Junior ERM Analyst

Location: Des Moines, Iowa, United States Department: Risk Management

American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company is a leading provider of annuity solutions designed to help clients protect and grow retirement income. Part of Brookfield Wealth Solutions, we partner with more than 40,000 financial professionals and help fund over half a million retirements nationwide. Recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies and named a Top Workplace in Iowa, American Equity fosters a collaborative and purpose-driven culture where employees are empowered to ignite their passion and help shape the future of financial services.

Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, with satellite offices in New York, NY, American Equity provides opportunities for employees to support work across the enterprise, including our sister company, American National, headquartered in Houston, Texas.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Junior ERM Analyst supports the Enterprise Risk Management function by assisting in the identification, assessment, monitoring, and reporting of risks across the organization. The position supports the maintenance of the company’s ERM framework, risk registers, key risk indicators, risk reporting, and related governance activities. The role has a focus on risks relevant to the life and annuity insurance industry, including operations, insurance, investment, financial, regulatory and strategic risks. This individual collaborates across the company with business units and risk-related functions, including Compliance and Internal audit, to support coordinated and effective risk management activities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists in the preparation of risk reports, dashboards, presentations, and other materials for senior leadership and other governance committees.
• Supports risk identification, assessment, monitoring, and reporting activities across business units.
• Maintains risk registers and tracks risk treatment plans, mitigation activities, responsible parties, target dates, and status updates.
• Performs basic risk analysis, including scenario analysis, trend analysis, data comparisons, and identification of emerging risk themes.
• Assists with the collection, validation, analysis, and reporting of key risk indicators, key performance indicators, and other risk-related metrics.
• Coordinates risk surveys, interviews, workshops, and information requests with business units and risk-related functions.
• Monitors reported risk events, incidents, and near misses and assists with documenting root causes, corrective actions, and lessons learned.
• Supports applicable regulatory, examination, audit, and management reporting activities by gathering and validating requested information.
• Assists with developing, maintaining, and periodically reviewing ERM policies, procedures, standards, methodologies, and supporting documentation.
• Performs quality-control reviews of risk information for completeness, accuracy, consistency, and appropriate documentation.
• Identifies incomplete, inconsistent, or potentially significant risk information and escalates concerns to ERM management.
• Maintains ERM records and supporting documentation in accordance with applicable record-retention and information-governance requirements.
• Supports special projects and performs other related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None required for this position.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Finance, Actuarial Science, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Data Analytics, or related fields.
• Zero to two years of relevant experience in risk management, insurance, compliance, audit, finance, actuarial analysis, or a related role.
• Experience with life or annuity insurance products, operations, or regulatory requirements is preferred.
• Experience using an enterprise risk management, governance, risk, and compliance, or related workflow system is preferred

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS

• No professional certification or license is required.
• Interest in pursuing, or progress toward, a relevant professional designation is preferred. Examples include Associate in Risk Management (ARM), Financial Risk Manager (FRM), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or another insurance, audit, compliance, actuarial, or risk-related designation.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Basic understanding of enterprise risk management concepts, including risk identification, risk assessment, risk response, risk monitoring, and risk reporting.
• Basic understanding of regulatory and governance requirements affecting life insurers, including applicable NAIC requirements and the Own Risk and Solvency Assessment process.
• Ability to collect, organize, validate, analyze, and summarize quantitative and qualitative information.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to identify inconsistencies, missing information, unusual trends, and potential data-quality concerns.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear summaries and presentation materials.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
• Familiarity with data visualization, reporting tools, ERM systems, or governance, risk, and compliance platforms is preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, meet deadlines, and maintain accurate supporting documentation.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively with employees at various levels and across multiple business functions.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and appropriately escalate risk-related concerns.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Commitment to professional integrity, objectivity, and continuous learning.

DECISION-MAKING AND ACCOUNTABILITY

• Conducts analysis and pro