Personal Assistant to CUO, UK

Canopius; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Competitive base salary

Non-contributory pension

Discretionary bonus

Health & dental cover

Job summary

Canopius is seeking a proactive Personal Assistant to provide high‑quality support to the Active Underwriter and UK Chief Underwriting Officer. The role demands exceptional organisational skills, discretion and the ability to manage multiple priorities within a regulated environment.

Key duties include diary management, gatekeeping communications, preparing papers for Committees and Boards, and coordinating governance activities across Underwriting.

Qualifications

• Proven experience supporting senior executives, ideally within insurance or regulated environments.
• Exceptional organisational and time management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication at Executive/Board level.
• High level of discretion, integrity and professionalism when handling confidential information.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel).
• Ability to anticipate needs and work independently.
• Flexible and capable in a fast‑paced underwriting environment.

Responsibilities

• Proactive diary management across underwriting and executive stakeholders.
• Managing correspondence, emails and communications, acting as a professional gatekeeper where appropriate.
• Planning, coordinating and preparing for internal and external meetings, including agendas and follow‑ups.
• Organising travel, including flights, accommodation, itineraries and expenses.
• Supporting underwriting leadership meetings, strategy sessions and off‑sites, including logistics.
• Preparing presentations, briefing notes and documentation for Committees, Board and senior underwriting forums.
• Coordinating key underwriting governance activities and supporting documentation.
• Liaising with senior stakeholders across Underwriting, Claims, Finance, Operations and HR.
• Processing invoices, expenses and tracking approvals in line with internal controls.
• Maintaining confidential records and handling sensitive information with discretion.

Skills

Executive support

Diary management

Stakeholder management

Microsoft Office

Underwriting knowledge

Discretion

Tools

Outlook

PowerPoint

Word

Excel

Job description

To provide high‑quality, proactive and confidential personal assistant support to the Active Underwriter and UK Chief Underwriting Officer (Active), enabling the effective leadership and operation of the Syndicate and UK Underwriting Business Unit. The role requires excellent organisational skills, sound judgement, and the ability to manage complex and fast‑moving priorities within a regulated specialty insurance environment.

Responsibilities

• Proactive diary management for the Active , including prioritisation of meetings across underwriting, executive and external stakeholders
• Managing correspondence, emails and communications, acting as a professional gatekeeper where appropriate
• Planning, coordinating and preparing for internal and external meetings, including agendas, papers and follow ‑ up actions
• Organising travel, including flights, accommodation, itineraries, visas where required, and expense claims
• Supporting underwriting leadership meetings, strategy sessions and off ‑ sites, including logistics, room bookings and catering
• Preparing presentations, briefing notes and documentation for Committees, Board and senior underwriting forums
• Coordinating key underwriting governance activities and supporting documentation where required
• Liaising with senior stakeholders across Underwriting, Claims, Finance, Operations and HR
• Processing invoices, expenses and tracking approvals in line with internal controls
• Maintaining confidential records and handling sensitive information with discretion
• Supporting ad hoc projects and initiatives aligned to the UK Underwriting leadership agenda
• And other ad hoc duties as required

Skills and Experience

Proven experience supporting senior executives, ideally within insurance, financial services or a regulated professional environment

Exceptional organisational and time ‑ management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities under pressure

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with confidence interacting at Executive and Board level

High level of discretion, integrity and professionalism when handling confidential information

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel)

Strong attention to detail and a proactive, solutions ‑ focused mindset

Ability to anticipate needs, demonstrate initiative and work independently

Flexible and adaptable approach, comfortable working within a fast ‑ paced underwriting environment

Builds and maintains highly effective working relationships with senior underwriting leaders, executive stakeholders and external partners. Acts as a trusted first point of contact for the Active , managing interactions professionally, prioritising appropriately, and ensuring clear, timely and accurate communication to support effective decision ‑ making and alignment across the business.

Collaboration and teamwork:

Works seamlessly with Underwriting leadership teams, PAs, and colleagues across the wider organisation to support collective objectives. Contributes positively to team effectiveness by sharing information, anticipating needs, and coordinating activity across multiple stakeholders to ensure smooth delivery of outcomes.

Adapting to change:

Responds calmly and effectively to shifting priorities, competing deadlines and changing business demands. Demonstrates flexibility and sound judgement when managing last‑minute changes, sensitive matters or complex schedules within a fast‑paced underwriting and executive environment.

Proactively identifies opportunities to improve administrative processes, ways of working and information flow to enhance efficiency, accuracy and consistency. Applies learning and feedback to refine support provided to the Active and the wider Underwriting leadership team.

Applies practical and creative thinking to solve day ‑ to ‑ day challenges, streamline processes and enhance executive support. Willingly adopts new tools, systems or approaches to improve effectiveness and support evolving business needs.

Resilience

Maintains professionalism, discretion and effectiveness under pressure, particularly during peak periods, critical deadlines or sensitive situations. Demonstrates resilience and composure when managing high volumes of activity or confidential matters, ensuring consistent support at all times.

Future Focused

Anticipates upcoming requirements, risks and priorities within the underwriting leadership agenda. Plans ahead to support meetings, governance cycles and executive commitments, enabling the Active to operate effectively and focus on strategic priorities.

About Us

Our benefits
We offer all employees a comprehensive benefits package that focuses on their whole wellbeing. This includes hybrid working, a competitive base salary, non-contributory pension, discretionary bonus, insurances including health (family) and dental cover, and many other benefits to enhance financial, physical, social and psychological health.
About Canopius
Canopius is a global specialty lines (re)insurer. We are one of the leading insurers in the Lloyd’s of London insurance market with offices in the UK, US, Singapore, Australia and Bermuda.
At Canopius we foster a distinctive, positive culture which enables us to bring our whole selves to work to flourish as people, and build a business which delivers profitable, sustainable results.
Based in incredible new offices in the heart of the City of London, Canopius operates a flexible, hybrid working model and is committed to providing an environment that challenges employees to be their best and where everyone's unique contributions are recognised, valued and respected.
We are fully committed to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are made regardless of age, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, religion or beliefs, marital or caring status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We encourage and welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds.
We make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment. Please let us know if you require any information in an alternate format or any other reasonable adjustments.