At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to assess and implement underwriting strategies for small to medium enterprises.
- Company: Travelers, a leading property casualty insurer with over 170 years of experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, private medical insurance, generous holiday entitlement, and wellness programmes.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid work arrangements and opportunities for community involvement through volunteering.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the insurance industry while working in a collaborative and innovative environment.
- Qualifications: Expertise in underwriting, strong analytical skills, and excellent communication abilities required.
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? Business Insurance, Small/Medium Enterprises (BI SME) provides Property and Casualty insurance for Small to Medium sized businesses through our Broker networks and deals with high volume eTrade Insurance. As an SME Underwriting Officer, BI, you possess underwriting expertise and are a member of the BI underwriting team. We are looking for a commercially minded and analytically driven Underwriting Officer to join our Underwriting Office team managing the SME book of business, with a particular focus on accelerating growth through our eTrade channel. You will bring strong traditional SME underwriting expertise alongside experience in delegated authority, using your technical knowledge and strategic mindset to shape and influence portfolio performance across the full distribution landscape. In this role, you will work closely with the Chief Underwriting Officer to manage appetite, maintain robust underwriting controls, and drive the execution of our European growth strategy. You will play a central role in defining how we write business, leading portfolio oversight and governance, and ensuring that profitability, retention, and growth objectives are delivered with discipline and purpose.
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?
- Aid in assessing, recommending, and implementing national underwriting strategies and practices in support of profit and growth objectives.
- Support successful underwriting execution through individual risk and/or portfolio CUREs as well as through the evaluation of underwriter proficiency and underwriting quality.
- Support actuarial function in reporting key performance metrics to drive strategy.
- Contribute to the development of key underwriting capabilities and best practices through coaching and trainings while educating underwriters on strategy and guidelines to enhance efficiency and effectiveness countrywide.
- Assist in monitoring trends, emerging issues, and underwriting results for countrywide book of business.
- Partner with underwriting leadership to take action, as needed.
- Support SME project work such as Retail Wholesale project where necessary.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
What Will Our Ideal Candidate Have?
- Expert knowledge of products, the regulatory environment, and the local insurance market.
- Knowledge of risk appetite and risk selection, both property and casualty-related products, as well as the regulatory environment and the national and local insurance marketplace.
- Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to proactively identify underwriting, marketing, or financial challenges and analyse available information to make timely decisions in alignment with risk appetite.
- Commercial underwriting experience with experience in property casualty insurance.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to lead and influence others.
- CII qualification.
What is a Must Have?
- Advanced experience of underwriting, product knowledge, financial analysis, or risk assessment experience.
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.
Underwriting Officer - SME employer: Travelers
Travelers is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative work culture, particularly in the dynamic environment of Greater London. With a strong emphasis on employee growth and development, the company offers flexible hybrid working arrangements, comprehensive benefits including private medical insurance and generous holiday entitlement, making it an attractive choice for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the actuarial field.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Underwriting Officer - SME
✨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 Travelers). 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 Travelers. Don’t shy away from asking for a coffee chat; you never know what doors it might open!
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 Travelers.
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don't just send a generic CV! Focus on tailoring it specifically for the insurance role at Travelers. 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 Travelers
✨Know Your Numbers: Insurance Fundamentals
Brush up on your understanding of key insurance concepts, like underwriting principles and risk assessment. Expect the interviewer at Travelers 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 Travelers, 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 Travelers'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.
