Q&A Germany: Peter Devlin

Explain what motivated you to seek employment overseas

My wife and I had our first child while we were living in London and wanted to avoid the commute. Also, my wife is German and we both like climbing the Alps.

How did you find the role you are doing?

Strangely enough, I was contacted out of the blue and asked if I was interested at working at Mercer in Munich.

What attracted you to working in Germany?

The quality of life in Munich is extremely good. It is close to the mountains and lakes, and just a two-and-a-half-hour journey (with the obligatory speeding fine in Austria) to Italy. Plus, relative to London, it has very good housing and schools that are not expensive.

What were the main challenges you faced when moving overseas?

Learning the language as many people in Germany speak very good English. Schools in the UK should put much more effort into correcting the foreign language deficit we have.

What are the main differences you have found working overseas compared with working in the UK?

The amount of travelling I do is greater as Germany is much more decentralised
than the UK.

What is the most topical industry issue facing actuaries in Germany?

Within total rewards, many are questioning the principles of the past two decades: pension financing based on financial economics that don't really work as the theory would like and compensation based on endeavouring to 'align' top pay with shareholder interests.

What is the best thing about where you work?

The variation in work and having built a very successful team from nothing in just
five years.

And the worst?

Doing an M&A-related project on a Saturday afternoon when it's sunny.

Tell us an unusual fact about Germany.

The population is falling by the equivalent of Aachen (a town on the Western border with a population of around 250,000) every year.

Do you have any advice for others seeking overseas work?

Go for it. Even if it does not make financial sense immediately, it is worth gaining the experience, learning a new language and a new way of looking at things.

Can you identify your international experience with any particular well known film or book?

I normally identify myself with Woland of the Master and the Margarita, by Mikhail Bulgakov - the mysterious gentleman visiting Moscow with a gun-toting cat and his valet. The English Patient, by Michael Ondaatje, gets mentioned a lot in Germany, but usually refers to our car industry of old.

Would you describe yourself as a global actuary and why?

Actually, I used to do a lot of 'global actuary' international work and consolidation, but at Deloitte I would see myself more as the English actuary who can also do German.

Where do you call 'home'?

My house near Munich. Also, where my mother lives in north-east England - one can have more than one home.

What is your favourite local custom/tradition and do you join in?

I am relatively immune from traditions in both Germany and England. They are all made up anyway to suit the current politics of the day.

Have you learnt a new language?

German, although I tend to speak 'consulting' German that is some way from the 'ur' - language of Goethe. I like the current English fashion for putting 'über' in front of a noun to emphasise it - for example, 'über-boss'.

Have you taken up a new sport/pastime?

We do a lot of canoeing and climbing.

How often do you read The Actuary magazine? Do you read it online or in print? 

In print every month, usually on a train ride.

Do your colleagues read it?

No, as they read Der Aktuar!