Senior Underwriter, Contract Surety

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company; Toronto; On-site; CAD 145,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Pension plan

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company in Toronto is seeking a Senior Underwriter, Contract Surety to lead underwriting efforts for a high-quality portfolio and to grow our broker network.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in contract surety underwriting with strong financial analysis and communication skills. Travel within Canada and the US is required; bilingual French is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance or related discipline preferred.
• 5+ years underwriting experience in contract surety or comparable credit/financial field.
• Advanced financial analysis and credit assessment skills.
• Ability to travel (Canada and US).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience managing and collaborating with retail brokers and agents.
• Independent and team-oriented work capability.
• Strong customer focus with ability to develop new business relationships.
• French language skills would be considered a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the underwriter role on a high-quality portfolio of contract surety clients.
• Analyze credit quality and set terms, conditions, and pricing.
• Develop broker/agent relationships to pursue new business opportunities.
• Review contracts, RFPs, and bond forms for various risks.
• Contribute to daily operations and underwriting practices across Surety.
• Collaborate with other product lines for cross-marketing opportunities.

Skills

Advanced financial analysis

Credit assessment

Communication skills

Willingness to travel

French (bilingual)

Broker/agent relationships

Independence & teamwork

Customer focus

Underwriting experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance or related discipline

Job description

Salary Range: 145,000 CAD to 190,000 CAD Annually

Who We Are:

A strategic and trusted insurance partner, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI), provides a broad range of commercial property, casualty and specialty insurance coverages and outstanding service to customers and brokers around the world. Part of Berkshire Hathaway’s insurance operations, we bring our solutions to market with our stellar brand name, top-rated balance sheet, and the expertise of our global team of professionals, who exude excellent capabilities and strong character.

We are a values-based organization where respect, integrity, excellence, collaboration, and passion define who we are and how we do business. We value diversity of backgrounds, experience, and perspectives and strive to foster an inclusive environment that enables all our team members to bring their best selves to work. We are one team committed to building a culture where every teammate has the opportunity to contribute and be recognized. Want to be part of the team building the finest property, casualty, and specialty lines insurance company in the world?

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Underwriter, Contract Surety in our Toronto Office.

This is a customer-focused position ideally suited for a professional of the highest ethical standards that is dedicated to excellence and has a passion for the surety business. The ideal candidate values working in a highly collaborative environment, simplicity over complexity, and thinking outside of the box in providing practical solutions for brokers and customers. This position affords the opportunity to make significant and lasting contributions across all facets of our growing surety organization. Specific responsibilities include:

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Fill a vital role as the lead underwriter on an existing, high-quality quality portfolio of contract surety clients.
• Analyze credit quality and utilize expertise to make sound decisions pertaining to terms, conditions, and pricing.
• Develop and advance broker and agent relationships in pursuit of new business opportunities.
• Contract, RFP, & bond form review for a wide range of risks including middle market, subcontract, and national contractors.
• Actively contribute to daily operations, development of systems, and underwriting practices across the overall Surety organization.
• Liaise with other Berkshire Specialty Insurance product lines to develop cross marketing opportunities.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance or related discipline preferred.
• 5 or more years underwriting experience within contract surety or a comparative credit or financial-oriented industry.
• Advanced financial analysis and credit assessment skills.
• Ability to travel (Canada and US).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience managing and collaborating with retail brokers and agents.
• Innovative and creative thinker to solve customer’s needs and develop new opportunities.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Strong customer focus and proven ability to develop new business relationships.
• Bilingual (French) would be considered a plus.

BHSI Offers:

• A competitive package and exciting growth opportunities for career-oriented teammates.
• A dynamic, action oriented, and thoughtful environment centered on always doing the right thing for our customers, teammates, and our other stakeholders.
• A purposely non-bureaucratic organization that embraces simplicity over complexity and emphasizes individual excellence in a team framework.
• Benefits that support your life and well-being, which include:
  • Comprehensive Health, Dental and Vision benefits.
  • Disability Insurance (both short-term and long-term).
  • Life Insurance.
  • Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance.
  • Critical Illness Insurance.
  • Employee Assistance Program.
  • Defined Contribution Pension Plan with Company Match.
  • Generous holiday and Paid Time Off.
  • Tuition Reimbursement.
  • Paid Parental Leave.

NOTE: Compensation will be commensurate with experience. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Team Member may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

BHSI complies with Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and has a process in place that provides accommodations for job applicants and teammates with disabilities (upon request).

The base salary range for this position in Toronto is CAD $145,000 to $190,000, along with annual bonus eligibility. Total compensation for a candidate is determined by their relevant skills, location, and experience. We value our teammates – both their capabilities and character – as demonstrated by our amazing culture.

We do not employ AI or automated tools to filter, assess, or select candidates.

This posting is for an existing vacancy within the organization.