Assistant Underwriter - Professional Lines

About us

Avencia consulting is partnered with a leading specialty insurer, part of the Talanx Group, who are looking to recruit an Assistant Underwriter in their London office.

The role

Underwrite Professional Liability for SME England & Wales Lawyers business and provide support on larger placements. Promote the business' lead market capabilities, in accordance with underwriting guidelines and business plan.

Externally promote the business to partner brokers and account executives. Meet and develop relationships with clients to further understand the client risk and promote the business as partner insurer.

Key accountabilities

Underwriting

• Work under the direction of the Underwriting Manager to write new and renewal SME England & Wales Lawyers business and service existing accounts via endorsement and administration. The principle UW focus for his role is within the SME-market segment, working to the pre-set strategy and utilising the UW tools to develop profitable GWP. In addition, support provided to the Underwriters on larger accounts, including client meeting attendance, research and data analysis.
• Develop their understanding of the challenges that face SME law firms with a combination of informal and formal learning. Apply this learning to risk selection and consider alternative ways of assessing risk as understanding develops around specific risk characteristics.
• Work under the direction of the Underwriting Manager and collaboratively with other internal departments on developing and maintain pricing tools, MI, databases, compliance checklists, internal reporting requirements for SME law firms.

Relationship Management

• Develop and establish relationships with the panel brokers. Ensure high service standards maintained and clear communication of appetite and strategy. Maintain a general awareness of Market developments and opportunities and inform the Product Lead of any relevant developments or opportunities

Contribution to Strategy

• Working with the Underwriting Manager to provide input and challenge into the Underwriting strategy. Ensure full understanding and adherence to the strategy once implemented.

Process Improvement

• Identify and make process improvement for your area of expertise

Project Management

• End to end project management for projects within your own work area and contribute to any functional projects

Risk and Controls

• Design, implement and maintain process controls to ensure the quality of the output for your area within the function. Ensure documentation of the processes and output is accurate, up-to-date and accessible

Reporting

• Run, maintain and check reports as required

Skills & experience

• An understanding of Professional Indemnity experience is desirable. An underwriting or claims background would be suitable. Alternatively, someone with a desire to move into Professional Indemnity insurance with broader skills around the subject matter of law or lawyers and/or have transferable skills from other insurance backgrounds.
• Able to join/establish new relationships and relay key messages externally to brokers and clients to promote HDI.
• Ability to deal with a high submission count and review risk with the same level of consistency of approach and attention to detail.
• Strong team ethic and self-motivating character but with a desire to work closely with other team members and execute a collective strategy.
• Desire to focus on becoming a product specialist within the Legal Profession through both formal and informal learning.
• Calm and considered judgement even during peak trading periods.