leadership spanning life insurance, annuities, and enterprise risk management. Directed actuarial function for $3.8B life and annuity carrier, overseeing pricing, reserving, capital modeling, and LDTI implementation affecting $6.2B in reserves. Built and led team of 18 actuaries and analysts while maintaining 90% exam pass rate. Expert in Prophet, stochastic modeling, and cash flow testing with proven track record of Board-level communication, regulatory relationship management, and strategic product development generating $120M in new annual premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I list every SOA or CAS exam I have passed?

Yes. List every passed exam in a dedicated section with full names and abbreviations. Recruiters search for specific exam keywords—"Exam P," "FM," "FAM," "SRM"—as filters. Omitting any passed exam means potentially missing a keyword match. For exams passed under previous names (IFM, STAM, LTAM), list the name under which you passed with a parenthetical noting the current equivalent. If you have exams scheduled but not yet taken, include the exam name and sitting date to demonstrate momentum: "Exam PA — Scheduled December 2026" ⁴.

How do I handle the ASA vs. FSA distinction on my resume?

Be precise. If you hold the ASA designation, write "Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA)" in your credentials. If you are working toward FSA, state "ASA, FSA candidate" and list completed fellowship-track modules or exams. Do not write "FSA" anywhere on your resume if you have not attained it—actuarial hiring managers verify credentials through SOA and CAS directories, and misrepresentation ends candidacy immediately. ATS will match "ASA" for ASA-level searches, and listing "FSA candidate" ensures you appear in broader fellowship-level queries ⁴⁵.

Does the programming language order in my skills section affect ATS ranking?

ATS primarily performs keyword matching regardless of position within a section. However, some platforms assign marginal weight to keywords appearing earlier in the document. More importantly, human reviewers scan skills sections in under 10 seconds. If the posting emphasizes Python, lead with Python. If it emphasizes SAS, lead with SAS. For actuarial roles, the safe default order is: Python, R, SQL, SAS, VBA—reflecting the profession's migration toward open-source tools while maintaining legacy system relevance.

Should I include my GPA and actuarial science coursework?

Include GPA if it is 3.5 or above and you graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years, exam progression and work experience completely supersede academic performance. Coursework in probability, mathematical statistics, financial mathematics, and life contingencies can be valuable for candidates with fewer than 3 passed exams because these course names overlap with ATS keywords. Once you have exam results demonstrating mastery of those subjects, remove coursework to save space for professional accomplishments ¹.

How do I optimize my resume when transitioning between P&C and life actuarial roles?

Identify the overlapping keywords and lead with those: reserving, pricing, regulatory filings, experience studies, GLM, Python, SQL. Then add target-practice-area terms from the job posting. If moving from P&C to life, incorporate "cash flow testing," "embedded value," "LDTI," "mortality," and "lapse" into your experience bullets where truthful. Quantify transferable accomplishments—reserve analysis, predictive modeling, and regulatory interactions exist in both practice areas. A strong cover letter explaining the transition rationale complements the resume by providing context ATS cannot evaluate.

What resume length is appropriate for actuaries at different career stages?

One page for candidates with fewer than 5 passed exams and under 5 years of experience. Two pages for credentialed actuaries (ASA/FSA/ACAS/FCAS) with 5+ years of experience and substantive portfolio-level accomplishments. ATS does not penalize length, but human reviewers do. A two-page resume for an analyst with 2 exams suggests poor editing. A one-page resume for an FSA with 14 years and $3B in portfolio responsibility suggests missing depth. Match your resume length to the seniority your exam progression and experience support ¹².

Should I include non-actuarial work experience?

Only if it demonstrates quantitative, analytical, or leadership skills directly relevant to actuarial work. A prior role in data science, financial analysis, or underwriting can strengthen your candidacy if you include actuarial-adjacent keywords: "statistical modeling," "loss analysis," "financial projections," "regulatory compliance." Retail or hospitality experience from before your actuarial career should be omitted after your first actuarial role unless the time gap would otherwise be unexplained.

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