Underwriting Assistant in Leeds

First Title is the UK division of First American Financial Corporation (“FAFC”). First American Financial Corporation is a leading global provider of title insurance and settlement services for residential and commercial real estate transactions. One of our subsidiaries, First Title Insurance plc (FTI) is a leading insurer of risks involving title and related areas of property and property finance.

You will assist with the daily underwriting and processing of commercial and residential risks ensuring that new business is secured in addition to learning about the various risks and underwriting them effectively. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Reviewing/summarising files, gathering information for Underwriters and dealing with new enquiries and queries via the telephone and through written contact.
• Checking policy wording, demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of policy coverage and discussing this confidently with external and internal clients.
• Ensuring that systems are maintained and updated as required.
• Developing and maintaining excellent working relationships with key clients and brokers in the UK ensuring a consistently high level of service.

This is an excellent opportunity to grow your career within Underwriting. Our internal training programme will equip you with the knowledge and skills to progress your underwriting career. We also encourage employees to seek professional growth and development, therefore we sponsor individuals wishing to undertake professional qualifications through our Continuous Professional Development scheme.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with the daily underwriting and processing of commercial and residential risks.
• Review and summarise files gathering information on cases for referral to more senior underwriters.
• Ensure policy wording is correct and demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of policy coverage.
• Deal with new enquiries and queries via telephone and in writing and adhere to service standards.
• Input, update and maintain data so systems accurately reflect current position.
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with clients and maintain high levels of service.
• Work within prescribed objectives and procedures ensuring that all the requirements of department guidelines, service, regulatory and technical standards are met.
• Be proactive in considering the department’s processes and in highlighting the need for change/improvement.
• Understand external/internal clients’ needs and work with team to meet these needs.
• Achieve and maintain technical competence in accordance with company standards.
• Model and promote First Title Values in all aspects of your daily work (Integrity, Commitment, Teamwork, Service and Leadership).
• Undertake legal research, projects and other reasonable duties as assigned by line manager.
• Continually develop industry and marketplace knowledge.
• Travel including to other sites within the First Title Group is required.

Adhere to Conduct Rules

You must:

• Act with integrity.
• Act with due skill, care and diligence.
• Be open and co-operative with the FCA, the PRA and other regulators.
• Pay due regard to the interests of customers and treat them fairly.
• Observe proper standards of market conduct.
• Act to deliver good outcomes for retail customers.

Personal Qualities

• Strong degree (minimum 2:1) /legal/insurance/property professional qualification desirable.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to liaise at all levels.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and delivery focus.
• Proactively plans and organises work, clearly identifying priorities to meet objectives.
• Outstanding customer service skills and the ability to build strong business relationships.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Takes personal responsibility for actions and decisions.
• Willingly provides help and support for others.
• Competent in using Microsoft office suite.
• Remains positive despite difficulty, disappointment and when under pressure.
• Builds rapport with colleagues, contributing to the effectiveness of the team.
• Is open to change and demonstrates flexibility.
• Demonstrates a ‘can do’ attitude.
• Is aware of personal development needs and raises issues with manager.
• Takes on board comments about development needs and is always willing to learn.

About You

To be successful, candidates should possess the following:

• A good degree (minimum 2:1) or a legal/insurance/property professional qualification or relevant experience.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to liaise at all levels.
• Ability to develop business relationships.
• Strong organisational and analytical skills.
• The ability to prioritise your workload often within tight deadlines whilst still maintaining a high attention to detail.
• Flexibility in providing help and support for others and building good working relationships with your team colleagues.
• A positive, can-do approach.

You will need to demonstrate an interest in a sales/client facing role, be comfortable in a commercial negotiating environment, have a strong desire to succeed and be willing and able to gain knowledge quickly in order to successfully analyse risks, devise commercially viable solutions and manage relationships. Above all, to be successful in this role you need to show enthusiasm, drive and a positive working attitude. For this you will be rewarded with the opportunity for a very successful career within an expanding global company.

Diversity and Inclusion

First Title has a positive commitment to the promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion for all current and prospective employees. Our objective is to cultivate and promote an inclusive culture that maximises the talent, skills and diversity within our workforce.