New Business Underwriting Specialist (Assistant Manager) Life Insurance

Job Summary

Under limited supervision, underwrites and analyzes new and existing life business within delegated authority levels to achieve of business goals and maximize customer experience.

Job Accountabilities - Key Accountabilities

• Works closely with distributors and other operational areas to support the overall achievement of the business plan, demonstrating knowledge and influencing strategy relating to underwriting expertise, systems, procedures and processes.
• Completes assignments of high complexity while working within delegated authority.
• Serves as an expert in specialist underwriting areas as needed, keeping up to date with any changes or developments in these areas.
• Provides technical underwriting expertise and guidance to customers and distributors, consistently providing excellent customer service.
• Contributes to the delivery of underwriting strategy by sharing best practices across territories and functions.
• Creates productive distributor relationships by consistently requesting the correct evidence, consistently making the correct decision and always explaining rating decisions.
• Completes a range of queries and referrals within agreed authority limits, measuring the exposure & analyzing the risk of each case to maintain underwriting standards.
• Proactively identifies and contributes to the development and improvement of technical underwriting standards, controls, practices and procedures to better meet business goals.
• Proactively identifies and contributes ideas and work for the development of new or enhanced propositions /procedures/philosophy, ensuring we charge the right premium for the associated risk.
• Proactively and responsibly takes ownership for personal development and acts as a role model contributing to a positive and supportive team culture.
• Facilitates quality for the team, providing feedback on errors and providing root cause analysis of errors to avoid repeated mistakes; recommends change or remedial action where appropriate.

Business Accountabilities

• Utilize established financial systems to monitor profitability and growth of specialty areas of business and provide recommendations around aspects requiring change.
• Develop a business case for a defined project in own area to determine potential benefits, clarify the rationale for investment and support the planning process.
• Have extensive knowledge of and recommend changes to policies, procedures and governance tools, to ensure they are up-to-date, reflect new policies and facilitate implementation within own work area.
• Research primary data sources, select relevant information, analyze key themes and trends and make recommendations to update policy and/or inform product development.
• Research underwriting best practice and review and analyze detailed rates, rating plans and pricing strategies to support senior management in developing processes and systems which deliver optimal outcomes for the organization.
• Act as technical expert in a process or product area, e.g. development of pricing tools, conducting process reviews and initiating change in order to contribute to continuous improvement of customer services.
• Provide specialist underwriting advice to address specific technical queries from internal clients and deliver appropriate solutions, in line with the organization's policies and processes and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure underwriting follows agreed rules and frameworks and communicates across the organization in order to maintain relationships and provide assurance.

Job Qualifications