Senior Underwriter, Retail
Senior Underwriter, Retail

Senior Underwriter, Retail

London Full-Time 48000 - 72000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the development and execution of underwriting strategies for specialist motor insurance products.
  • Company: Join IQUW, a leading specialty (re)insurer at Lloyd’s with a collaborative culture.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in the insurance industry while working with a talented team.
  • Qualifications: Extensive technical knowledge in underwriting and strong analytical skills required.
  • Other info: Opportunity to build valuable relationships and enhance your professional network.

The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.

Overview

Senior Underwriter

Reporting to: Product Manager / Head of Class

Location: London

About us

IQUW is a speciality (re)insurer at Lloyd’s (Syndicate 1856) underwriting a diverse range of Property, Commercial and Speciality (re)insurance products from Cargo and Marine to Political Violence, Terror and War. We combine data, intelligent automation and human expertise to make smart decisions, fast. ERS is the UK\’s largest specialist motor insurer with an A+ rating. We recognise that for some, motor insurance is more than just a must-have; it\’s a way of taking care of what stands at the heart of their passion or livelihood. For those people, standard insurance isn\’t enough. That\’s why we work exclusively with motor insurance brokers to help get under the skin of the most difficult insurance risks, helping build products to meet their customer’s needs.

The role

ERS is a leading underwriter of a wide range of specialist motor insurance products. Within ERS’ strategy of being the UKs leading specialist motor insurer, our focus is on delivering sustainable, high margin growth through the provision of quality propositions to a wide range of broker partners.

The Senior Underwriter’s primary responsibilities are for the execution of our underwriting strategy and development of our underwriting appetite, working closely with the Pricing and Technology teams, as well as other stakeholders across the business including our operations teams. You will be responsible for materially contributing to the achievement of our short to medium-term financial plans through translating specialist underwriting knowledge into an implementable set of rules.

The role is highly market visible, involving extensive broker contact when communicating our strategy, managing the financial performance of existing relationships and in seeking to broaden our market penetration. Success in the role requires extensive technical expertise in our product(s) and frequent collaboration with other business functions to ensure that we leverage capabilities from across the business in delivering first class propositions to our chosen market.

Key responsibilities

  • Leading the development of the underwriting strategy for our product(s) based on your market knowledge and product expertise whilst being responsible for executing the underwriting strategy through working with the product delivery team.
  • Contributing to the management of portfolio performance through the analysis of results, execution of our selection and pricing strategies and providing recommendations that will drive continuous performance improvement, thus ensuring that we will meet or exceed our financial plans.
  • Working alongside the Product Performance Analysts within the team, providing them with direction and support to improve their knowledge and utilising their skills to support the delivery of our strategic goals.
  • Providing input to constantly refine our underwriting appetite to ensure that we take advantage of market opportunities and outperform our peers through superior risk selection and proactive management of our business mix.
  • Acting as a point of technical referral from other members of the underwriting team, brokers, and other internal functions, using your extensive risk, product and pricing knowledge to inform appropriate decisions in respect of those referrals.
  • Provide feedback to Product Managers & Heads of Class and to members of our Pricing team relating to the effectiveness of our risk pricing models to help us constantly drive enhanced sophistication and accuracy in our risk pricing.
  • Working closely with all areas of the business to ensure that we deliver a clear and seamless set of propositions to the market.
  • Understanding the risk environment in which we operate. Contribution to the identification and mitigation of the key risks which threaten the success and sustainability of our business.
  • Providing substantial contribution to our “first line of defence” activities, using audit and peer-review tools, complimented by exception reporting and performance MI, to constantly assess and monitor our underwriting activities to ensure that all business is being written in accordance with our stated underwriting authorities, agreed processes and in compliance with our regulatory and conduct standards.
  • Establishing and continually enhancing a range of business relationships with our key partners, ensuring that we understand and satisfy their needs and those of their customers.
  • Always ensuring that, we operate in a way which adheres to all legal and regulatory provisions.
  • We are a business which takes our stated values and behaviours seriously and are absolutely committed to always acting in ways which are ethical, compliant and appropriate. The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list and you may be required to undertake any other reasonable duties compatible with your experience and competencies. This description may be varied from time to time to reflect changing business requirements.

