Senior Specialist, Contract Surety

Aviva; Markham; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Sr Specialist in Contract Surety to manage complex surety accounts and foster strategic relationships. This role offers the opportunity to leverage your business and financial expertise while contributing to impactful decisions. You will investigate and analyze underwriting issues, monitor business accounts, and lead surety transactions. Join a company that values its employees and offers a compelling rewards package, career development opportunities, and a hybrid work model. If you are driven, analytical, and ready to make a difference, this is the role for you.

Benefits

Annual bonus eligibility

Retirement savings plan

Health benefits

Competitive vacation package

Professional development support

Corporate wellness programs

Volunteer opportunities

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience with financial statements in contracting firms.
• Broad knowledge of finance, accounting, and contract law.

Responsibilities

• Manage underwriting, accounting, and workflow issues.
• Build and maintain broker and contractor relationships.
• Ensure compliance with laws and underwriting standards.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Risk Management

Problem-Solving

Interpersonal Skills

Time Management

Strategic Thinking

Education

University Degree in Business Administration

Professional designation (CPA, CMA, CFA)

Job description

Individually we are people, but together we are Aviva. Individually these are just words, but together they are our Values – Care, Commitment, Community, and Confidence.

This is an outstanding chance to become part of a leading surety company that places importance on its employees and customers. As a Sr Specialist, Contract Surety at Aviva, you will be instrumental in managing sophisticated surety accounts, securing new business, and nurturing key strategic relationships. Your primary reporting line will be to the Senior Contract Surety Manager, while also working closely with the Assistant Vice President of Contract Surety on high-risk issues. This role empowers you to demonstrate your business and financial expertise to deliver impactful decisions and recommendations.

Come join our team!

What You'll Do

• Investigate, analyze, and manage underwriting, accounting, and workflow issues within the Aviva Surety Risk and Control Framework.
• Monitor and continuously assess the qualitative characteristics of both new and existing business accounts.
• Perform analytical evaluations of financial statements to determine underwriting positions and recommend strategies.
• Originate, lead, and successfully underwrite surety transactions.
• Analyze exposures, determine appropriate surety coverage, and assess risk exposure, loss history, and economic trends.
• Develop and maintain key broker and contractor relationships to solicit business and educate customers on Aviva Surety policies and procedures.
• Meet production, marketing, and profitability goals as set by the Branch AVP, and assist in business development.
• Attend client, broker, and market meetings, and engage regularly with internal and external collaborators.
• Ensure compliance with all internal and external laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Strictly follow underwriting standards to reduce risk.
• Prepare and implement instructions for outstanding accounting and billing situations.
• Perform special projects and other duties as assigned by the Senior Manager.

What You'll Bring

• Broad knowledge of business, construction, finance, accounting, contract law, and risk management.
• 5+ years of proven experience working with financial statements, preferably for public and large private contracting firms.
• Strong focus on providing analytics and reports to support creditworthiness and risk selection decisions.
• Ability to build trust and credibility with both internal and external collaborators.
• Outstanding analytical skills to evaluate sophisticated financial structures.
• Proactive problem-solving abilities and good judgment.
• Flexibility to adapt to a changing environment.
• Diligent with strong time management skills and the ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Strategic and analytical thinking capabilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills, both verbal and written, along with negotiation and persuasion skills.
• Ambitious, driven, and self-motivated.
• University Degree or equivalent experience, ideally in Business Administration, Finance, or Accounting.
• Professional designation (CPA, CMA, CFA or equivalent experience) is an asset.
• Prior experience in Surety is an asset but not mandatory.

What You’ll Get

• Compelling rewards package including base compensation, eligibility for annual bonus, retirement savings, share plan, health benefits, personal wellness, and volunteer opportunities.
• Outstanding Career Development opportunities.
• We’ll support your professional development education.
• Competitive vacation package with the option to purchase 5 extra days off per year.
• Employee driven programs passionate about gender, LGBTQ+, origins, diversity and inclusion.
• Corporate wellness programs to support our employees’ physical and mental health.
• Hybrid flexible work model.

Please note that we may use AI tools to help us through the recruitment process. This is a new position which has been posted both internally & externally.

Aviva Canada has an accommodation process in place to provide accommodations for employees with disabilities. If upon commencement of employment you require a specific accommodation because of a disability, please contact your Talent Acquisition Partner so that an appropriate accommodation can be arranged. This process applies throughout your career with Aviva Canada.