Portfolio Manager - SPS in London

The Portfolio Manager will provide analytical and actuarial support to the Portfolio Solutions team, leveraging data, pricing and portfolio management expertise to help shape strategy and execute fast follow opportunities effectively. The SPS team has been established to take advantage of the recent market trend towards bifurcation between lead and follow underwriting capacity. This standalone team looks to build a strong follow portfolio with a class-agnostic Underwriting strategy whilst leveraging the data benefits such opportunities provide. Facilities written within this team are cross-class and will contain CAT exposures.

Who we are: The Structured Portfolio Solutions (SPS) team sits within Markel’s Specialty underwriting division and focuses on building and managing portfolio‑based underwriting solutions across multiple lines of business. SPS works closely with brokers and strategic partners to develop scalable, data‑driven structures that support profitable growth and effective portfolio management. Part of Markel Group (NYSE – MKL), a Fortune 500 company with over 60 offices in 20+ countries, it is a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, specialist advisory, and investment operations around the world.

What you’ll be doing:

• Provide actuarial analyses (Pricing, Reserving and Outwards Reinsurance purchasing) to steer the direction and strategy of the new Structured Portfolio Solutions (SPS) team.
• Help to design, build out and maintain appropriate data pipelining to ensure efficient and up‑to‑date analysis is enabled and efficient.
• Utilise the availability of market data to provide analysis and share insight to classes across Wholesale outside of the SPS division.
• Make appropriate recommendations and improvements to analyses and tools to ensure the SPS underwriters are equipped to actively manage their portfolio.
• Lead the development of the portfolio management framework for the SPS class.
• Actively monitor the key drivers of SPS performance, at a class level across the portfolio, to support underwriting in improving performance.
• Develop strategic analytics, tools and insights to optimise portfolios and enable smarter underwriting decisions.
• Be an advocate for the use of data to support decision making.
• Work with other Support Units to include but not limited to: actuarial, underwriting operations, ITS, delegated and underwriting support services to resolve issues and support the achievement of IPA and wholesale business priorities.
• Represent the IPA team, as appropriate, providing accurate and timely management information to MINT leadership, wholesale leadership and meetings as the need arises.

Key Skills:

• Have outstanding multi‑modal communications skills along with strong data visualisation skills for disseminating management information to various levels across Markel.
• Have demonstrable experience in influencing and engaging with stakeholders using effective communication and ensuring consensus.
• Be able to clearly articulate complex strategies, techniques and ideas to senior leadership and underwriters across multiple product lines.
• Possess both strong analytical depth, the ability to independently problem solve and put forward recommendations.
• Have an understanding of the Wholesale products, classes of business and operations of the specialty insurance market.
• Have a proven track record to successfully lead and deliver to agreed timelines projects and initiatives that require involvement from business leaders across the company.
• Possess a detailed solid understanding of the Microsoft office suite, with a focus on Excel and become comfortable with manipulating and analysing large, complex sets of data.
• Experience with data visualisation programmes, database use (SQL) and an awareness of advanced analytics/data science would be desirable but not essential.

What’s in it for you?

• A great starting salary plus annual bonus & strong benefits package.
• Up to 16% company pension scheme.
• Private medical and dental cover, Menopause plan, emergency care benefit (children/Pets/dependants).
• Income protection, Life assurance, electric car scheme, travel insurance.
• 25 days paid holiday plus Bank Holidays, with the opportunity to buy/sell extra leave.
• As well as other great benefits on offer there are countless opportunities to learn new skills and develop in your career.

We will ensure that individuals are provided with any reasonable accommodations to be able to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful. Please contact us via email or call us at 0161 507 5827 to request any accommodations or adjustments that may be needed, including alternative formats of documents or information on how to apply offline.