At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire teams in underwriting and claims for Life & Health insurance.
- Company: Join Swiss Re, a leader in innovative insurance solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working model, and commitment to diversity.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the evolving risk landscape of insurance.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in underwriting with strong leadership and analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 84000 - 126000 £ per year.
Location: London, GB
Are you driven by the vital impact that underwriting and claims brings to Life and Health insurance? Can you guide clients through the evolving risk landscape, balancing technological innovation with prudent risk management? Do you thrive in leading and engaging teams across diverse locations, cultures, and cross‑functional disciplines? If so, this opportunity may be the next step in your career: join our L & H team as the Head of Underwriting & Claims Portfolio for UK & Ireland.
As a client‑facing leader, you will deliver, promote and shape Swiss Re's underwriting and claims strategy, playing a pivotal role in strengthening the Swiss Re UK & Ireland brand.
About the RoleWe are seeking an inspiring leader with significant underwriting experience to lead the Claims and Underwriting: Portfolio/Technical team for the UK & Ireland. You will oversee portfolio performance, providing actionable insights to support the effective management of both in‑force and new business. You will drive underwriting and claims philosophy and risk appetite both internally and in collaboration with clients and cross‑functional teams. You will work alongside the Propositions team to deliver on the UK & Ireland market strategy, ensuring our claims and underwriting services are aligned with evolving market needs and supporting the overall business objectives.
Your leadership will guide the technical claims and underwriting team towards delivering market‑leading services, setting benchmarks for industry standards and ensuring outcomes consistently exceed expectations. By cultivating a culture of excellence and continuous improvement, you will drive robust risk management practices, leveraging your technical expertise to enhance portfolio outcomes and safeguard Swiss Re's business integrity. Through proactive, strategic direction, you'll ensure claims and underwriting quality aligns with our objectives and supports effective risk management.
Working closely with cross‑functional teams, you'll deliver targeted claims and underwriting services aligned with Swiss Re's strategy for risk and client relationships. As a key member of the claims and underwriting leadership team, you will help shape the strategy for UK & Ireland, acting as a visible and credible champion for Claims & Underwriting excellence both within Swiss Re and across the industry. This role reports to the Head of Underwriting & Claims UK&I.
Main Activities- Oversee the delivery of technical underwriting and claims services to clients, ensuring consistent standards and results.
- Build, coach, and develop a high‑performing team of senior claims and underwriting professionals, fostering market‑leading technical expertise.
- Proactively contribute to the L & H Claims and Underwriting UK&I leadership team, influencing strategy and direction.
- Work alongside the Propositions team to deliver on the UK & Ireland market strategy, ensuring our claims and underwriting services are aligned with evolving market needs and supporting the overall business objectives.
- Enhance Swiss Re's commercial focus by elevating the profile of underwriting and claims with our clients.
- Represent Swiss Re at client events and within the broader UKI L & H insurance sector, showcasing thought leadership and subject matter expertise.
- Lead the community in understanding and addressing hot topics in claims and underwriting, driving positive impact on UK&I L & H reinsurance business.
- Drive the development and implementation of claims and underwriting risk appetite strategy, aligning with business objectives and actively shaping its direction.
- Lead portfolio management, providing actionable insights for effective management of the in‑force business.
- Utilise advanced analytical tools for detailed portfolio analysis, generating insights to inform underwriting strategies and philosophy.
- Coordinate the seamless delivery of underwriting and claims services to clients.
- Cultivate and strengthen client relationships, reinforcing the Swiss Re Claims and Underwriting brand.
- Collaborate across claims & underwriting, pricing, and client markets, bringing risk insights to drive progress towards business targets.
- Guide clients in adopting innovative solutions, such as AI, and support them in building robust risk control frameworks to address emerging challenges.
You are genuinely passionate about the transformative power of underwriting and claims, always seeking opportunities to improve and you must be comfortable to challenge the status quo. With more than 10 years' underwriting experience in (re)insurance, you possess a strong technical understanding of Life & Health products and a sharp awareness of the factors affecting profitability. Your background demonstrates proven leadership, people management, and relationship management skills, enabling you to inspire and guide teams effectively.
You excel at translating complex technical concepts into clear, compelling commercial proposals, articulating benefits and impacts with precision. Proactive and accountable, you take initiative on tasks and projects, collaborating seamlessly with colleagues and supporting the wider team's success. Innovative and data‑driven, you harness analytics to improve portfolio outcomes, constantly exploring new ways to drive business success.
The base salary range for this position is between 84,000 GBP and 126,000 GBP (full time equivalent). The specific salary offered considers the requirements, scope, complexity and responsibilities of the role, the applicant's own profile including education/qualifications, expertise, specialisation, skills and experience. Hybrid working model with a minimum of three days per week in the office.
Our Commitment to Diversity & InclusionSwiss Re is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, including gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We provide a contemporary work environment and appealing workplaces, empowering all employees to adapt to evolving work and life phases. Reasonable accommodation is provided to individuals with disabilities throughout the job application or interview process, in performing essential job functions, and in accessing benefits and privileges of employment.
Head L&H Underwriting & Claims Portfolio employer: Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement
Swiss Re is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in London that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide opportunities for professional development and leadership within the Life & Health insurance sector. Our inclusive culture values diversity and empowers employees to thrive, making it a rewarding place to build a meaningful career.
Contact Details:
Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head L&H Underwriting & Claims Portfolio
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at events. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how you can contribute to their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets them.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your experience and how it aligns with the role. Keep it concise but impactful – you want to leave a lasting impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the position and keeping you top of mind.
We think you need these skills to ace Head L&H Underwriting & Claims Portfolio
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in underwriting and claims. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a potential leader in our team, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to inspire and manage teams. Share examples of how you've successfully led projects or teams in the past, especially in diverse environments.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to articulate your thoughts, making it easy for us to understand your qualifications and motivations.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement
✨Know Your Underwriting Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your underwriting knowledge, especially in Life & Health insurance. Be prepared to discuss specific cases or experiences where you've successfully managed risk and how you can apply that expertise to Swiss Re's strategy.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a candidate for a leadership role, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to inspire and develop teams. Prepare examples of how you've built high-performing teams in the past and how you plan to cultivate a culture of excellence at Swiss Re.
✨Understand the Market Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the current trends and challenges in the UK & Ireland L&H insurance market. Be ready to discuss how you would address these issues and leverage technological innovations to enhance underwriting and claims processes.
✨Prepare for Client-Facing Scenarios
Since this role involves significant client interaction, think about how you would approach building and maintaining strong client relationships. Prepare to share strategies for effective communication and collaboration with clients and cross-functional teams.
