At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead underwriting strategy and manage key accounts for sustainable growth.
- Company: Join Ecclesiastical Insurance, part of Benefact Group, in a dynamic team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, generous bonuses, and health perks.
- Other info: Inspire and develop talent in a supportive environment with career growth.
- Why this job: Shape a core portfolio while balancing profitability with customer satisfaction.
- Qualifications: ACII or equivalent with senior underwriting experience required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
Working hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Duration: Permanent
Location: Gloucester
Job Ref: 204890
About the Role
Ecclesiastical Insurance, who are proudly part of Benefact Group, are looking for a Head of Underwriting Direct to join our Gloucester office. We’re looking for an experienced Head of Underwriting Direct to lead underwriting strategy, quality, and financial performance across our Direct portfolio. You’ll be the figurehead for technical excellence and owner of portfolio outcomes, proactively managing key accounts and coaching our Underwriting talent to deliver sustainable, profitable growth and exceptional retention.
In this influential leadership role within the Direct Team, you’ll set direction and pace driving portfolio results, shaping pricing at both portfolio and key account level, and driving the team to turn underwriting strategy into day‑to‑day delivery balancing commercial goals with good customer outcomes. If you want the opportunity to own and shape a core portfolio, have a proven senior UW track record, and a passion for balancing profitability with customer outcomes, we’d love to hear from you.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Portfolio performance: Own results across GWP, New Business, Retention, Rate Movement, and Profitability - balancing commercial targets with good customer outcomes.
- Pricing strategy: Shape pricing strategies at both portfolio and key account level.
- Business planning: Act as a lead contributor to planning, bringing incisive analysis and constructive challenge.
- Underwriting Excellence
- Standards & risk appetite: Set and maintain underwriting standards; actively engage with UK Underwriting Risk Appetite to ensure alignment and adherence.
- Authority framework: Use your own authority to best effect; cascade authority appropriately and govern it rigorously.
- Strategy into delivery: Translate UW strategy into day‑to‑day practice, challenging where needed to support customer needs and the business plan.
- Quality & audit: Lead the quality framework; meet audit and quality metrics or challenge and improve them where they are not fit for purpose - leaving clear, implementable actions.
- Competency & succession: Drive the underwriting competency framework, building capability and succession. Create and deliver technical training where relevant.
- Technical leadership: Act as the senior referral point, disseminate expertise and keep your own technical edge sharp.
- Continuous improvement: Champion smarter underwriting processes and tools that optimise accuracy, speed and underwriting quality.
- Leadership & Impact
- Develop and inspire: Coach, mentor, and stretch colleagues at all levels; set clear expectations and celebrate high performance.
- Build relationships: Collaborate and partner closely within own area and across UK business teams to optimise performance.
- Market voice: Represent underwriting matters confidently with internal stakeholders, key clients and market stakeholders.
- Do the right thing: Balance portfolio outcomes and customer in your decision making, operate within the regulatory framework.
What You’ll Need to Have
- ACII (or equivalent) and a proven track record in a senior underwriting role.
- Strong portfolio management expertise and commercial fluency.
What Makes You Stand Out
- A confident, influential communicator - credible at all levels internally and externally.
- Demonstrable coaching capability and a passion for developing others.
- The ability to apply critical thinking beyond standard guidelines and frame pragmatic, risk aware solutions.
How Success Will Be Measured
- Delivery against GWP, retention, rate and profitability targets.
- Evidenced improvements in quality/audit outcomes and referral turnaround.
- Capability uplift and succession depth against the competency framework.
- Stakeholder feedback from key accounts and internal partners.
What We Offer
- A competitive salary - let's discuss it.
- Hybrid working.
- Group Personal Pension - up to 12% employer contribution.
- Generous annual bonus scheme: on-target bonus between 10% and 40%.
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, and a holiday buy and sell scheme.
- An array of health and wellbeing benefits, including private healthcare, income protection and life assurance.
- £200 annual personal grant to a charity of your choice.
- Encouraged to take at least one volunteering day per year.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Full study support to gain professional qualifications.
- Access to virtual GP.
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
Head of Underwriting Direct in Gloucester employer: Ecclesiastical Insurance UK
Ecclesiastical Insurance, part of Benefact Group, is an exceptional employer located in Gloucester, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises employee growth and well-being. With a strong focus on coaching and developing talent, the company provides generous benefits including a competitive salary, hybrid working options, and extensive health and wellbeing support, making it an ideal place for professionals seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in underwriting.
Contact Detail:
Ecclesiastical Insurance UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Underwriting Direct in Gloucester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the insurance industry, especially those who might know someone at Ecclesiastical Insurance. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its underwriting strategies. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in how they balance profitability with customer outcomes.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to discuss your senior underwriting experience and how you’ve driven portfolio results in the past. Confidence is key, so make sure you can articulate your successes clearly.
✨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 serious about joining the team at Ecclesiastical Insurance.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Underwriting Direct in Gloucester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience that match the Head of Underwriting Direct role. Highlight your portfolio management expertise and any relevant achievements that showcase your ability to balance profitability with customer outcomes.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this position. Share your passion for underwriting and how your leadership style aligns with our values at Ecclesiastical Insurance. Don’t forget to mention your coaching capabilities!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Since this role requires technical excellence, make sure to highlight your qualifications like ACII or equivalent. Provide examples of how you've applied critical thinking in past roles to achieve successful outcomes.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ecclesiastical Insurance UK
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Head of Underwriting Direct, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of key metrics like GWP, retention rates, and profitability. Brush up on these figures and be ready to discuss how you've influenced them in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong leadership skills, so think about examples where you've successfully coached or mentored others. Be prepared to share specific instances that highlight your ability to inspire and develop talent within your team.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions around underwriting standards and risk appetite. Familiarise yourself with the latest trends and challenges in the underwriting landscape, and be ready to discuss how you would implement strategies to improve quality and audit outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Your Strategic Thinking
The interviewers will want to see your ability to translate strategy into actionable plans. Prepare to discuss how you've contributed to business planning in the past and how you would approach shaping pricing strategies for both portfolios and key accounts.
