AVP, HNW Underwriting

The Great Eastern Life Assurance Company Limited; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Great Eastern Life Assurance Company Limited is seeking an experienced underwriter to lead High Net Worth (HNW) risk assessments in Singapore. You will review applications, countersign decisions, and provide guidance to junior underwriters, ensuring adherence to underwriting standards while supporting financial planners via multiple channels.

You will liaise with distribution channels, uphold KPIs and service standards, and drive process improvements.

Qualifications

• Degree holder with >10 years of underwriting experience, incl. 2–3 years in HNW underwriting.
• Non-degree holders with significant relevant experience and/or certifications may be considered.
• Strong technical expertise in Life, Accident, CI, DI & Health underwriting with sound judgment.
• Strong analytical skills able to assess complex HNW cases under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with ability to influence stakeholders.
• High integrity, accountability and collaborative team mindset.

Responsibilities

• Underwrite new applications for High Net Worth Plans ensuring sound risk assessment.
• Review, countersign, and provide guidance to junior underwriters to ensure quality.
• Provide expert underwriting advice to financial planners via e-booking, email, phone, and NBU counter.
• Act as liaison between NBU and distribution channels, building strong relationships.
• Ensure KPIs, service standards (TAT/quality) are consistently achieved.
• Lead underwriting training sessions for distribution channels and internal stakeholders.
• Drive projects: review/enhance underwriting guidelines; streamline processes for efficiency.
• Identify business/regulatory risks and implement mitigations.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends, regulatory developments, emerging risks and tech advances.
• Highlight potential risks and recommend best practices for risk management.
• Demonstrate ownership, accountability and leadership in underwriting and business activities.

Skills

Underwriting expertise

Life insurance

HNW underwriting

Risk assessment

Stakeholder influence

Education

Degree holder

Professional underwriting certifications

Job description

As we continue to strengthen and scale our High Net Worth (HNW) underwriting franchise, we are focused on building a high‑performing, future‑ready underwriting capability aligned with our ambition to be a leading HNW player in the market. This growth trajectory requires strong technical expertise to support consistent, high‑quality risk assessment and disciplined decision‑making as volumes and case complexity increase.

Key Responsibilities

• Underwrite new applications for High Net Worth Plans ensuring sound risk assessment and consistency in decision-making


• Review, countersign, and provide technical guidance to junior underwriters to ensure quality and adherence to underwriting standards


• Provide expert underwriting advice and support to financial planners via e-booking platforms, emails, phone calls, and New Business Underwriting (NBU) counter


• Act as a key liaison between NBU and distribution channels, building strong and effective business relationships


• Ensure all department KPIs and service standards (including TAT and quality benchmarks) are consistently achieved


• Lead and conduct underwriting training sessions for distribution channels and internal stakeholders


• Drive and participate in projects and initiatives, including:
  
  
  
  • Reviewing and enhancing underwriting guidelines
  
  
  • Streamlining processes to improve efficiency and customer experience
  
  
  
  


• Take accountability in identifying business and regulatory compliance risks, and implement appropriate mitigation actions


• Maintain strong awareness of industry trends, regulatory developments, emerging risks, and technological advancements to safeguard the business


• Proactively highlight potential risks/issues and recommend best practices for effective risk management


• Demonstrate strong ownership, accountability, and leadership in all underwriting and business activities

Qualifications and Requirements

• Degree holder with >10 years of underwriting experience, including at least 2–3 years in High Net Worth (HNW) underwriting


• Non-degree holders with significant relevant experience and/or professional underwriting certifications may be considered


• Strong technical expertise in Life, Accident, CI, DI & Health underwriting, with sound judgment and decision‑making capability


• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess complex HNW cases and work effectively under pressure


• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders


• High level of integrity, strong sense of accountability, and a collaborative team‑oriented mindset


• Demonstrated initiative in driving improvements and adapting to change in a dynamic environment

Core Values

• Champion and embody our Core Values in everyday tasks and interactions.


• Demonstrate high level of integrity and accountability.


• Take initiative to drive improvements and embrace change.


• Take accountability of business and regulatory compliance risks, implementing measures to mitigate them effectively.


• Keep abreast with industry trends, regulatory compliance, and emerging threats and technologies to understand and highlight potential concerns/ risks to safeguard our company proactively.

Founded in 1908, Great Eastern is a well‑established market leader and trusted brand in Singapore and Malaysia. With over S$100 billion in assets and more than 16 million policyholders, including 12.5 million from government schemes, it provides insurance solutions to customers through three successful distribution channels – a tied agency force, bancassurance, and financial advisory firm Great Eastern Financial Advisers. The Group also operates in Indonesia and Brunei. The Great Eastern Life Assurance Company Limited and Great Eastern General Insurance Limited have been assigned the financial strength and counterparty credit ratings of "AA-" by S&P Global Ratings since 2010, one of the highest among Asian life insurance companies. Great Eastern's asset management subsidiary, Lion Global Investors Limited, is one of the leading asset management companies in Southeast Asia. Great Eastern is a subsidiary of OCBC, the longest established Singapore bank, formed in 1932. It is the second largest financial services group in Southeast Asia by assets and one of the world’s most highly‑rated banks, with an Aa1 rating from Moody’s and AA- by both Fitch and S&P. Recognised for its financial strength and stability, OCBC is consistently ranked among the World’s Top 50 Safest Banks by Global Finance and has been named Best Managed Bank in Singapore by The Asian Banker.

:SG-GE Centre

:Underwriting