Account Director in London

Candidates should take the time to read all the elements of this job advert carefully. Please make your application promptly.

Who Are We? Taking care of our customers, our communities and each other. That’s the Travelers Promise. By honoring this commitment, we have maintained our reputation as one of the best property casualty insurers in the industry for over 170 years. Join us to discover a culture that is rooted in innovation and thrives on collaboration. Imagine loving what you do and where you do it.

What Is the Opportunity? We are looking for an Account Director to lead and optimise business partnerships and relationships with one or more strategically significant Accounts to retain and grow profitable business. Travelers Europe currently offers flexibility to employees who wish to work on a hybrid basis in accordance with our Hybrid Work Arrangements Policy. This entails full time employees working three days a week in the office and two days at home (or pro rata for part-time employees). This policy may be changed at the Company’s discretion.

What Will You Do?

• Account Management: Manage commercial relationships with large, complex and strategically important Accounts, working to build mutually advantageous, sustainable business partnerships that meet agreed revenue, business mix and growth targets. Communicate and promote the Travelers' Proposition to Account(s), building wide networks and strong personal relationships at senior levels (eg MD, FD) so as to influence business strategies and ensure continuing commercial alignment. Develop, gain agreement to and implement comprehensive Account Plans that will maximise the business opportunity and 'share of wallet' across multiple lines of business. Develop, negotiate and implement new or enhanced business arrangements, joint marketing activities, service agreements, etc. that will increase revenue, overall 'share of wallet' and expand the business mix, on a profitable basis, in line with the agreed Account Plan. Monitor Account performance and pipeline activities against Plan and expectations, investigating and taking timely action to ensure targets are met and/or performance issues are effectively addressed. Lead the management of relations with assigned Accounts, monitoring the operation of the contact network and taking action as necessary to ensure consistency of message and the prompt and effective resolution of issues arising. Monitor and direct Account-related activities and interactions within Travelers, ensuring the timely involvement of others eg Executive team members, Underwriting, Marketing, etc as may be necessary to grow or win business and maintain or enhance Account relations. Build, maintain and ensure the recording of detailed knowledge and understanding of individual Accounts in order to inform Account planning, communication and management processes. Manage complaints within own licence level in an appropriate fashion to maintain quality and continuity of relationships.
• New Account Development: Contribute to the wider development of effective business strategies, priorities and market propositions, drawing on own knowledge, understanding and interpretation of local markets, competitors and Accounts. Lead and/or contribute to the identification, prioritisation and winning of significant new Account relationships, as required, ensuring that the Travelers Proposition is profitable, strategically aligned and commercially attractive to both parties. Perform other duties as assigned.

What Will Our Ideal Candidate Have?

• Extensive experience in the commercial insurance industry and in a business development role.
• Understanding of both Lloyd's and UK market place.
• In-depth knowledge of assigned Accounts: organisation, strategy, internal networks and influencers.
• In-depth knowledge of local market, financial services, competitors and Travelers propositions and products.
• Relevant licences or professional accreditation required to meet internal, local industry/regulatory codes.

Knows how to:

• Develop commercial relationships in order to build sustainable long-term, profitable business partnerships.
• Identify and manage key Influencers, including Executives, within major businesses.
• Build and implement complex, multi-level Account Plans.
• Build and execute commercial negotiating strategies and processes.
• Appropriately apply a wide range of marketing and selling skills and techniques to retain and generate new business.
• Make timely and balanced commercial judgements that are based on accurate cost-benefit analysis and reflect long, medium and short-term considerations.
• Identify, understand and use data and information to inform good planning and decision-making.
• Identify commercial and market drivers, trends etc. and capitalise on them to develop business.
• Create effective collaboration across disciplines and functional boundaries.
• Manage and prioritise activities appropriately.
• External Business Partnership/ Relationship management.
• Selling (sophisticated range of technical skills and product related tools/techniques).
• Business and Account planning.
• Prospecting.
• Commercial (business to business) negotiation.
• Communication (oral, written and presentational).

What is a Must Have?

• Must have good knowledge and experience with broker distribution.
• Leading compliance and agency knowledge.

What Is in It for You?

• Private Medical Insurance: On commencement of employment, you are eligible for single cover provided by Travelers, with the option to add cover for your dependents, at your expense through payroll deduction.
• Retirement: Travelers will make a core contribution of a percentage of salary to your Pension Plan. Additionally, if you decide to contribute to the plan, you will receive an increased company contribution.
• Holiday Entitlement: Start your career at Travelers with a minimum of 25 days holiday entitlement annually, plus the opportunity to purchase additional days to allow for up to a total of 35 holidays per year.
• Wellness Programme: The Travelers wellness programme is comprised of tools, discounts and resources that empower you to achieve your wellness goals and caregiving needs. In addition, our mental health programme provides access to free professional counseling services and other resources that support your daily life needs.
• Volunteer Encouragement: We have a deep commitment to the communities we serve and encourage our employees to get involved. Travelers has a Matching Gift and Volunteer Rewards programme that enables you to give back to the charity of your choice.

Employment Practices: Travelers is an equal opportunity employer. We value the unique abilities and talents each individual brings to our organization and recognize that we benefit in numerous ways from our differences.

If you are a candidate and have specific questions regarding the physical requirements of this role, please send us an email so we may assist you. Travelers reserves the right to fill this position at a level above or below the level included in this posting.