Branch Underwriter

Pekin Insurance; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Branch Underwriter, where you will play a crucial role in a collaborative environment. This position offers a unique opportunity to work with a Commercial Lines team, ensuring profitability and growth while supporting agency partners. You will be empowered to make impactful decisions, develop agency relationships, and contribute to a culture that values innovation and teamwork. With competitive compensation and a supportive workplace, this role is perfect for those looking to thrive in the insurance industry.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Flexible Work Schedule

Paid Volunteer Program

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• 5+ years of industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Underwrites and prices larger and complex accounts for profitability.
• Provides consultation to agents on coverage forms and rates.
• Educates and trains agents on underwriting guidelines.

Skills

Effective Communication

Problem Solving

Customer Service

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business

5+ years of industry experience

Job description

Looking for more than just a job? You’ve found it.

At Pekin Insurance, you’re not a number—you’re part of something bigger. For over 100 years, we’ve built a community where people are valued, supported, and empowered to grow. Here, you’ll find a workplace where collaboration is real, ideas are welcome, and the work you do truly matters. We’re proud to help people through life’s toughest moments—and it’s our people who make that possible.

From day one, you’ll be encouraged to bring your whole self to work, take on meaningful challenges, and grow in ways that matter to you.

This is your opportunity to belong, thrive, and make a difference—right here at Pekin Insurance.

See what Pekin Insurance has to offer by viewing a short video here.

Position Overview

The Branch Underwriter is responsible for working in a Commercial Lines team environment to meet established company profit and growth goals within a designated geographical territory. This position underwrites quote and new business transactions and completes other transactions on a referral basis. The Branch Underwriter position requires regular travel to assigned agencies and the incumbent must reside in or near the assigned geographic territory in order to meet the needs of our agency partners.

Essential Job Functions

• Approves, declines, modifies, negotiates, and prices larger and more complex accounts to achieve profitability and written premium goals within a territory and to minimize financial peril to the company
• Achieves expanded underwriting authorities for new business and quotations based on experience and education
• Manages an assigned territory for new business and quotations in compliance with the enterprise’s underwriting philosophy and in accordance with departmental and company guidelines and standards to meet growth and profit objectives
• Provides advanced consultation to agents, sales, underwriting, and other company personnel on coverage forms, rates, endorsements, and enhancements to promote company products and resolve applicant and insured’s insurance needs
• Reviews, evaluates, and consults on insured and third party contract language to determine compliance within the company guidelines along with offering appropriate endorsements or coverages
• Utilizes underwriting knowledge and experience to educate and train agents on our underwriting guidelines, commercial lines products, coverages, and computer systems
• Oversees the education and mentoring of other commercial lines team members on our underwriting guidelines, commercial lines products, coverages, and computer systems
• Uses independent judgement and creative thinking to provide alternative options to agents and insureds
• Uses critical thinking to propose recommendations or deviations to department leadership from established underwriting guidelines
• Participates on departmental and enterprise committees to consult on various topics related to Commercial Lines underwriting and operations
• Reviews and processes on a referral basis, renewal business, reinstatements, cancellations, endorsements, diaries, certificates of insurance, audits, and other miscellaneous transactions
• Underwrites, prices, secures, and logs Facultative Reinsurance
• Underwrites quote and new business submissions by acquiring, evaluating, and analyzing internal and external information in order to make selection and pricing decisions
• Acts as a trusted advisor to effectively communicate underwriting decisions via written and verbal correspondence
• Develops agency relationships and presents and promotes company products, services, and initiatives
• Leads department projects and committees, as directed
• Works in a cross-functional team with Personal Lines Underwriting, Life Underwriting, Sales, and other departments to achieve company profit and growth goals
• Performs other duties as assigned

Education & Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in business-related field or equivalent experience
• Typically requires 5+ years of industry experience

Preferred or Specialized

• Prior experience with commercial insurance rating, customer service, or underwriting

Certifications & Licenses

• Possession of or demonstrated progress toward earning a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Demonstrated ability to:

• Communicate effectively in both oral and written form
• Analyze, organize and prioritize work while meeting multiple deadlines
• Adapt to changes in responsibilities, work processes, timeframes, performance expectations, organizational culture, or work environment
• Work comfortably in a fast-paced work environment
• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions

Demonstrated skill in:

• Customer service

Salary Range :

• $70,000 – $92,000 per year
  • This range is based on the expected level of experience and skills for this position. Final compensation will depend on individual qualifications.

Benefits:

• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Generous 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time Off (PTO) with Paid Holidays
• Flexible/Hybrid Work Schedule
• Paid Volunteer Program

For more information about the benefits we offer, please visit our Careers Page.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.