Principal Underwriter Motor Trade in Guildford

Role Description

You will act as the senior technical expert for a product line within UK Markets, driving underwriting excellence, shaping product direction and supporting complex decision-making to deliver strong customer and financial outcomes. This is a highly influential role within the Motor Trade product, combining deep technical expertise with strategic insight and market engagement.

Location

Candidates may be based at any of our sites across the country; this is a hybrid working role with the expectation to attend the office 2-3 times per week.

Salary Information

Pay is dependent on experience, skills and location and is part of our total reward package.

About You

• Shape and evolve product-level underwriting strategy through expert technical, commercial and market insight
• Act as the recognised referral point for complex and non-standard risks, making sound underwriting decisions within authority
• Deliver profitable outcomes across complex risks and portfolios, balancing customer value with financial performance
• Apply strong understanding of profit and loss, KPIs and portfolio dynamics to inform underwriting decisions
• Set technical underwriting standards and provide expert guidance on referred cases
• Build underwriting capability by supporting development of knowledge, judgement and technical expertise across teams
• Design and deliver technical training, including mentorship and capability development for product underwriters
• Represent the product externally and internally, engaging with brokers, customers and stakeholders
• Translate market developments, regulatory change and customer feedback into product and underwriting insight
• Support product development, segmentation and continuous improvement activity
• Collaborate with underwriting leadership and managers to support profit, growth and underwriting performance

Essential Skills

• Highest level of underwriting authority within your line of business
• Strong analytical and critical thinking capability to interpret data and inform decisions
• Proven commercial acumen with understanding of market dynamics, risks and opportunities
• Deep technical underwriting expertise, including risk assessment, pricing considerations and policy coverage
• Strong understanding of claims drivers and application of risk management techniques
• Knowledge of underwriting governance, appetite and regulatory frameworks
• Expertise in policy wordings, clauses and non-standard covers
• Understanding of reinsurance principles, including facultative reinsurance
• Ability to influence and collaborate with senior stakeholders and external partners
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly
• Ability to make decisions and develop solutions in complex and ambiguous environments

Desirable Skills

• ACII qualification (or progression towards) and relevant underwriting accreditations
• Experience in product development and segmentation within a line of business
• Proven ability to deliver strategy and technical improvements aligned to business objectives
• Strong track record of influencing outcomes across complex stakeholder environments
• Experience mentoring or developing underwriting capability
• Responsible Artificial Intelligence usage

What We Will Offer You

• Flexible buy/sell holiday options
• Hybrid working
• Annual performance related bonus
• Contributory pension scheme
• Development days
• A discount up to 50% on a range of insurance products including car, home and pet
• Retail discounts
• Volunteering days

Integrity, Fairness, Inclusion & Trust

At Allianz, we believe in fostering an inclusive workforce and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our commitment to equal opportunities, gender equity, and balanced gender representation, is demonstrated by our numerous accreditations: EDGE certified for gender inclusion, Women in Finance Charter members, Disability Confident employer, Stonewall Diversity Champion, Business in the Community’s Race at Work Charter signatories, and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard employer.

We embrace neurodiversity and welcome applications from neurodivergent and disabled candidates, offering tailored adjustments to ensure your success.

We encourage our employees to advocate for their needs, whether it’s assistive technology, ergonomic equipment, mentoring, coaching, or flexible work arrangements.

Accessible Application for All

As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we support candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions through the Offer an Interview Scheme, for those meeting the essential skills for the role.

Contact information: Hr-recruitment@allianz.co.uk

Closing date: 08/07/2026