David Ntow
Senior captive accountant
Willis Towers Watson
Personal bio: I was born in Accra, Ghana, West Africa. I’m a family-oriented young man and I love spending my leisure time running, boxing and watching movies/TV series.
I sometimes go to the beach and enjoy a whole lot of outdoor activities. I’m also a foodie and love exploring all kinds of cuisines.
Professional profile: I am a graduate of Oxford Brookes University (BSc. Hons Applied Accounting), a Fellow Chartered Accountant with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and a full member with the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).
My first role was in a sales/marketing; thereafter I worked in external audit then moved into an accounting role. I have work experience spanning across Ghana, Nigeria and New Zealand.
How did you end up in the captive industry?
I’ve always wanted to work in the financial services sector with a multinational firm and so when I saw the role of a captive accountant advertised by Willis Towers Watson (WTW) I quickly applied. I had no clue of what a captive was but thanks to my chartered accountant studies and experience I knew about special purpose vehicles/entities hence I developed a keen interest right at the first interview and started to read more on the captive insurance industry. Soon after a few months my interest continued to peak and landed me here today.
What has been your highlight in the captive industry so far?
This industry has granted me the platform of dealings with c-level/c-suite personnel and has broadened my horizon in areas such as corporate governance, leadership, strategy and financial reporting. It has also provided learning grounds about wider areas of the industry from my daily interaction with other professionals such as actuaries, bankers, auditors, lawyers, etc.
What/who have been your influences in the captive industry?
My manager and CEO have had the biggest influence on me. I have also come to understand certain unrelated industries more such as power/energy, agriculture/food, FMCG due to the nature of services we provide them.
What is your impression of the industry?
A few words to encapsulate it are innovative, technology-driven, clientfocused and creative.
What are your aspirations for your career in the captive industry?
I’d like to gain further years of experience and knowledge in order to attain the specialist skill needed to provide the excellent consulting services required various business outfits in the marketspace.
What advice do you have for someone considering a role in the industry?
Ideally having some sort of industry knowledge is vital but not essential if you are a quick study. Speak to other industry stalwarts in order to know of the various roles available so you can hone your skills towards the division that is most relevant to you.
Peter Lowe, CEO, Willis Towers Watson New Zealand “David has developed very quickly in understanding the extremely complex business of captive insurance companies, alternative risk transfer methodologies and international reinsurance. This is a vital skill in the current marketplace with retail insurers being under capacity and pricing pressures, and it is our job to bring smarter solutions to our international client base”
