Underwriting Assistant: Credit Risk Insurance

About DUAL

Working across 21 countries, DUAL has built a reputation as a specialist underwriting group and the market of choice for insurance intermediaries around the world. That's how we have become one of the world's largest international underwriting agencies (or MGAs) with US$3.4bn GWP.

DUAL is part of Howden, a leading global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Founded in 1994, it provides insurance, reinsurance and underwriting services to clients ranging from private individuals to the largest multinational companies. The Group operates in 57 countries, employs over 24,000 people and manages premiums totalling US$50bn on behalf of its clients.

The role

This entry-level role supports the full underwriting lifecycle, from new-business triage and preliminary research through quotation, binding, policy administration and portfolio monitoring. The portfolio is highly transactional, so each opportunity may involve different countries, counterparties, industries, financing structures and policy periods.

The successful candidate will combine dependable administration with intellectual curiosity, numerical confidence, sound judgement and a solid work ethic. Responsibilities will increase with demonstrated knowledge and capability, providing a strong foundation for progression in specialist underwriting. This is a London office-based role and successful candidates will be expected to attend the office full-time.

Key responsibilities

Underwriting and transaction support

• Support Underwriters through assessment, quotation, binding and post-bind management of transactions.
• Receive, record and organise submissions; check completeness and obtain missing financial, commercial, contractual or policy information.
• Prepare underwriting files, transaction summaries, indications, quotations and endorsements; track subjectivities, conditions and approvals and support general administrative needs of the team as needed.
• Maintain clear underwriting records and support pre-bind controls, peer review and the team's four-eyes approach.

Research and preliminary analysis

• Research companies, banks, sovereigns, public agencies, countries and sectors using appropriate internal and external sources.
• Collect and organise financial statements, credit ratings, market information and transaction documents; prepare concise factual summaries.
• Undertake preliminary financial, commercial, country and political-risk analysis under guidance, including transaction structure, payment obligations, security and recovery routes.
• Monitor developments that may affect insured transactions and distinguish verified facts, third-party opinion and matters requiring further investigation.

Data, systems and exposure management

• Maintain accurate risk, premium, policy and exposure data, including amendments, endorsements, cancellations and other changes.
• Monitor exposure by insured, obligor/group, country, industry, transaction type and policy period; support authority and aggregate controls.
• Prepare and reconcile bordereaux, pipeline, conversion, premium and management information; identify and resolve data inconsistencies.
• Produce accurate Excel analysis and reports for Underwriters, management and capacity providers.

Policy, broker and portfolio support

• Prepare, check and file policy documentation; compare final documents with approved terms and process endorsements accurately.
• Maintain complete electronic files, monitor outstanding documents and premium information, and liaise with Operations and Finance on processing or reconciliation issues.
• Communicate promptly and professionally with brokers; assist with live submissions, enquiries, meetings, agendas and follow-up notes.
• Monitor counterparties, countries, sectors and transactions; maintain watchlists, support portfolio reviews and escalated adverse information, approaching deadlines or potential breaches.

Governance and controls

• Operate within underwriting authorities, guidelines, delegated authority requirements and internal policies.
• Complete required sanctions, financial crime, regulatory and compliance checks, escalating matches, conflicts, discrepancies and exceptions promptly.
• Support quality assurance, audit and management reporting; protect confidential and commercially sensitive information.
• Contribute to process improvement, data quality and an open control culture in which potential mistakes are raised early.

Candidate profile

ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Intellectual curiosity and an active interest in international business and current affairs.
• Strong numeracy, accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to organise multiple live transactions and prioritise effectively under pressure.
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication.
• Confidence to ask questions, obtain missing information, raise errors and take ownership.
• Collaborative style and genuine motivation to build a specialist insurance career.
• Good Excel skills, including

#J-18808-Ljbffr