Underwriting Execution and Governance Lead

AXIS (AXIS Capital); Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AXIS Capital in London seeks a senior professional to lead underwriting governance and strategy development, ensuring oversight across the group. You will craft executive-level briefs, memos, and dashboards for CUO and senior leaders, synthesizing complex data into clear recommendations.

The role demands 10+ years in commercial lines (re)insurance, strong analytical credentials, and proven ability to influence decisions.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years’ experience in a technical role in commercial lines (re)insurance.
• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in a highly analytical subject.
• Experience in governance management within (re)insurance.
• Proven ability to influence outcomes with stakeholders.
• Experience with data analytics platforms and decision-support tools.

Responsibilities

• Act as key support to the Head of Underwriting Governance and development of underwriting strategy.
• Implement and manage the Group’s underwriting governance framework.
• Lead updates to the framework aligning guidelines to annual plans.
• Assist changes to underwriting strategies to align with AXIS objectives.
• Develop executive-level materials to support CUO and leadership decisions.
• Provide structured decision support with analysis and scenarios.
• Leverage data analytics and AI-enabled tools to enhance underwriting oversight.
• Collaborate with data, technology, and analytics teams to apply ML, automation, or generative AI.

Skills

Technical skills

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Independent working

Strategic thinking

Education

Analytical degree

Tools

Data analytics platforms

Management information/decision-support tools

AI-enabled tools

Job description

This is your opportunity to join AXIS Capital – a trusted global provider of specialty lines insurance and reinsurance. We stand apart for our outstanding client service, intelligent risk taking and superior risk adjusted returns for our shareholders. We also proudly maintain an entrepreneurial, disciplined and ethical corporate culture. As a member of AXIS, you join a team that is among the best in the industry.

At AXIS, we believe that we are only as strong as our people. We strive to create an inclusive and welcoming culture where employees of all backgrounds and from all walks of life feel comfortable and empowered to be themselves. This means that we bring our whole selves to work.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic, including age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any basis prohibited by the laws that govern its operations.

What will you do in this role?

• To act as key support to The Head of Underwriting Governance, Execution and the development of Underwriting strategy.
• Support with the implementation and management of the Group’s underwriting governance framework, including implementing a consistent referral framework and provide oversight of the post-bind review of underwriting framework.
• Lead the ongoing oversight and management of updates to the Group’s underwriting governance framework, notably including aligning underwriting guidelines to annual business plans.
• Assist in implementation of changes to underwriting strategies to ensure continuous alignment with plans, wider AXIS objectives or in response to market developments.
• Support with the design, development and implementation of new underwriting strategies across the group.
• Work closely with underwriting teams and the CUO function to identify emerging underwriting trends and formulate action plans to remediate issues.
• Develop, manage, and coordinate high‑quality executive‑level materials, including decision memos, presentations, briefing notes, and dashboards, to support effective CUO and senior leadership decision‑making.
• Provide structured decision support by synthesizing complex qualitative and quantitative information into clear recommendations, scenario analyses, and trade‑off assessments.
• Leverage data analytics and artificial intelligence‑enabled tools to enhance underwriting oversight, portfolio monitoring, trend identification, and governance reporting.
• Partner with data, technology, and analytics teams to identify opportunities where machine learning, automation, or generative AI can improve underwriting execution, governance efficiency, and insight generation.
• You may also be required to take on additional duties, responsibilities and activities appropriate to the nature of this role.

What you need to have:

• The suitable candidate will have at least 10 years of experience in a technical role in commercial lines (re)insurance.
• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in a highly analytical subject.
• Professional experience in (re)insurance industry performance and/or governance management role(s).
• Experience in building strong and effective relationships with colleagues and leadership with a proven ability to win confidence of business partners and influence outcomes.
• Experience in and perspective on best‑practice underwriting performance and governance management frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to support senior executive decision‑making through structured analysis, clear narrative development, and concise communication.
• Experience working with data analytics platforms, management information, or decision‑support tools to inform underwriting or portfolio strategy.

What we prefer you to have:

• Strong technical skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong communication skills, with an ability to communicate complex concepts to all stakeholders across the organisation.
• Ability to plan effectively and prioritise workload.Ability to work independently.
• Advanced presentation skills, including the ability to design and deliver executive‑ready materials for Board, CUO, and senior leadership forums.
• Skills in modern analytics, visualization, or AI‑enabled tools (e.g., portfolio analytics, automation, generative AI assistants) applied in a governance, underwriting, or strategic context.
• Comfort operating at the intersection of underwriting, strategy, data, and technology while maintaining strong governance discipline and control standards.

_For this position, we currently expect to offer a base salary in the range of X to Y. Your salary offer will be based on an assessment of a variety of factors including your specific experience and work location._

_In addition, you will be offered competitive target incentive compensation, with awards based on overall corporate and individual performance. On top of this, you will be eligible for a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes medical plans for you and your family, health and wellness programs, retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation, and much more._

This posting is for an existing vacancy.