Underwriting Specialist-1

FirstRand Limited; India; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstRand Limited, a leading financial services group, is seeking an experienced Underwriting Specialist to translate risk into opportunity by evaluating life, disability and critical illness cases with technical rigor and commercial focus.

You will act as a liaison between underwriting and financial advisors, ensure regulatory compliance, educate brokers, and collaborate with R&D to streamline processes while championing speed, fairness and client-centric outcomes.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 (NQF Level 4) required; relevant degree advantageous.
• Experience: minimum 10 years life insurance underwriting.
• Knowledge of Lump Sum Disability, Critical Illness, Income Protection, and related underwriting.

Responsibilities

• Underwrite life, disability, and critical illness within authority limits.
• Deliver underwriting decisions that reflect risk appetite and commercial viability.
• Educate and empower financial advisors and brokers with underwriting insights.
• Capture market sentiment and advisor feedback to inform underwriting practices.
• Craft underwriting rationales that support sales conversations and trust.
• Ensure decisions align with regulatory standards and company policies.
• Collaborate with R&D and other departments to optimize processes.
• Champion speed and fairness in all case decisions.

Skills

Underwriting expertise

Client centric thinking

Adaptability

Innovative thinking

Education

Grade 12 (NQF Level 4)

Relevant degree advantageous

Job description

Job Description To promote, develop and implement the Company's underwriting philosophy and strategy through the successful delivery of a variety of underwriting functions to maximize performance and achieve company objectives. Hello Future, Underwriting Specialist, Welcome to FNB, the home of the #changeables. We design for the shapeshifters and deliver products and services that make us incredibly proud of people that make it happen. As part of our team in FR Life Assurance, you will be surrounded by unique talents, diverse minds, and an adaptable environment that lives up to the promise of staying curious. Now’s the time to imagine your potential in a team where experts come together and ignite effective change.

Job Purpose

As a liaison Underwriter, you will serve as an important interface between the underwriting team and Financial Advisors, ensuring that underwriting decisions are technically sound and commercially aligned. You’ll assess complex life insurance applications and deliver clear empathetic communication to advisors navigating client needs. This role demands a blend of medical underwriting acumen, market awareness and relationship management. This isn’t just underwriting; it’s about translating risk into opportunity.

Are you someone who can:

• Underwrite life, disability, and critical illness within authority limits.
• Deliver nuanced client specific underwriting decisions that reflect both risk appetite and commercial viability.
• Educate and empower financial advisors and brokers with underwriting insights that help them position products more effectively
• Capture market sentiment and advisor feedback to inform underwriting practices and guidelines
• Craft compelling underwriting rationales that support sales conversations and build trust
• Ensure decisions align with regulatory standards and company policies
• Work closely with R&D team and other departments to optimize underwriting processes
• Champion speed and fairness in all case decisions

You will be an ideal candidate if you have:

• Grade 12 (NQF Level 4), Relevant Degree will be advantageous
• Experience: Minimal of 10 years life insurance underwriting experience
• A higher / advanced level of product knowledge regarding Lump Sum Disability, Critical Illness, Income Protection, Business Cover, Group Risk, and the assessment and underwriting thereof.
• Assessment of medical, financial, avocation & occupational UW risks
• Business acumen and client centric thinking
• Adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced market
• Innovation and forward-thinking underwriting approach

You will have access to:

• Opportunities to network and collaborate
• A challenging working environment that is progressive and agile
• Opportunities to innovate where initiative is taken and owned end to end

We can be a match if you have:

• Adaptable and curious
• Have a proven successful track record.
• Thrive in a collaborative environment.
• Detail-oriented
• Proactive and accountable
• Calm under pressure
• Collaborative mindset
• Flexible and adaptable in a dynamic work environment

Important Closing Date Note: Take note that applications will not be accepted on the below date and onwards, kindly submit applications ahead of the closing date indicated below. 05/09/26

#post #fnb #LI-AW1

All appointments will be made in line with FirstRand Group’s Employment Equity plan. The bank supports the recruitment and advancement of individuals with disabilities. In order for us to fulfill this purpose, candidates can disclose their disability information on a voluntary basis. The Bank will keep this information confidential unless we are required by law to disclose this information to other parties.

FirstRand provides a comprehensive range of financial services in South Africa and certain markets in broader Africa. The group also offers certain niche products and services in the UK and India. Listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX), FirstRand Limited is the largest financial institution by market capitalisation in Africa. The group follows a multi-branding approach. Its portfolio of financial services businesses includes FNB, RMB, WesBank, Ashburton Investments, Aldermore, MotoNovo and DirectAxis. Many are leaders in their respective segments and markets, offering transactional, lending, investment and insurance products and services. The FirstRand Corporate Centre houses many of the critical functions required by a large and complex financial services group. The group's track record of delivering superior returns to shareholders has been achieved through a combination of organic growth, acquisitions, innovation and the creation of completely new businesses. The group’s purpose of delivering Shared Prosperity provides many opportunities for employees to innovate to address social and environmental challenges in our markets. All of our businesses have successful Volunteering programmes which also allow employees to adopt and support causes close to their hearts.