Development Underwriter in Somerset

As a leading UK life and pensions mutual insurer with a proud history dating back to 1843, we exist to help people live financially confident lives – protecting their income while they work and maximising it when they stop. Today, over one million members and customers trust us to look after their futures, families and finances. Joining us means becoming part of a team that puts our members, customers and advisers at the heart of everything we do. We’re committed to creating an inclusive culture where colleagues can thrive.

We have a unique new opportunity for a skilled Development Underwriter to join our established and supportive team here at LV=. Within this exciting role, you will support the Head of Underwriting and Claims in developing the underwriting philosophy of our Protection business, and work closely with a small team of Development Underwriters and Technical Claims Leads (together with our wider team of underwriters and claims assessors). This role also includes leading initiatives, rules engine activity, data analysis, carrying out post issue sampling analysis activity, and utilising underwriting AI tools. The role is offered on a permanent basis, from our Exeter office. We are open to conversations around working locations and offer a hybrid working model in line with business needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Contributing to the development and management of our life underwriting philosophy, technical standards, controls and practices.
• Accurately implementing online underwriting rules capability (using Underwrite Me), including the delivery and analysis of MI.
• Identifying opportunities to improve the risk control and/or efficiency of automated rules engine decision making.
• Providing an underwriting insight into key developments around our Protection business - including project work, assessing the impact on existing underwriting capability, and supporting with implementation.
• Attending relevant committees and working groups, and delivering content to enable discussion, review, and improvement.
• Maintaining a positive working relationship with operational teams across the business, including Claims, Product, Proposition, Sales, Marketing, Pricing, and third parties such as medical officers, reassurers and rules engine suppliers.
• Providing coaching and mentoring to underwriters within the business.
• Preparing and presenting training material to underwriters and other business areas as required.
• Researching competitor offerings and sharing knowledge as appropriate.
• Obtaining ongoing CPD by attending training seminars and industry events.
• Efficiently complying with regulatory and statutory standards and controls, with particular emphasis on conduct risk.
• Effectively utilising underwriting AI audit tools.

About You

• Have an extensive background in risk management, with experience of underwriting life and income protection insurance products.
• Demonstrate strong experience of using, maintaining, and developing automated underwriting decision making software (rules engines) including the development of new rules, and enhancing the efficiency of existing rules, using your analytical skills.
• Have obtained a Diploma in Life and Disability Underwriting (DLDU) – desirable but not essential.
• Showcase extensive knowledge of operational underwriting at all levels, including all key product types underwritten by LV= Protection business.
• Be an excellent communicator, with a great eye for detail and strong analytical skills.
• Be passionate about providing excellent customer service for all LV= customers, and able to identify potential service improvements.
• Have strong working knowledge of new business processes.
• Be a forward-thinking, proactive individual with previous experience of leading or contributing to key projects.

Rewards and Benefits

This role is a Band C in the LV= Structure. At LV= Savings and Retirement, you’ll go above and beyond to do the right thing for our customers. We’ll reward your hard work with an attractive, competitive salary and benefits package, which includes:

• 30 days' holiday, with the option to buy up to 5 additional days
• Competitive pension scheme - LV= Life and Pensions will double-match the amount you pay, up to 14% (subject to National Minimum Wage requirements)
• An annual bonus scheme based on personal performance
• Single-cover private medical insurance (with the option for you to upgrade to family cover)
• Flexible benefits, including a cycle to work scheme, personal accident insurance, critical illness cover and dental insurance
• Up to 20% discount on our life products for you and your immediate family
• A group life assurance policy with 4 x your basic pay to go to your dependents (you’ll have the option to increase to 8 x cover)
• Group Income Protection (if you become a member of the Pension scheme and reach 5 years of service)
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for support when you need it
• A virtual GP service
• Shared parental leave

Please note all salary sacrifice benefits are subject to National Minimum Wage requirements i.e. you are unable to select any benefits that would reduce your base pay below the minimum wage threshold. Please note that we are unable to offer Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship for this role. Therefore, you must ensure that you are eligible to work in the UK without our sponsorship for your application to be considered.

We’re proud of our inclusive culture at LV= and, as an equal-opportunity employer, we continually work to remove unconscious bias from our recruitment process. We value our colleagues for what they bring to our team regardless of any protected status or characteristics they may have. Talk to us about flexible working as part of your application; if it’s right for you, our members and customers, and our business, then we’ll do everything we can to make it happen.