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- Tasks: Join our team to develop underwriting standards and support medical underwriting processes.
- Company: Canada Life UK, part of Great-West Lifeco, committed to building better futures.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension, bonus scheme, and private medical insurance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the insurance industry while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Medical underwriting experience and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Standards underwriter role at Canada Life UK.
Start Date: January 2026
Canada Life UK looks after the retirement, investment and protection needs of individuals, families and companies. We help to build better futures for our customers, our intermediaries and our employees by operating as a modern, agile and welcoming organisation. Part of the parent company Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life UK has operated in the United Kingdom since 1903. We are transforming to create a more customer-focused business by offering expertise on financial and tax planning, home finance, annuities and collective fund solutions.
Job Summary
The role holder will become a core member of the centralised Underwriting Research, Development and Standards team of subject matter experts responsible for the development of underwriting philosophy and processes that will apply across the Insurance Division. This includes ensuring the relevant risks and control processes, documentation and approvals processes are in place, communicated across the company’s underwriter population and are adhered to. We are looking for an experienced Medical Underwriter to work within our Underwriting Standards team to deliver outstanding service. With experience in medical underwriting and a recognised underwriting authority across Enhanced Annuities, Life, Income Protection or Critical Illness, you will be involved in case underwriting and auditing alongside working with other members of the team to develop our underwriting processes and philosophies. You will also work with operational teams to provide case support and your expert view.
What You’ll Do
- Provide fair and balanced underwriting decisions within own authority limits assessing initial applications, additional medical or other underwriting evidence and team referrals
- Develop and review different underwriting philosophies and processes, identifying any improvements and changes required, deliver on underwriting standards, risks and controls
- Review appropriate controls/limits/evidence requirements to ensure risks are accepted in line with company and industry guidelines
- Lead on relevant team projects and be responsible for their delivery
- Provide training to the operations teams/underwriter population and identify where training is required to upskill
- Provide guidance and support to the operations teams on processes and complex cases, acting as a second opinion and providing objective views on cases when appropriate
- Review underwriting decisions for quality sampling, assess accuracy and provide appropriate feedback in line with underwriting philosophy, raising any concerns over standards appropriately
- Effectively identify and report risks and risk events, suggest ways to measure, monitor and manage
- Work within and support the UnderwritingRDS team to deliver on team objectives and support the Chief Underwriter as required
- Manage relationships with stakeholders, internal and external, including reinsurers and third‑party providers
- Maintain a high level of underwriting knowledge to provide advice, guidance, training and support to the operational teams and senior management
Who You Are
- Experience of working within a medical underwriting team and making an accurate assessment of medical and other underwriting evidence
- Detailed understanding of medical underwriting risk factors
- Able to underwrite for multiple product lines, including enhanced annuity products
- Full understanding of industry standards including the ABI’s Statement of Best Practice including genetics, and how they apply
- Fully conversant with underwriting manuals and processes
- Ability to develop and review different underwriting philosophies and processes, making necessary comments and changes
- Ability to audit underwriting decisions and provide feedback
- To provide fair and balanced underwriting decisions within own authority limits
- Detailed understanding of the company’s products which require underwriting input
- Maintains underwriting knowledge with industry and market changes
- Proactive approach to your own learning and development is expected to ensure that underwriting practices and skills are continually improved
- Good Excel, Word and PowerPoint skills
- The role holder will have previous medical underwriting experience, ideally a minimum of two years, across underwriting operations and development
Curious and customer focused with an ability to think innovatively.
Strong communicator who can work collaboratively with a wide network of colleagues across Canada Life and externally, including reinsurers.
Able to explain complex situations in simple terms and to people at different levels. Able to influence and persuade and respected as an expert.
Confident presenter as will need to be comfortable providing training and coaching to the underwriting population.
Qualifications
- Completion or progress towards Diploma in Life and Disability Underwriting, CII or other industry recognised qualifications are desirable
Benefits Of Working At Canada Life
We believe in recognising and rewarding our people, so we offer a competitive salary and benefits package that’s regularly reviewed. As a Canada Life UK colleague, you’ll receive a competitive salary and comprehensive reward package including a generous pension and bonus scheme, along with income protection, private medical insurance and life assurance. We have a fantastic number of other benefits and support services as well as regular personal and professional development.
How We Work At Canada Life
Our culture is unique and incredibly important to us. We care about doing the right thing for our people, customers and community and helping others to build better futures. Our blueprint behaviours shape and influence how we work, and are central to the relationships we have with others. Every day we are encouraged to be more curious, own the outcome, face into things together and find a way forward. We want colleagues to have rewarding careers with us so we invest in the development of our people, technology and workplaces. That’s why we offer a range of training, flexible working and opportunities to grow and develop.
Diversity and inclusion
Building an inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce where everyone can feel they belong and achieve their potential regardless of gender, ethnicity or any other characteristic is a key commitment for us. We are proud of the progress we’re making in DEI, and we continue for it to be a significant focus.
Flexibility and work arrangements
We appreciate that everyone has different work and life responsibilities. We’re happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, including part time, for any of our roles should this be a requirement for you.
Seniority level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Finance and Sales
Salary
£34,000.00 – £37,000.00 per annum
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Standards underwriter employer: Canada Life UK
Contact Detail:
Canada Life UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Standards underwriter
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the insurance industry, especially those who work at Canada Life. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your medical underwriting knowledge. Be ready to discuss your experience with different product lines and how you’ve contributed to improving underwriting processes in the past.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your soft skills! Being a strong communicator is key in this role. Think of examples where you've influenced decisions or trained others, and be ready to share them during your interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Canada Life team.
We think you need these skills to ace Standards underwriter
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Standards Underwriter role. Highlight your medical underwriting experience and any relevant qualifications. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about underwriting and how you can contribute to our team. Keep it concise but impactful – we love a good story!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to mention your technical skills, especially in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. We’re looking for someone who can navigate these tools with ease, so let us know how you’ve used them in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Canada Life UK
✨Know Your Underwriting Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your medical underwriting knowledge before the interview. Be ready to discuss specific underwriting philosophies and processes you've worked with, as well as any improvements you've implemented in past roles.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since the role involves working with various stakeholders, practice explaining complex underwriting concepts in simple terms. Think of examples where you've successfully communicated with teams or clients, and be prepared to share those stories.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your decision-making skills in underwriting scenarios. Prepare by thinking through how you would handle different cases, including any challenges you faced in the past and how you resolved them.
✨Demonstrate Your Collaborative Spirit
This role requires teamwork, so be ready to discuss how you've collaborated with others in previous positions. Highlight any training or coaching you've provided to less experienced underwriters and how you’ve contributed to team projects.