Underwriter

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 23,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

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$3.5bn of GWP.

DUAL is part of Howden, an international insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. The group was founded in 1994 and now has divisions in broking and underwriting, operates in 55 territories and employs over 19,000 people handling US$42bn of premium on behalf of clients.

Role Definition

To act as an underwriter responsible for an underwriting class of business in accordance with the binding authority issued by DUAL XX. Acts with minimal level of supervision and operates with increased underwriting authority levels to more junior underwriting levels within the underwriting team. Develops business through client liaison, in particular insurance brokers, and maintain strong internal and external relationships. Acts as a support/referral point to other junior underwriters in the team.

Key Responsibilities / Accountabilities

• Generate and underwrite insurance business in accordance with the business plan and profile of target insurance business set by DUAL XX, and in accordance with the binding authority granted to the company.
• Work with the existing broker panel to forge relationships and trust and extend the panel to include new brokers. This will require visits to build and maintain own relationships.
• Produce and maintain underwriting files for both internal and external viewing and to prepare for audit. This will involve both paper and computerised records.
• Generate profit for DUAL XX through the company’s strategic objectives.
• Resolve any outstanding underwriting related tasks/matters in a timely and efficient manner to enable support functions, including claims, finance and compliance, to fulfil their responsibilities with minimal impact/issues.
• Successfully quote new business, assessing risks and underwriting from a cover and rating basis within risk appetite; providing contract certainty, territories, underwriting performance, limits of liability.
• Successfully input quotations and issue certificates competently on the required underwriting platform, managing issues associated with the platform.
• Work with the underwriter’s system to produce certificates, policy wordings, and bordereaux.
• Develop an effective annual business activity planning process with our brokers and have a good knowledge of DUAL’s Underwriting’s overall business plans, processes and key contacts.
• Be aware of cross sell opportunities and promote DUAL Underwriting products and services to brokers.
• Conduct broker research into business development opportunities thereby creating opportunities for DUAL Underwriting in the process.
• Maintain accurate and timely Management Information, monitoring the development of the broker’s account including credit performance and to communicate/feedback.
• Share ideas, best practice and other information within DUAL, especially where relevant to the relationship with brokers.

Skills and abilities needed to perform role

• Excellent inter-personal skills.
• Strong ability to influence and negotiate with brokers, underwriters and service providers.
• Analytical and creative thinker in meeting Underwriting needs whilst working in partnership with brokers.
• Ability to understand the needs of each Underwriting line on a portfolio basis.
• Self-motivated.
• Ability to motivate and gain buy-in from others effectively.
• Committed to learning and development i.e. continual professional development.
• Work with confidence, embrace change, be inquisitive, resilient, imaginative and direct.
• Ability to work quickly, efficiently and methodically.
• Ability to communicate theories and ideas.

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience in the insurance industry with a broad range of experience in policy work and preparation, basic accounts and claims.
• Sound product awareness with significant experience of underwriting of specific class(es) to which the job holder is responsible for.

Compliance & Regulatory Responsibilities

• Remain compliant with FCA requirements at all times.
• Obtain appropriate approvals to ensure compliance with company policy, procedures and regulatory requirements/rules, with regards to data protection, money laundering etc.
• Share ideas, best practice and other information within the team.

Professional Qualifications

• Graduate (preferable).
• CII qualified (or near to completion of CII).

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new.
• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges.
• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours or hybrid working. If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.