Senior SME Underwriter

We insure small businesses and enable big dreams – not just for our customers, but for our people and communities too. With over 1,000,000 active insurance policies, we protect builders, bakers, landlords and more than 1,200 other trades. We’re a technology company as well as one that sells insurance. That means we build, we fail, we learn and we improve. Through our global social impact strategy, called 'The Big Dreams Project’, we're working to help 10,000 small businesses start or grow by 2030.

Job Details

• Job Category: Underwriting
• Position Type: Permanent
• Target Openings: 1

You will play a pivotal role in supporting the small business cause by managing a diverse portfolio of risks at a macro level. This isn’t just about technical frameworks; it’s about championing small business success by leading technical excellence and using market research to develop world-class underwriting. You will have a direct impact on the business by monitoring account performance and driving frequent pricing and product actions.

What makes this role different is the level of visibility and empowerment you’ll have. Unlike many underwriting positions, you’ll have unique end-to-end exposure to the entire insurance business, allowing you to see the impact of your work across the board. You’ll be a pioneer, bringing fresh ideas to the table that challenge the status quo and move the business forward while coaching and training junior members to elevate our collective standards.

As One Of Our Senior Underwriters, You’ll:

• Take ownership of portfolio performance, understanding and improving the book to ensure long‑term sustainability.
• Collaboratively manage technical frameworks, including pricing models, underwriting rules, policy wordings, and endorsements.
• Exercise underwriting authority by making expert judgements and managing the technical referral process for the wider team.
• Build and own strategic relationships with key stakeholders and insurer partners to maintain strong foundations.
• Maintain technical rigor by supporting our audit and peer review processes to ensure high standards and accuracy.
• Deliver large‑scale internal projects with a focus on ensuring our products provide genuine and honest value to our customers.

We’re Looking For Someone Who Is:

• An expert in the commercial SME market with a deep underwriting background.
• Knowledgeable in portfolio mechanics, with the ability to control and manage a diverse book of business.
• Data‑driven and analytical, using a logical approach to technical underwriting to inform your decisions.
• A strong communicator who can simplify complex technical work for others while maintaining a close eye on the detail.
• A natural relationship builder who can articulate success and negotiate commercials with insurer partners.
• Committed to professional learning, ideally having completed or being near completion of an ACII qualification.

We encourage people of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. We are committed to maintaining an inclusive, supportive place for you to be you and do your very best work. By ensuring our underwriting is as innovative and robust as the businesses we protect, you’ll be directly enabling big dreams for small businesses across the UK. Apply today.

Benefits

• We offer a great work‑life balance with manageable workloads and flexibility to work hybrid.
• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays); option to buy five more days with flexible benefits.
• Flexible parental leave: six months full pay to the primary caregiver and four weeks full pay as secondary caregiver.
• Life event leave: extra days leave every two years for big moments; long‑serving employees get a two‑week paid sabbatical after five years, then four weeks after ten years.
• Private medical insurance through BUPA covering pre‑existing conditions; health cash plan covering everyday expenses.
• Competitive salary based on experience and market; potential for annual bonus.
• Access to tools on our learning platform and mental health support via counselling.
• Pension match up to five percent; tax‑free life assurance up to four times base salary with option to increase to ten times.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme for a brand new, fully insured car after six months of service.
• Flexible benefits scheme to allocate annual benefits like critical illness cover, dental insurance, travel insurance, or gym membership.

Ready to join us and drive our success as a high‑performing team? Apply today.

Employment Practices

Simply Business is committed to providing equality and opportunities for all employees and candidates considering a career with us. We offer a workplace where colleagues are treated with respect and dignity. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, religion, belief, political opinion, disability, nationality, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation or relationship status at any stage of the hiring process or during the course of employment.