Commercial Underwriting Manager

Lawes Consulting Group; Slough; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Lawes Consulting Group is seeking a Commercial Underwriting Manager in London to lead the Property & Casualty underwriting function. The role focuses on profitability, disciplined underwriting, and mentoring a team of underwriters across a broad commercial book.

The candidate will own the portfolio, set guidelines, develop pricing frameworks, and drive growth while maintaining regulatory and internal compliance. Strong leadership and market insight required.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years in commercial underwriting, including leadership experience.
• 2+ years in a managerial or lead capacity.
• Strong knowledge of Property & Casualty lines.
• Experience with brokers and key account relationships.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the commercial P&C underwriting portfolio with profitability and growth targets.
• Set underwriting guidelines, risk appetite, and pricing frameworks.
• Lead and develop a team of underwriters and mentor junior staff.
• Build broker relationships to drive new business and retain accounts.
• Collaborate with actuarial, claims and finance teams for data-driven decisions.
• Monitor market trends and adapt strategies to remain competitive.
• Report underwriting performance to senior leadership with insights.

Skills

Technical underwriting

Leadership

Negotiation

Relationship management

Data analytics

Education

ACII qualification

Job description

Commercial Underwriting Manager

Salary: Up to £100,000

Location: London

Sector: Commercial Insurance – Property & Casualty

Purpose of Role

A leading London-market MGA is seeking an experienced Commercial Underwriting Manager to lead and develop their Property & Casualty underwriting function. This is a senior leadership role responsible for driving profitability, maintaining underwriting discipline, and mentoring a team of underwriters across a broad commercial book of business.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the commercial P&C underwriting portfolio, ensuring profitability and growth targets are met.
• Set and enforce underwriting guidelines, risk appetite, and pricing frameworks in line with business strategy.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of underwriters, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Build and maintain strong broker relationships to drive new business and retain existing accounts.
• Collaborate with actuarial, claims, and finance teams to deliver data-driven underwriting decisions.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity, adapting strategies to maintain a competitive edge.
• Report underwriting performance to senior leadership, providing insight and recommendations.

Day-to-Day

• Review, assess, and sign off on complex and high-value commercial risks within delegated authority.
• Conduct portfolio reviews and contribute to quarterly business planning cycles.
• Attend broker meetings and market events to maintain and develop new business pipelines.
• Provide technical guidance and referral support to junior underwriters.
• Oversee adherence to regulatory requirements and internal compliance frameworks.

Experience

• 5–8 years of commercial underwriting experience, with at least 2 years in a managerial or lead capacity.
• Demonstrable expertise across Property & Casualty commercial lines.
• Proven track record of managing profitable books of business within a London market or Lloyd's environment.
• Experience working with brokers and managing key account relationships.
• Background in portfolio management, pricing strategy, and risk analysis.

Skills

• Strong technical underwriting knowledge across commercial P&C product lines.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills with the ability to develop talent.
• Commercially astute with strong negotiation and relationship-building abilities.
• Analytical mindset with proficiency in using data and MI to inform underwriting decisions.
• Effective communicator at all levels, from underwriting teams to senior stakeholders.
• ACII qualified or working towards qualification (preferred).