Branch Underwriting Manager

AXA UK; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

AXA UK in Ipswich is seeking a Branch Underwriting Manager to lead the local underwriting function, applying pricing strategies and governance to deliver profit and income targets.

You will report to the Branch Manager, lead the underwriting team, set standards, manage performance, and build strong relationships with broker partners to drive profitable growth across the network. Eligibility to work in the UK is required.

Qualifications

• Senior commercial insurance leadership – proven experience leading underwriting teams.
• Extensive knowledge of commercial underwriting scenarios and portfolio management.
• Strong planning, analytical, and numerical skills for profitability targets.

Responsibilities

• Drive underwriting profitability through account management and trend analysis across Branch broker business.
• Maintain loss ratio control by governance and underwriting controls.
• Set underwriting standards and empower deployment across the Branch.
• Lead technical decisions on deals to achieve target ratios.
• Build relationships with brokers to deliver profitable growth.
• Provide technical expertise and act as underwriting authority for decisions.
• Lead and develop the underwriting team through performance management.
• Champion system and process improvements across Branch network and trading centres.

Skills

Senior leadership

Underwriting leadership

Commercial保险

Account management

Financial planning

Governance

Broker relationship

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Numerical reasoning

Job description

About AXA

AXA is a global leader in insurance and financial services, dedicated to helping customers protect what matters most to them. As the sixth-largest insurance company in the world, we provide a wide range of services, including health, car, home, and business insurance. We support millions of customers worldwide, helping them navigate life's uncertainties with confidence. AXA Insurance UK, formed by uniting our Commercial and Retail teams under a single leadership, strengthens our core capabilities and our commitment to exceptional customer service.

Job Overview

As we continue to grow the Ipswich Branch, we're currently looking to recruit a Branch Underwriting Manager. This role provides a fantastic opportunity for you to build key foundations and shape the narrative, that will provide AXA the exposure and scope required for growth. Reporting into the Branch Manager, you'll form part of the local Senior Leadership Team where you’ll lead and manage the operational underwriting function of our branch, applying underwriting, pricing strategy and policies, to build technical excellence and deliver profit and income targets. Working with the Distribution team to drive profitable growth across our broker partners, strengthening our position in the local market.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive underwriting profitability through account management, financial planning, and trend analysis across all Branch broker business
• Maintain loss ratio control by implementing and monitoring underwriting controls to ensure governance and financial performance
• Set underwriting standards and manage empowerment deployment consistently across the Branch
• Lead technical decision-making on new and current deals to achieve combined operating ratio targets
• Build key customer relationships to deliver profitable growth and align with broker action plans across the network
• Provide technical expertise and referral point for all underwriting and trading decisions, establishing the Branch as an underwriting authority
• Lead and develop the underwriting team through performance management to build technical capability and capability
• Champion change initiatives including system and process improvements to ensure consistency across the Branch network, Schemes, and Trading Centres

Work Arrangements

At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team and our customers. You'll work at least three days a week (60%) away from home, attending the office, visiting clients or attending industry events.

Your Skills & Experience

• Senior commercial insurance leadership – Proven experience leading underwriting teams in a commercial insurance environment with strong market and process knowledge
• Technical underwriting expertise – Extensive knowledge of commercial underwriting scenarios, large case and portfolio management, with demonstrated decision-making capability
• People management – Ability to lead, motivate, and develop underwriting teams through effective performance management
• Relationship building – Excellent skills in developing successful long-term relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Strategic and analytical thinking – Strong planning and analytical capabilities with experience in both operational and strategic planning
• Commercial acumen – Understanding of business profitability within the intermediary channel and commercial product ranges
• Communication and decision-making – Excellent written and verbal communication skills with pragmatic, analytical approach to decision-making
• Numerical reasoning – Strong analytical and numerical skills to drive financial planning and performance analysis

As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom.

This position has been defined as an Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) role under the IDD regime which means that in addition to pre-employment screening checks, the successful candidate will be subject to background screening every 4 years with an annual declaration in interim years.