At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire a high-performing surety team while driving business growth.
- Company: Join Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, a leader in the dynamic insurance market.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, and global benefits package.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for professional development and career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of surety in the UK & Ireland with strategic vision and leadership.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in underwriting surety or related fields with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 120000 £ per year.
Location: London, GB
Are you a seasoned surety leader ready to shape the future of a high performing business in one of the world's most dynamic insurance markets? This is your opportunity to combine strategic vision, underwriting excellence, and inspiring people leadership in a role that truly makes an impact. As Head Surety UK & Ireland at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, you will drive the growth and performance of our UK & Ireland surety portfolio - building relationships, leading talent, and delivering results that matter.
About the Role
As Head Surety UK & Ireland, you will be at the forefront of Swiss Re Corporate Solutions' surety business, combining strategic vision with hands on leadership to maximize underwriting performance. Working in close collaboration with the Regional Surety Head, you will set the local portfolio strategy, lead key client and broker relationships, and inspire a talented team to excel. You are responsible for developing top and bottom line results and ensuring adherence to business plans, C&S underwriting standards, risk appetite and best practices. This is a high impact, highly visible role that sits at the intersection of underwriting excellence, business development, and people leadership.
Key Responsibilities
- Team Leadership
- Lead a dedicated team of underwriters focused on originating new business relationships, products, and transaction opportunities across the UK & Ireland and international markets.
- Drive talent development by contributing to recruiting, onboarding, and facilitating regional underwriting training and technical growth programmes.
- Business Development and Strategy
- Deliver country targets for the local surety team, ensuring alignment with broader regional and group ambitions.
- Shape and execute the country specific surety strategy, defining priorities for key ongoing and future business initiatives including new markets and new products.
- Lead and execute strategic underwriting initiatives such as International Bonding, and represent Swiss Re Surety to external stakeholders in the market.
- Drive the development of appropriate underwriting standards for the country in close alignment with global Credit & Surety standards and ensure correct implementation of end to end processing.
- Product & Portfolio Management
- Steer the country surety portfolio, continuously enhancing monitoring, analysis, guidance, and tactical execution.
- Drive capacity planning at obligor, country, and portfolio levels to ensure sustained profitability in line with cycle steering initiatives.
- Proactively identify key market trends and translate insights into actionable portfolio steering decisions.
- Contribute to the design and implementation of underwriting relevant IT infrastructure projects.
About the Team
Our Surety team in the UK & Ireland is a key part of the regional surety leadership structure, operating at the heart of a global network of underwriting expertise. The team is responsible for originating and managing surety business across the UK & Ireland market, as well as contributing to international bonding initiatives. We are a collaborative, ambitious, and intellectually curious group, committed to delivering excellence for our clients and brokers while fostering a culture where every voice is valued.
About You
We are looking for a confident, commercially minded leader who combines deep surety expertise with the ability to inspire teams, influence stakeholders, and navigate complexity with sound judgement. You bring a positive mindset, a courageous approach to challenging the status quo, and a genuine commitment to developing people and driving sustainable business performance.
Expertise and Experience
- 10+ years of experience in underwriting surety, commercial banking, and/or credit risk related financial services, with demonstrable market knowledge and a strong professional reputation.
- Strong leadership capability with experience building and developing high performing underwriting teams, including talent recruitment, onboarding, and technical development.
- Proven track record of successfully managing a profitable surety or credit portfolio across the business cycle, with end to end understanding of the Surety value chain.
- Strategic, analytical and conceptual thinking with an entrepreneurial mind set focused on delivering results.
- Deep industry network across the UK & Ireland surety and/or broader banking market, with the ability to represent the business credibly at senior levels.
- Fluency in English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills for client facing, regulatory, and internal stakeholder engagement.
Our company has a hybrid work model where the expectation is that you will be in the office at least three days per week. For London the annual base salary range for this position is between GBP and GBP (for a full time role). 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. In addition to your base salary, Swiss Re offers an attractive performance based variable compensation component, designed to recognise your achievements. Further you will enjoy a variety of global and location specific benefits. Eligibility may vary depending on the terms of Swiss Re policies and your employment contract.
Reference Code: 138725
Head Surety UK & Ireland (80 - 100%) employer: Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement
The Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With a strong commitment to compliance and safety, this role provides the opportunity to lead impactful EHS initiatives across the UK, fostering a collaborative environment where your expertise will be valued and developed. Join us to make a meaningful difference while advancing your career in a supportive and innovative setting.
Contact Details:
Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Surety UK & Ireland (80 - 100%)
✨Dive Into Industry Networking Events
Get your foot in the door by attending insurance industry events and conferences. Not only will you learn about the latest trends, but you'll also meet potential employers and industry peers. Check out local chapters of professional bodies like the Chartered Insurance Institute for valuable meetups.
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✨Look Out for Graduate Schemes
Many firms in insurance have structured graduate programmes. Keep an eye on application windows and utilise your university's career services for insider tips. These schemes are designed to develop talent and often lead to permanent roles after your initial training.
✨Leverage Your Current Connections
Got friends or family in the industry? Now’s the time to reach out! Personal referrals can give you a head start, so let them know you're on the lookout for full-time opportunities at places like Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement. Don’t shy away from asking for a coffee chat; you never know what doors it might open!
We think you need these skills to ace Head Surety UK & Ireland (80 - 100%)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In insurance, we love a candidate who can crunch numbers and analyse data effectively. When crafting your CV, make sure to showcase any relevant coursework or experiences that highlight your analytical abilities, especially if you’ve tackled risk assessment or financial modelling.
Showcase Industry Knowledge:Don’t be shy about your knowledge of the insurance sector! We want to see that you've done your homework on current trends, regulations, and challenges in the industry. Mention any relevant projects or studies you’ve completed that demonstrate your understanding of the field in your cover letter.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you’re passionate about insurance. Share any personal experiences or what drew you into this profession. We’re looking for enthusiasm and a clear motivation for why you want to be part of our team at Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement.
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don't just send a generic CV! Focus on tailoring it specifically for the insurance role at Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement. Highlight relevant skills such as risk management, customer service experience, or any certifications you've earned in the industry to make your application stand out.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement
✨Know Your Numbers: Insurance Fundamentals
Brush up on your understanding of key insurance concepts, like underwriting principles and risk assessment. Expect the interviewer at Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement to throw some technical questions your way, so be ready to demonstrate your grasp of these essentials.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Side
In the insurance world, it's all about data. Prepare to discuss any analytical tools or methodologies you've used in past experiences. If you have a portfolio of projects where you've tackled complex data, bring that along to impress the team!
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
As a full-timer at Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement, they'll want to know how you handle real-life scenarios, not just theory. Think about challenges you've faced in teamwork or customer service, and how those experiences can relate to a career in insurance.
✨Know the Company Culture Inside Out
Understanding Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement's values and workplace culture is essential. Don’t just memorise their mission statement; think about how your personal values align with theirs. This will show your genuine interest in being part of their team long-term.
