At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team while shaping underwriting governance and processes.
- Company: Join Markel, a people-first global specialist insurer.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, flexible working, and career development.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with opportunities for all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a unique player-coach role with growth potential.
- Qualifications: Experience in underwriting and strong leadership skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.
Shape the future of underwriting governance at Markel! At Markel, we believe insurance is about far more than policies and paperwork. It's about helping people move forward with confidence and supporting businesses when they need us most. As we continue to evolve our underwriting function, we're creating an exciting new opportunity for an ambitious underwriting professional to join us as an Underwriting & Governance Analyst, taking a lead role within our newly established Underwriting Enablement Team. This isn't a traditional governance role.
We're looking for someone who is equally comfortable rolling up their sleeves on technical underwriting matters whilst helping lead and develop a team. It's a unique opportunity to step into a player-coach leadership role, combining governance expertise, technical underwriting support, stakeholder management and people leadership. If you're looking for a role where you can genuinely influence how a function operates, build new processes, develop people and work closely with senior underwriting leaders, this could be your next career move.
The Opportunity: Reporting directly to the Underwriting Director, you'll play a critical role in supporting the wider underwriting leadership team by ensuring robust governance, regulatory compliance, underwriting controls and operational excellence across the business. You'll be responsible for helping maintain the frameworks and processes that keep our underwriting function operating effectively, while also leading and developing a newly formed team that supports Product, Pricing and Underwriting leaders across Markel UK. This role offers significant visibility across the business and the opportunity to help shape how the Underwriting Enablement Team develops over the coming years.
What You'll Be Doing:
- Maintaining underwriting governance standards across the business
- Reviewing and approving non-standard endorsements
- Supporting underwriting controls, delegated authorities and governance processes
- Monitoring adherence to underwriting guidelines and protocols
- Supporting the implementation of legal and regulatory changes
- Analysing underwriting data and governance reporting
- Working closely with Product Line Leaders and senior stakeholders
- Supporting governance, reinsurance and operational projects that contribute to profitability and regulatory objectives
- Acting as a key point of contact for governance-related queries and technical underwriting support
Team Leadership:
- Leading, coaching and developing the Underwriting Enablement Team
- Providing guidance, support and performance management across the team
- Allocating and prioritising workloads
- Building processes, structure and operating models within a newly created function
- Helping shape the future direction of the team as it grows and evolves
Business Partnership:
- Building strong relationships with Underwriting Product Leaders, Pricing and senior management
- Driving continuous improvement and process efficiency
- Supporting strategic underwriting priorities while ensuring governance excellence
- Championing knowledge sharing and technical excellence across Markel UK
What We're Looking For: We're open to candidates from a variety of underwriting backgrounds, but you'll ideally bring:
- Significant experience within underwriting, technical broking or a governance-focused insurance role
- Strong technical underwriting knowledge
- Experience working with underwriting controls, governance or regulatory requirements
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- Strong analytical and organisational abilities
- Experience coaching, mentoring or leading others
- ACII qualification (or progression towards completion) would be advantageous
- A proactive, improvement-focused mindset with an interest in using technology and AI to improve processes
- Product experience within: Financial Lines, Liability, Commercial insurance would be beneficial, however we're primarily looking for strong technical underwriting capability and leadership potential.
Why This Role? This role offers something genuinely different. You'll have the opportunity to:
- Lead a newly created team and help define its future direction
- Combine technical underwriting expertise with people leadership
- Work closely with senior underwriting leaders and decision-makers
- Gain broad exposure across Product, Pricing and Underwriting functions
- Influence governance standards and operational excellence across the business
- Build leadership experience in a highly visible role with significant growth potential
Why Markel? At Markel, we're proud of our people-first culture. We combine the ambition and opportunity of a global specialist insurer with the collaboration and support of a close-knit team. We empower our colleagues to take ownership, challenge the status quo and continuously develop their careers.
What's in it for you?
- Competitive salary
- Annual bonus opportunity
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Option to buy and sell annual leave
- Private medical and dental cover
- Company pension scheme
- Life assurance
- Income protection
- Travel insurance
- Fully funded CII qualifications
- Ongoing career development and progression opportunities
- A flexible, supportive and inclusive working environment
Ready to take the next step? If you're a technically strong underwriting professional who's ready to step into a broader leadership role and help shape the future of underwriting governance at Markel, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today and become part of a business that puts people first and continuously strives for better.
Markel celebrates the value of a diverse workforce that brings experience and expertise from a wide variety of backgrounds and life circumstances. Whatever your background, if you feel you meet the requirements of this role then we want to hear from you. We are also happy to consider candidates who are looking for flexible working patterns.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with all 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 at rec@markel.com or call us at 0161 507 5827 to request any accommodations that may be needed. This includes any alternative formats of any documents or information on how to apply offline.
Underwriting & Governance Analyst in Manchester employer: Markel
Markel is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment in London where innovation and collaboration thrive. Employees benefit from a competitive salary, annual bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes a fantastic pension scheme and health coverage. With a strong commitment to diversity and employee growth, Markel fosters a culture that encourages professional development and values contributions from all backgrounds.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Underwriting & Governance Analyst in Manchester
✨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.
✨Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage
Don’t underestimate the power of LinkedIn in the insurance world. Engage with industry content, join relevant groups, and connect with professionals at companies you admire (like Markel). A thoughtful message explaining your interest can really make a difference!
✨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 Markel. 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 Underwriting & Governance Analyst in Manchester
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 Markel.
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don't just send a generic CV! Focus on tailoring it specifically for the insurance role at Markel. 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 Markel
✨Know Your Numbers: Insurance Fundamentals
Brush up on your understanding of key insurance concepts, like underwriting principles and risk assessment. Expect the interviewer at Markel 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 Markel, 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 Markel'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.