    Essential qualifications, skills and experience

    This role carries strategic input and financial responsibility as well as being recognised as a market leading subject matter expert in our product(s). We therefore require our role-holders to demonstrate leadership and management capabilities and to possess the following skills, attributes and knowledge:

  • The ability to collaborate with a talented team of people towards the achievement of a set of challenging financial targets.
  • Possessing extensive technical knowledge of the product(s), including the features of the product, factors that drive product performance, market dynamics which influence how the product is delivered and the requirements of customers using the product(s).
  • An analytical mindset with comprehensive skills using Microsoft Excel within your role.
  • To demonstrate gravitas and clarity of purpose which will give confidence to senior stakeholders, both internally and externally.
  • The ability to produce coherent and comprehensive Microsoft PowerPoint presentations to be presented at various committees, including senior stakeholders, both internally and externally.
  • Extensive commercial awareness, being able to spot and take advantage of opportunities and to fulfil their role in a way which enhances our financial performance.
  • Detailed understanding of pricing practices and methodologies with the ability and experience to help us constantly enhance our pricing capability, providing insight and feedback on our pricing models
  • Interpersonal skills which will allow you to build and maintain value-adding relationships. You must be able to articulate what a mutually beneficial relationship looks like and be comfortable having difficult conversations with business-partners and colleagues.
  • Extensive knowledge of and experience in a sophisticated underwriting control environment which allows us to execute ‘first line of defence’ activity, with a focus on constant performance improvement.
  • Extensive knowledge of the legal, regulatory and compliance provisions that
  • Senior Underwriter, Retail employer: ERS

    IQUW is an exceptional employer located in the heart of London, offering a dynamic work culture that values collaboration and innovation. Employees benefit from extensive professional development opportunities, competitive compensation, and a commitment to ethical practices, all while being part of a leading specialist motor insurer with a strong market presence. Join us to make impactful contributions in a supportive environment where your expertise is recognised and valued.
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    Contact Detail:

    ERS Recruiting Team

    StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

    We think this is how you could land Senior Underwriter, Retail

    Tip Number 1

    Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at events. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.

    Tip Number 2

    Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Knowing IQUW's underwriting strategy and market position will show you're genuinely interested and ready to contribute.

    Tip Number 3

    Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills and experience align with the Senior Underwriter role. Highlight your technical expertise and how you can drive performance improvements.

    Tip Number 4

    Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at IQUW.

    We think you need these skills to ace Senior Underwriter, Retail

    Underwriting Strategy Development
    Market Knowledge
    Product Expertise
    Portfolio Performance Management
    Data Analysis
    Risk Selection
    Technical Referral
    Pricing Knowledge
    Collaboration Skills
    Microsoft Excel
    Microsoft PowerPoint
    Commercial Awareness
    Interpersonal Skills
    Regulatory Compliance
    Performance Improvement

    Some tips for your application 🫡

    Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Underwriter role. Highlight your relevant experience in underwriting, especially in motor insurance, and showcase your technical expertise. 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 this role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention your understanding of market dynamics and your analytical mindset.

    Showcase Your Collaboration Skills: Since this role involves working closely with various teams, make sure to highlight your collaboration skills. Share examples of how you've successfully worked with others to achieve financial targets or improve performance in previous roles.

    Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from our team!

    How to prepare for a job interview at ERS

    Know Your Products Inside Out

    As a Senior Underwriter, you need to demonstrate extensive technical knowledge of the products you'll be dealing with. Brush up on the features, market dynamics, and customer requirements of the insurance products relevant to IQUW. This will not only show your expertise but also your commitment to understanding the role.

    Showcase Your Analytical Skills

    Be prepared to discuss how you've used data analysis in your previous roles. Since the job requires an analytical mindset and proficiency in Microsoft Excel, think of specific examples where your analytical skills led to improved performance or decision-making. Bring along any relevant reports or presentations to illustrate your points.

    Demonstrate Strong Interpersonal Skills

    This role involves extensive broker contact, so it's crucial to showcase your interpersonal skills during the interview. Prepare to discuss how you've built and maintained relationships in the past, especially in challenging situations. Highlight your ability to articulate mutually beneficial outcomes and navigate difficult conversations.

    Prepare for Technical Questions

    Expect to face technical questions related to underwriting strategies and pricing methodologies. Review common practices and be ready to discuss how you've contributed to portfolio performance in your previous roles. This will help you convey your expertise and readiness to take on the responsibilities of the position.

    Senior Underwriter, Retail
    ERS
    Location: London
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    • Senior Underwriter, Retail

      London
      Full-Time
      48000 - 72000 £ / year (est.)
    • E

      ERS

      50-100
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