Underwriting Manager - Financial Lines

Kennedy Reid | Recruitment Agency; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working environment

Job summary

Kennedy Reid | Recruitment Agency is partnering with a specialist underwriting business to appoint an experienced Financial Lines Underwriter stepping into a pivotal leadership role. You will lead a high-performing team across Professional Indemnity and Cyber, while remaining hands-on in underwriting, broker relationships and strategic business development.

You will drive profitable growth, support talent development, and collaborate with executive leadership to shape portfolio strategy and

Qualifications

• Strong Financial Lines underwriting experience, notably in Professional Indemnity.
• Leadership experience or clear potential for leadership roles.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Proactive business development and portfolio growth mindset.
• Proven technical underwriting capability and commercial judgement.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a team of specialist underwriters.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture.
• Support technical development and career progression within the team.
• Manage workflow, service delivery standards and team productivity.
• Underwrite and manage a portfolio of new and renewal business.
• Act as a technical referral point for the underwriting team.
• Ensure sound underwriting discipline and adherence to delegated authority frameworks.
• Maintain strong portfolio profitability and performance.
• Build and strengthen relationships with key broker partners.
• Identify and pursue growth opportunities across the portfolio.
• Represent the business at industry events, broker meetings and presentations.
• Deliver exceptional service and technical expertise to distribution partners.
• Contribute to portfolio strategy, planning and budget development.
• Assess market trends, emerging risks and competitive dynamics.
• Monitor portfolio performance and provide insights to support growth and profitability objectives.
• Work collaboratively with insurer partners and internal stakeholders.

Skills

Financial Lines underwriting

Technical underwriting

Leadership

Communication skills

Business development

Job description

An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced Financial Lines Underwriter or emerging underwriting leader to step into a pivotal management role with a highly regarded specialist underwriting business. This role offers the chance to lead a high-performing team across Professional Indemnity and Cyber while remaining hands-on in underwriting, broker relationship management and strategic business development. Reporting directly to the executive leadership team, you will play a key role in shaping the future direction and growth of the Financial Lines portfolio.

The Opportunity

This position will suit a technically strong Financial Lines professional who enjoys a mix of leadership, underwriting, relationship management and commercial strategy.

You will be responsible for driving profitable growth, supporting the development of underwriting talent, strengthening broker partnerships and contributing to the ongoing success of a well-established and respected market participant.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a team of specialist underwriters.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture.
• Support technical development and career progression within the team.
• Manage workflow, service delivery standards and team productivity.
• Underwrite and manage a portfolio of new and renewal business.
• Act as a technical referral point for the underwriting team.
• Ensure sound underwriting discipline and adherence to delegated authority frameworks.
• Maintain strong portfolio profitability and performance.
• Build and strengthen relationships with key broker partners.
• Identify and pursue growth opportunities across the portfolio.
• Represent the business at industry events, broker meetings and presentations.
• Deliver exceptional service and technical expertise to distribution partners.
• Contribute to portfolio strategy, planning and budget development.
• Assess market trends, emerging risks and competitive dynamics.
• Monitor portfolio performance and provide insights to support growth and profitability objectives.
• Work collaboratively with insurer partners and internal stakeholders.

About You

• Strong Financial Lines underwriting experience, particularly within Professional Indemnity.
• Proven technical underwriting capability and commercial judgement.
• Experience building and maintaining broker relationships.
• Leadership experience, or a strong desire to move into a leadership role.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive approach to business development and portfolio growth.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• A positive, collaborative leadership style.

Why Apply?

• Opportunity to step into a genuine leadership role.
• Established and respected specialist insurance platform.
• Strong support from executive leadership.
• Hybrid working environment.
• Exposure to strategic decision-making and portfolio management.
• Career progression opportunities within a growing business.