Regional Underwriting Manager - Head of Office - Leeds (Hybrid Working)

Posted: 18 January 2023

Job description

Our client is one of the fastest growing insurance organisations operating within the UK insurance market today. They are a progressive and proactive organisation with regional offices located throughout the UK.

They are seeking a Regional Underwriting Manager to join their team in Leeds (which could suit a Senior Underwriter looking to make the next step up), responsible for developing and executing a strategy and leading a business unit within the Northern Regions which includes Yorkshire, Northeast, Lancashire, and the surrounding areas.  The focus of the role will be to deliver financial, Insurer and qualitative targets whilst ensuring robust target and objective setting is maintained in line with business strategy. Within this role you use your expertise to lead the team on all technical underwriting matters, whilst also being very visible in the market, and dealing with a case load of your own which will usually be the more complex and larger accounts.

Ideal applicants will be from a commercial insurance company/MGA background. The main aspects of this role are to be technically competent and have experience/knowledge on property/casualty and commercial combined risk (contractors would be an advantageous); to have the ability to trade effectively with the brokers you’d work with (thinking outside of the box); and be able to lead from the front.

This is quite a unique opportunity which offers fantastic career potential, and one that could suit someone who is performing a similar position, or, maybe a Senior Underwriter feels there is limited opportunities to progress within their current role/company.

Key Accountabilities/Deliverables:

• Provide leadership and development support to the business unit team to meet the business objectives and delivery of outstanding client service.
• Deliver business unit P&L performance against agreed plans and budgets through active performance management (target setting, monitoring and feedback) and review - including early identification and reaction to emergent opportunities/threats/challenges and development of required action plans.
• Drive forward growth through the application of strategic thinking and planning for the business unit, of both new product lines and new account development
• Directly develop and maintain senior client (panels, insurers, cover holders etc.) relationships as required.
• Develop a pipeline of potential clients and actively manage to enhance the proposition to clients and deliver financial return to the business and its capacity providers
• Accountable for the successful leadership of a business unit, establishing a high-performance culture of motivation, employee engagement & empowerment
• Ensure coaching and development of all team members takes place to support the future needs of the business, market growth and opportunities.
• Educate the team on the wider products and services on offer within the company.
• Act in accordance with agreed service standards and report complaints effectively in line with the company’s professional standards manual
• Act as a role model to others for conducting business in accordance with the company ethos and values and in an ethical manner & comply with the Professional Standards Manual
• Take all reasonable steps to ensure the part of the business for which you are accountable for demonstrably complies with applicable laws, rules, regulations, good governance, and the company’s shared values, in particular, putting clients at the heart of their business. If shortcomings are identified take responsibility for remedial action planning, and action in conjunction with the relevant experts within the firm.

Person Specification:

• Dip CII / ACII desirable
• Educated to degree standard or equivalent desirable
• Excellent technical knowledge of relevant insurance classes and EBITAC principles
• Good knowledge of general insurance and underlying legal principles and practices
• Proven leadership experience
• Proven track record of robust financial management and wider management principles and techniques
• People management experience essential
• Commercially awareness
• High performance leadership style based on ethics and integrity
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including listening, verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the Company
• Excellent presentation skills
• Analytical and strategic mind-set with the ability to develop creative approaches and solutions necessary to solve complex problems
• Ability to interact comfortably with senior level management
• MS office and other relevant IT systems expertise
• Excellent customer service focus
• Eligible to work in the UK 

Very attractive basic salary on offer, bonus, pension, PMI, and additional staff benefits would be offered for this role.

For further information please contact Andy Baker on 07834 596414/0113 4931720 or email andy@cryerbaker.co.uk