At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire a high-performing surety team while driving strategic growth.
- Company: Join Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, a leader in innovative insurance solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, and global benefits package.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of surety in a dynamic market and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in underwriting with strong leadership and strategic skills.
The predicted salary is between 106000 - 158000 £ per year.
Are you a seasoned surety leader ready to shape the future of a high-performing business in one of the world's most dynamic insurance markets? This is your opportunity to combine strategic vision, underwriting excellence, and inspiring people leadership in a role that truly makes an impact. As Head Surety UK & Ireland at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, you will drive the growth and performance of our UK & Ireland surety portfolio — building relationships, leading talent, and delivering results that matter.
About the Role
As Head Surety UK & Ireland, you will be at the forefront of Swiss Re Corporate Solutions' surety business, combining strategic vision with hands-on leadership to maximize underwriting performance. Working in close collaboration with the Regional Surety Head, you will set the local portfolio strategy, lead key client and broker relationships, and inspire a talented team to excel. You are responsible for developing top and bottom-line results and ensure adherence to business plans, C&S underwriting standards, risk appetite and best practices. This is a high-impact, highly visible role that sits at the intersection of underwriting excellence, business development, and people leadership.
Key Responsibilities
- Team Leadership
- Lead a dedicated team of underwriters focused on originating new business relationships, products, and transaction opportunities across the UK & Ireland and international markets.
- Drive talent development by contributing to recruiting, onboarding, and facilitating regional underwriting training and technical growth programmes.
- Business Development and Strategy
- Deliver country targets for the local surety team, ensuring alignment with broader regional and group ambitions.
- Shape and execute the country-specific surety strategy, defining priorities for key ongoing and future business initiatives including new markets and new products.
- Lead and execute strategic underwriting initiatives such as International Bonding, and represent Swiss Re Surety to external stakeholders in the market.
- Drive the development of appropriate UW standards for the country in close alignment with global Credit & Surety standards and ensure correct implementation of end-to-end processing.
- Product & Portfolio Management
- Steer the country surety portfolio, continuously enhancing monitoring, analysis, guidance, and tactical execution.
- Drive capacity planning at obligor, country, and portfolio levels to ensure sustained profitability in line with cycle steering initiatives.
- Proactively identify key market trends and translate insights into actionable portfolio steering decisions.
- Contribute to the design and implementation of underwriting-relevant IT infrastructure projects.
About the Team
Our Surety team in the UK & Ireland is a key part of the regional surety leadership structure, operating at the heart of a global network of underwriting expertise. The team is responsible for originating and managing surety business across the UK & Ireland market, as well as contributing to international bonding initiatives. We are a collaborative, ambitious, and intellectually curious group, committed to delivering excellence for our clients and brokers while fostering a culture where every voice is valued.
About You
We are looking for a confident, commercially minded leader who combines deep surety expertise with the ability to inspire teams, influence stakeholders, and navigate complexity with sound judgement. You bring a positive mindset, a courageous approach to challenging the status quo, and a genuine commitment to developing people and driving sustainable business performance.
Expertise and experience
- 10+ years of experience in underwriting surety, commercial banking, and/or credit-risk related financial services, with demonstrable market knowledge and a strong professional reputation.
- Strong leadership capability with experience building and developing high-performing underwriting teams, including talent recruitment, onboarding, and technical development.
- Proven track record of successfully managing a profitable surety or credit portfolio across the business cycle, with end-to-end understanding of the Surety value chain.
- Strategic, analytical and conceptual thinking with an entrepreneurial mind-set focused on delivering results.
- Deep industry network across the UK & Ireland surety and/or broader banking market, with the ability to represent the business credibly at senior levels.
- Fluency in English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills for client-facing, regulatory, and internal stakeholder engagement.
Our company has a hybrid work model where the expectation is that you will be in the office at least three days per week.
For London the annual base salary range for this position is between GBP 106,000 and GBP 158,000 (for a full-time role). The specific salary offered considers the requirements, scope, complexity and responsibilities of the role, the applicant's own profile including education/qualifications, expertise, specialisation, skills and experience. In addition to your base salary, Swiss Re offers an attractive performance-based variable compensation component, designed to recognise your achievements. Further you will enjoy a variety of global and location specific benefits. Eligibility may vary depending on the terms of Swiss Re policies and your employment contract.
About Swiss Re Corporate Solutions
Swiss Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer. We anticipate and manage risks, from natural catastrophes and climate change to cybercrime. Swiss Re Corporate Solutions is the commercial insurance arm of the Swiss Re Group. We offer innovative insurance solutions to large and midsized multinational corporations from our approximately 50 locations worldwide. We help clients mitigate their risk exposure, whilst our industry-leading claims service provides them with additional peace of mind. Our success depends on our ability to build an inclusive culture encouraging fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. Swiss Re Corporate Solutions embraces a workplace where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and develop professionally regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, skillset, thought or other characteristics. In our inclusive and flexible environment everyone can bring their authentic selves to work and their passion for sustainability. If you are an experienced professional returning to the workforce after a career break, we encourage you to apply for open positions that match your skills and experience.
We may use AI-powered tools to support the review and evaluation of applications for this position. These tools provide additional insights to our recruitment teams, but all hiring decisions are carefully reviewed and made by people. To learn more about how we use AI in recruitment and how we handle your personal data, please review our Data Privacy Statement before applying.
Head Surety UK & Ireland (80 - 100%) employer: Swiss Re
Swiss Re is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where actuaries can thrive in their careers while leading innovative reinsurance pricing solutions. With a strong focus on collaboration and employee development, the company provides ample opportunities for professional growth and a hybrid work model that promotes work-life balance. Located in the UK & Ireland, Swiss Re fosters a culture of inclusivity and support, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the Life & Health sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Surety UK & Ireland (80 - 100%)
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Swiss Re. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Surety UK & Ireland (80 - 100%)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Swiss Re.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Swiss Re's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Swiss Re
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Swiss Re.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Swiss Re will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Swiss Re employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
