Executive Underwriter - Contract

Berkley Surety (a Berkley Company); Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Job summary

Berkley Surety (a Berkley Company) seeks an experienced underwriter to produce and manage new and renewal bond business. You will work with assigned agents, aim for budgeted results, and enhance agency relationships through in-person visits and timely submissions.

The role requires strong financial analysis, risk assessment, and communication skills, with travel to develop and manage accounts within the assigned territory. Equal opportunity employer.

Qualifications

• Ability to read, analyze, discuss and interpret financial statements, bond forms and government regulations.
• Strong written and verbal communication with clear recommendations for client accounts.
• Analytical and decision-making skills to handle complex risk scenarios.
• Ability to interpret instructions furnished in various formats and use standard office tools.

Responsibilities

• Produce and underwrite new and renewal business from assigned agents/brokers.
• Achieve budgeted financial results through premium volume, loss ratio, and expense management.
• Develop productive agency relationships and manage accounts within a defined book.
• Travel regularly to develop relationships and submit detailed submissions for credit approval.
• Communicate company mission and maintain workflow with agency representatives.

Education

Bachelor's degree or related industry experience

Financial analysis

Underwriting or risk assessment

Communication and reporting

Independent judgment and teamwork

Job description

Company Details

Berkley Surety is a highly professional, service-oriented surety underwriting management company, providing a full spectrum of bonds for contract, environmental, and commercial surety accounts through multiple distribution channels in both the United States and Canada. We write on behalf of W. R. Berkley Corporation member company Berkley Insurance Company, which has an A.M. Best rating of A+ (Superior). We pride ourselves on building strong relationships with our agents. We highly value the insight and expertise our agency partners bring to the table which helps us provide timely and predictable surety solutions.

Company URL: www.berkleysurety.com

Responsibilities

Produce and underwrite new and renewal business from assigned agents/brokers in the primary line of business. Consistently achieve budgeted financial results (premium volume, loss ratio, premium collections and expense management including commissions) through new business acquisition, retention of business, and effective price management as a result of executing personal and branch objectives. Interact and collaborate with a team of Line of Business colleagues and other critical internal/external business associates. Position involves both outside and inside business development and includes direct responsibility for agency development and management within a book of business.

Key Functions/Duties of Position

• Underwrites, assesses and manages assigned portfolio of accounts in a particular line or lines of business with little or no supervision by his/her Manager and can effectively underwrite both performance and non-performance bonds.


• Understands and executes personal and branch objectives and strategies in an effort to produce budgeted results.


• Develops and leverages productive agency/client relationships through a high level of visibility with agents, brokers and clients in support of business objectives.


• Plans and executes effective regular travel to develop and enhance new and existing producer and account relationships; Visits new and existing accounts; prepares and shares meeting agendas, obtains follow up documentation, evaluates the accounts and submits timely detailed submission memos for appropriate credit approval.


• Effectively communicates the mission and objectives of BSG in account meetings with confidence, clear communication good listening skills, professionalism, and empathy with the goal to be a trusted adviser and valued partner to all parties. Maintains and manages workflow, including effective communications, with agency representatives in assigned territory, meeting all company standards and expectations. Communicates acceptance or rejection of new and existing accounts while working towards establishing and enhancing the Company’s brand.


• Accountable for accurate underwriting documentation/information in account management systems and adherence to documentation standards and ensures accuracy and integrity of all information contained in account files, and keeps them up to date.


• Effectively evaluates bond forms and contract documents in an effort to assess risk.


• Actively keeps management apprised of issues of importance to the Branch and to the Company.


• May assist or be directly responsible in the development, mentoring/coaching or supervision of Sr. Underwriters, Underwriters, Associate Underwriters, or Underwriting Trainees, as determined by his/her Manager.


• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Demonstrates the ability to read, analyze, discuss and interpret financial statements, bond forms, contract documents and government regulations and reach appropriate risk assessment conclusions.


• Effective oral and written communication skills with the ability to write clear and effective reports and business correspondence so that others will clearly understand the content and the intent. Ability to provide well developed recommendations in support of new and existing accounts, as well as client bond needs.


• Strong analytical and decision-making skills. Ability to solve practical problems and appropriately deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.


• Ability to effectively interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.


• Ability to use the automation tools provided by BSG (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Lotus Notes, U/W System, etc.)


• Must be able to organize and effectively handle medium to complex volumes of information.


• Ability to work independently and in a team environment


• Self-motivation and an out-going orientation with strong customer focus


• The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Education

• Minimum 4-year degree or related industry experience


• Business/Finance/Accounting Majors preferred, but not required


• 7-15 years of Surety industry or related experience required


• Banking or Credit Analysis background is a plus

Additional Company Details

The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Important Outside Agency Notice

Only solicited resumes/candidate profiles that are submitted by a Berkley Preferred Agency Partner that have been requested by Berkley Internal Recruiting to engage in a particular search will be subject to the payment of Agency fees as defined in the formal agency agreement. Any unsolicited resumes/candidate profiles are not subject to payment of the agency fees.

The company offers a competitive compensation plan and robust benefits package for full time regular employees.

Base salary & Benefits include Health, dental, vision, life, disability, wellness, paid time off, 401(k) and profit-sharing plans.

The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment.