Underwriter

Benefact Group plc; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension up to 12%

Bonus scheme 6-24%

25 days leave + holidays

Private healthcare & life assurance

Charity grant £200 annually

Volunteer day per year

Employee Assistance Programme

Study support for qualifications

Virtual GP access

Enhanced maternity/paternity pay

Job summary

Benefact Group plc in Manchester is seeking an Underwriter to join our Church Operations Department. You will assess underwriting activities including renewals, building works, and risk management surveys for our church customer base, with development opportunities in a purpose-driven environment.

The role offers hybrid working, competitive benefits, and study support as part of our commitment to professional growth.

Qualifications

• Ability to plan, prioritise and manage own work to deliver objectives and targets.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for handling enquiries and customers.
• Effective and appropriate communication; accurate information handling.

Responsibilities

• Develop and underwrite existing business within authority and strategy.
• Plan, prioritise and manage work to meet SLAs and deliver service.
• Communicate with direct customers across channels.
• Be proactive with continuous improvement.
• Expand technical knowledge via internal/external training and CPD.

Skills

Plan & prioritize

Verbal communication

Written communication

Information management

Education

Cert CII or commitment to achieve within timescale

Job description

Working hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Duration: Permanent

Location:Manchester

Job Ref:205560

About the role

Ecclesiastical Insurance, who are proudly part of Benefact Group are looking for a Underwriter to join our Manchester office.

As an Underwriter, you will assess a range of underwriting activities including general enquiries, renewals, building works, unoccupied risks & risk management surveys. This Underwriting position sits within our Church Operations Department and primarily supports our church customer base on a direct basis. This opportunity offers scope for development and progression within a supportive and purpose-driven environment.

Why join us?

Join a collaborative and inclusive culture that’s committed to making a difference and building a more sustainable future. Ranked amongst the UK's 15 Best Big Companies to Work For in 2025, we offer fantastic career and development opportunities within a rapidly growing, innovative Group - where all profits go to charity and good causes.

What you'll be doing

• Developing, negotiating, and profitably underwriting existing business caseload within own authority and in line with rate/commercial strategy, delivering underwriting excellence through specialist knowledge and support.

• Planning, prioritising and managing individual work to deliver agreed objectives and meet SLAs to deliver exceptional customer service.

• Effectively and appropriately communicating with direct customers through a variety of communication channels.

• Being pro‑active with a desire to continuously improve.

• Actively expanding personal technical and niche knowledge both informally (networking internally and externally, internet, industry press) and formally (In-house training, CII, CPD)

What you'll need to have

• The ability to plan, prioritise and manage own work to deliver agreed objectives and meet targets.

• Demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills, with confidence in handling phone enquiries.

• Effective and appropriate communication skills.

• Understand, manage, and use information with accuracy.

What makes you stand out

• Cert CII or commitment to achieve within an agreed timescale.

• Industry knowledge would be an advantage.

What we offer

• A competitive salary - let's discuss it

• Hybrid working

• Group Personal Pension - up to 12% employer contribution

• Generous annual bonus scheme: on-target bonus between 6% and24%

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, and a holiday buy and sell scheme

• An array of health and wellbeing benefits, including private healthcare, income protection and life assurance

• £200 annual personal grant to a charity of your choice

• Encouraged to take at least one volunteering day per year

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Full study support to gain professional qualifications

• Access to virtual GP

• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Hear from the hiring manager

"The Church & Commercial Underwriting team in Manchester are known for delivering exceptional service and technical expertise. Over the years, we’ve built a reputation for doing things the right way — combining specialist knowledge with a genuine commitment to supporting our Methodist customers and the wider community."

Our focus on quality and care has played a vital role in strengthening long‑term relationships and retaining the business that helps us continue our purpose‑driven work. In this role, you’ll help shape the customer experience, strengthen relationships, and play an important part in our ongoing success. If you’re passionate about developing your skills and being part of something meaningful, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

About us

Benefact Group is a unique international financial services Group made up of over 30 businesses. We are owned by a charity and have been the 3rd largest UK corporate donor over a decade*, having given away £250 million since 2014. We have ambitious plans to become the UK’s number one corporate donor, with strategic objectives in place to double the Group’s size.

We believe it’s essential to attract, empower, grow and reward talented people, offering fantastic opportunities for career and personal development. Our giving ethos, 135-year history and the diversity of what we do, has enabled us to build a culture of kindness, great ambition, and of passionate people driven to do better and be better.

We welcome applications from everyone.
If you need any additional support during the recruitment process, then please let us know.

*Directory of Social Change’s UK Guides to Company Giving 2017-26