Underwriting Manager | Sandton
Our client a leading Banking and Finance Giant, has a fantastic opportunity for an Underwriting Manager to manage who will plan and control the Underwriting Department to profitably grow the risk book on an underwriting and administration basis; in line with the company’s business strategy
Job Responsibilities:
- Ensure the implementation and development of underwriting management strategies.
- Manage and monitor short term underwriting requirements and decisions to ensure cost effectiveness of pricing.
- Provide input into budget determination around headcount and cost of landing business.
- Ensure transformational targets are met.
- Contribute to a culture of transformation by participating in the company’s culture building initiatives, business strategy, and CSI.
- Stay abreast of developments in field of expertise, ensuring personal and professional growth.
- Lead organisational change initiatives by providing direction and aligning to strategy and culture.
- Ensure issues raised in culture surveys are addressed and results are improved.
- Deliver a world class service through others by ensuring a client centric culture through required interventions.
- Identify areas of resource inefficiencies and promote optimization through multi-skilling and addressing capacity gaps.
- Manage adherence to agreed SLAs.
- Update any service agreement / contracts in place as and when required, including annual review.
- Make formal presentations to all business stakeholders to promote and enhance stronger business relationship.
- Collaborate with internal and external clients through attending business meetings and presentations and attending underwriting specific seminars.
- Manage and monitor short term underwriting decisions.
- Accept and authorize high levels risks within company guidelines.
- Develop, implement and update the underwriting rules outcomes based on current approach to specific impairments.
- Conduct underwriting audits bi-annually to ensure underwriting philosophy and decision-making in keeping with the risk appetite.
- Ensure automated workflow within the administration system is delivering the desired outcome.
- Optimize efficiency and embed correct values by ensuring direct reports understand and support the company’s vision, values and strategy.
- Manage performance of direct reports and hold them accountable for managing the performance of their reports by implementing performance agreements and ensuring a clear vision.
- Maintain a high performing team by identifying a talent pool through conducting career conversations and using the talent grid principles and developing talent retention programmes.
- Build depth of skills and knowledge in the team.
- Ensure continuous improvement goals are achieved.
- People Specification
Qualification:
- Bachelors Degree in Insurance or Risk Management or similar qualification (NQF 7)
- Higher Certificate or Advanced Certificate in Short Term Insurance and/ or Underwriting qualification
- RE5 and/or RE 1
- Essential Certifications
- FAIS Regulatory Examination 1 qualification
- Membership of the Insurance Institute of South Africa (AIISA)
- Preferred Certifications
- Membership of the Insurance Institute of SA (AIISA)
Experience:
- 7 to 10 years in Short Term Underwriting (Personal Lines) with a minimum of 3 years in a Senior underwriter / management role.
Technical / Professional Knowledge:
- Business administration and management
- Change management
- Financial Accounting Principles
- Governance, Risk and Controls
- Organisational behaviour theory
- Relevant regulatory knowledge
- Strategic planning
- Management information and reporting principles, tools and mechanisms
- Quality management and lean methodologies
- Medical and Financial Knowledge
- Behavioural Competencies
- Adaptability
- Aligning Performance for Success
- Coaching
- Decision Making
- Building partnerships
- Driving for Results
- Planning and Organizing