Underwriting Associate (Middle Market)

01460 Continental Casualty Company; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 47,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Continental Casualty Company (CNA) seeks an underwriter to manage risk from submission to policy issuance for renewal and new business within limited authority. You will partner with underwriters to analyze risk and document pricing rationale.

The role requires strong communication, collaboration across CNA teams, and operational excellence in handling endorsements, renewals, pricing, and onboarding of new accounts.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Property and Casualty underwriting processes and documentation.
• Strong time management and analytical skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities with internal and external partners.
• Ability to work independently on multiple tasks and coach others.

Responsibilities

• Performs underwriting analysis and documentation to determine acceptability of risk within delegated authority.
• Handles endorsements within delegated authority; clarifies intent or seeks missing information.
• Manages renewal book within authority and triages applications with next steps for underwriters.
• Resolves issues across CNA branches (billing, risk control, underwriting guidance).
• Documents files ensuring completeness, compliance and quality (proposals, endorsements, cancellations).
• Executes on pricing strategies using business unit pricing tools under guidance.
• Completes quote proposals and negotiates with external partners within authority.
• Serves as first-line contact to producers/customers on account matters and identifies upsell opportunities.
• Assists in marketing products and services through external partners and field visits.
• Acts as a resource on systems/workflows and trains others; provides feedback to underwriting partners.
• Keeps current on line of business strategy, regulations and trends.

Skills

Property & Casualty underwriting

Analytical skills

Time management

Interpersonal / communications

Problem solving

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Business software

Job description

You have a clear vision of where your career can go. And we have the leadership to help you get there. At CNA, we strive to create a culture in which people know they matter and are part of something important, ensuring the abilities of all employees are used to their fullest potential. Under broad supervision, responsible for underwriting risk for the underwriting lifecycle from submission through policy issuance, for both renewal and new business within limited authority. Partnering with Underwriters on all aspects of the Underwriting function including: providing the necessary information to allow for UW to make prudent underwriting decisions.

Job Description

• Performs underwriting analysis and documentation to determine acceptability of risk in accordance with company guidelines and standards for renewal and new business within assigned Letter of Underwriting Authority.
• Handles endorsement requests within delegated authority. Refers endorsements outside of authority to underwriter with recommended action. Independently engages agency to clarify intent of endorsement or seek missing information.
• Handles assigned renewal book within assigned authority and demonstrates the ability to triage renewal applications/specs and formulate next steps for the underwriter with outlined changes or points of attention for accounts outside authority.
• Works as a liaison within the branch, or across CNA to resolve issues (billing and collections, risk control, underwriting guidance from cabinet members, line of business, underwriting services subject matter experts)
• Documents assigned files ensuring completeness, compliance, and quality (correspondence, proposals, endorsements, cancellations, etc.).
• Executes on advanced pricing strategy (i.e. business unit pricing tools) on behalf of the Underwriter in compliance with regulatory and CNA specific underwriting strategies and demonstrates ability to document pricing rationale.
• Completes quote proposals and negotiates with external partners within assigned authority.
• Leveraged as the first-line point of contact to the producers/customers on account related matters while proactively identifying opportunities for up sell or account rounding.
• Assist in marketing products and services through external partners and makes field visits.
• Expert on systems and workflows. Serves as a resource to others (train, problem solver, coach ) and conduit for feedback to internal underwriting partners.
• Keeps current on line of business strategy, state/territory issues, regulations and trends.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Knowledge of Property and Casualty underwriting including insurance products, policy processing procedures and documentation.
• Strong time management, and analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills. Ability to effectively interact with all levels of CNA’s internal and external business partners.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently on multiple tasks.
• Strong capability to advise and coach others.
• Demonstrated customer service experience and the ability to interact with a wide-variety of people on a daily basis in person, via telephone and email.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite as well as other business-related software.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Typically a minimum of three years of related work experience.

Salary

In certain jurisdictions, CNA is legally required to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. In District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Washington, the national base pay range for this job level is $47,000 to $78,000 annually. Salary determinations are based on various factors, including but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and location.

Benefits and Compensation

CNA offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to help our employees – and their family members – achieve their physical, financial, emotional and social wellbeing goals. For a detailed look at CNA’s benefits, please visit cnabenefits.com.

CNA utilizes AI-enabled technology during the recruiting process. For more information, please visit our careers page.

Accommodation Statement

CNA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the recruitment process.

Inclusion & Diversity

At CNA, we are committed to advancing a culture of inclusion – one that attracts talent from all walks of life, foster respect and collaboration, and enables all of our colleagues to do their best work.

At CNA, we have a long standing commitment to the diverse communities in which we live and work.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility is not one person, or one department, it's the entire enterprise coming together to make the world a better place.