Underwriting Manager - Financial Lines

Zurich Financial Services Australia; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

Hybrid working (3 in office, 2 from/at

AUD$500 wellbeing payment

AUD$295 starter e-voucher

Training programs

Job summary

Zurich is seeking a Financial Lines Underwriting Manager to lead the New Zealand portfolio within Commercial Markets. You will guide underwriting strategy, develop a high‑performing team, and drive profitable growth across the portfolio.

You will collaborate with brokers and customers, strengthen market presence, and deliver outstanding outcomes while fostering a culture of learning and performance.

Qualifications

• Extensive Financial Lines underwriting experience in insurance or broking.
• Proven leadership of high‑performing teams.
• Strong portfolio management and financial discipline.
• Track record of profitable growth and strategy execution.
• Excellent stakeholder management and market-facing skills.
• Data-driven decision making to drive performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the profitable growth and performance of the NZ Financial Lines portfolio.
• Drive underwriting strategy and go-to-market initiatives across the business.
• Build and maintain relationships with brokers, customers and key stakeholders.
• Support retention and new business through active market engagement.
• Coach and retain underwriting talent and foster continuous learning.
• Monitor portfolio performance and deliver financial and operational objectives.

Skills

Financial Lines underwriting

Leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Go-to-market

Data-driven decisions

Job description

Competitive salary + bonus + 5 weeks of leave

Zurich is a leading multi-line insurer that serves its customers in global and local markets. With about 55,000 employees, it provides a wide range of property and casualty, life insurance products and services in more than 215 countries and territories. Zurich's customers include individuals, small businesses, and mid‑sized and large companies, as well as multinational corporations.

A new transformational adventure awaits you…

How does 5 weeks of annual leave, a fulfilling career you'll genuinely enjoy, and working for a reputable organization that promotes wellbeing and drives digital transformation sound to you?

As one of Forbes 2024 ‘World's Best Employers' and Fortune's ‘World's Most Admired Companies' for 2025, Zurich - a leader in the insurance industry, is on a journey towards a brighter future… A brighter future for you - focused on your career, your wellbeing, and your community - as well as our customers and the planet.

Join us on this thrilling journey as we work towards our vision of becoming Australia's leading digital insurer. If you're eager to be part of a values-driven global organisation that's experiencing real growth and transformation, and if you share our commitment to making a tangible difference and taking continuous steps towards a sustainable future for our people, customers, communities, and our planet, then keep reading!

Let's create a brighter future together, let's make a difference

It's important to know, what you do matters. At Zurich, we don't just cover, we care.

We have an opportunity for a Financial Lines Underwriting Manager to lead our New Zealand Financial Lines portfolio and underwriting team. Sitting within Commercial Markets, this role is responsible for driving profitable growth, shaping underwriting strategy, strengthening market presence, and delivering outstanding outcomes for customers, brokers, and Zurich.

You'll bring together underwriting, sales, and broader business teams to create momentum in the market, build a strong pipeline of opportunities, and develop a high‑performing, customer‑focused culture. Just as importantly, you'll develop underwriting capability and create an environment where people can perform, learn and grow.

What does this look like in practice:

• Leading the profitable growth and performance of the New Zealand Financial Lines portfolio
• Driving execution of underwriting strategy and go‑to‑market initiatives across the business
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with brokers, customers, and key stakeholders
• Supporting business retention and new business acquisition through active market engagement
• Coaching, developing, and retaining underwriting talent while fostering a culture of continuous learning
• Monitoring portfolio performance and delivering key financial and operational objectives

Important to your success - let's grow together You're a collaborative and commercially minded leader who enjoys building strong relationships and bringing people together to achieve shared outcomes. You combine strategic thinking with a hands‑on approach, inspire confidence in the market, and create an environment where people can learn, grow, and perform at their best.

In order to be successful, you will have the following:

• Extensive Financial Lines underwriting experience gained within insurance or broking environments
• Proven experience leading and developing high‑performing teams
• Strong technical expertise across Financial Lines products and portfolio management
• Demonstrated success delivering profitable growth and executing business strategy
• Strong stakeholder management and market‑facing relationship skills
• Commercial acumen with the ability to drive performance through data‑informed decision making

Belong. Zurich is here to support you

There are so many reasons why Zurich is a great place to be and the right choice for you, but here are just a few.

• Enjoy 5 weeks of annual leave for permanent staff through our Z leave initiative, along with 15 days of personal/carer's leave as we empower our people to manage their own wellbeing. Plus, access to Family Care (parental leave).
• Benefit from a hybrid working arrangement - 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home per week for full‑time employees.
• Access programs to stay healthy and feel healthier, receive an AUD$500 wellbeing payment per year, and a AUD$295 new starter e‑voucher for your work‑from‑home setup (flex work - hybrid working), along with other great benefits through our Shine portal.
• Grow and thrive in your career with our award‑winning training programs. We support and encourage your development because our strength lies in our people, and we value your individuality.
• Work with global, diverse, and inclusive teams; explore your passions, fuel innovation, drive equity, collaborate, and make a positive difference beyond your role.
• Take advantage of global mobility opportunities across more than 200 countries worldwide.
• Volunteer and work in our state‑of‑the‑art Green Star rated offices (when you are in the office) and dress for your day.
• We plant a tree for every new employee.
• Not to mention our various employer of choice awards/memberships - WGEA; Family Inclusive Workplace; Gold AWEI Employer, Pride in Diversity… to name a few.

We could go on, but the main point is that Zurich is a great place to be, where you can truly belong, be yourself, maintain work/life balance, and thrive in a supportive environment.

Zurich is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is fair and accessible for all candidates. If you require any special accommodations to participate in our recruitment process, we encourage you to please let us know at the time of your application.