Assistant Underwriter

Lawes Consulting Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Lawes Consulting Group is recruiting in Manchester for a Commercial Underwriter or Assistant Underwriter. The role involves underwriting new business, pricing risks and building broker relationships to grow the regional book.

You will work with the Head of Manchester Business and mentor junior colleagues where applicable. For the Underwriter level, you will own a broker panel and drive growth; for the Assistant level, you will support senior underwriters while developing your own authority and

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' commercial underwriting experience.
• Experience managing a broker panel and trading profitably.
• Solid knowledge of commercial combined and/or package products.
• Progress towards CII qualifications; degree preferred but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Underwrite new business quotes, mid-term adjustments and renewals within authority.
• Build and maintain broker relationships, delivering a professional underwriting service.
• In Underwriter role: own a designated broker panel and drive growth.
• In Assistant Underwriter role: support senior underwriters on larger risks.
• Contribute to regional book profitability through risk selection and pricing.
• Handle referrals from the online trading platform timely and commercially.

Skills

Negotiation

Relationship building

Underwriting judgement

Communication

Self-motivation

Organisational skills

Education

CII qualifications in progress

Degree preferred

Job description

Job title: Commercial Underwriter / Assistant Underwriter

Salary: £Competitive (dependent on experience and level) + benefits

Location: Manchester

PURPOSE OF ROLE

An excellent opportunity has arisen to join the Manchester office of a well-established international insurance company. This role can be appointed at either Commercial Underwriter or Assistant Underwriter level, depending on your experience, making it ideal for both accomplished underwriters and those looking to take the next step in their underwriting career.

Working closely with the Head of Manchester Business, you will underwrite commercial combined and package business and play a genuine part in the growth and profitability of the regional book. At Underwriter level you will take ownership of a designated panel of brokers; at Assistant Underwriter level

you will support senior colleagues while developing your own broker relationships and technical capability.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Underwrite new business quotes, mid-term adjustments and renewals across commercial combined and package business, within your authority level.
• Build and maintain strong trading relationships with brokers, delivering a responsive and professional underwriting service.
• At Underwriter level: take ownership of a designated panel of brokers, driving growth and retention across your accounts.
• At Assistant Underwriter level: support senior underwriters on larger and more complex risks, gradually building your own authority and broker panel.
• Contribute to the profitability of the regional book through sound risk selection, pricing and loss ratio management.
• Handle referrals from the online trading platform in a timely and commercial manner.
• Ensure all underwriting activity is compliant with company guidelines, regulatory requirements and service standards.

DAY-TO-DAY

• Trading with brokers by phone, email and face-to-face, negotiating terms and converting opportunities.
• Assessing, pricing and documenting risks accurately within agreed authority limits.
• Attending broker meetings and visits to strengthen relationships and generate a pipeline of new business.
• Working collaboratively with the wider Manchester team and, at Underwriter level, mentoring and supporting junior colleagues.
• Monitoring the performance of your accounts and taking corrective action where required.

EXPERIENCE

• Commercial Underwriter: a minimum of 5 years' commercial underwriting experience, with a proven track record of managing a broker panel and trading profitably.
• Assistant Underwriter: a minimum of 2 years' experience in commercial insurance (underwriting or broking), with a genuine desire to develop as an underwriter.
• Solid knowledge of commercial combined and/or package products.
• Progress towards (or willingness to work towards) CII qualifications; a degree is preferred but not essential.

SKILLS

• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills, with a genuine enjoyment of trading with brokers.
• Sound technical underwriting judgement, with attention to detail in risk assessment and documentation.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of loss ratios, pricing and portfolio performance.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Self-motivated and organised, able to manage your own workload in a busy trading environment.