VP, Program Underwriting Audit & Quality Assurance Leader

MS Transverse; New Jersey; On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

MS Transverse, a Property & Casualty insurer, seeks a VP to build and lead an enterprise underwriting audit function. The role reports to the Chief Underwriting Officer and establishes a risk-based audit framework across a growing program portfolio.

The candidate will drive governance, quality assurance, and continuous improvement, integrating AI-assisted capabilities and data strategies while coordinating with MGA/MGU teams and senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10+ years in P&C underwriting/audit/governance.
• 5+ years in a program carrier, MGA, or delegated authority environment.
• Strong governance, risk, and data analytics capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Design and own the end-to-end PUA-QA program including framework and testing.
• Lead second line of defense and integration with governance structures.
• Oversee audits, fieldwork, reporting, and remediation tracking.
• Plan resources and vendor strategy; manage budget and priorities.
• Align audit cadence with renewal cycles and MGA scorecards.

Skills

P&C underwriting

Audit governance

MGA/delegated authority

Leadership/comms

AI/automation in audit

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Certifications (CPCU/AU/CIA/CISA/ARM) a plus

Tools

Audit management software

NLP/ML for audits

Job description

VP, Program Underwriting Audit & Quality Assurance Leader

About MS Transverse

MS Transverse is a Property & Casualty insurance company whose admitted and non-admitted A+ XV-rated paper gives industry-leading MGAs access to capacity and gives carriers and reinsurers access to distribution. We have grown to over $3B in gross written premium, managing 70+ active programs across 22 MGA partnerships spanning personal and commercial lines.

The Opportunity

MS Transverse is seeking a VP, Program Underwriting Audit & Quality Assurance to build and lead a new enterprise-wide underwriting audit function. Reporting to the Chief Underwriting Officer, this role will establish a risk-based audit framework, oversee MGA/MGU underwriting compliance, and drive governance, quality assurance, and continuous improvement across a growing program portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

1. Audit Program Design & Methodology

Design and own the end-to-end PUA-QA program: audit universe, risk-based prioritization, annual calendar, and multi-year schedule aligned to the 120-day renewal cycle and MST's risk appetite. Build the PUA-QA Audit Framework covering five domains — Delegated Authority Compliance, Underwriting Risk Selection & Documentation, Pricing Compliance, Policy Forms & Endorsement Compliance, and Escalation & Referral Adherence — with testing procedures, evidence requirements, and exception protocols. Develop a weighted scoring methodology producing a composite rating, flagging systemic deficiencies, and driving corrective action (management letters, remediation plans, authority restriction, or escalation to CUO/CRO/CPO). Establish statistically defensible file-selection and 100% review criteria for outlier accounts/programs.

2. Lines of Defense Framework & Governance Integration

Operate PUA-QA as MST's second line of defense — distinct from MGA quality controls (first line) and Internal/external audit (third line) — with clear boundary documentation. Integrate scope and findings with the full authority hierarchy (BAA/PAA, program UW Rules, MST Guidelines/LOAs, MS&AD Handbook). Ensure traceability to pre-binding Due Diligence, creating a continuous risk control loop. Produce a quarterly PUA-QA Dashboard for senior leadership and present at board-level risk committees.

3. Audit Execution – On-Site and Virtual

Lead/supervise all audits, coordinating with PUMAs, POMs, Program Directors, and MGA/MGU teams through scoping, fieldwork, findings, exit conference, and reporting. Set frequency standards: annual minimum, semi-annual for programs >$25M GWP or on remediation, and triggered reviews for material events. Produce scored reports with root-cause analysis and corrective action tracking; maintain a findings register. Manage MGA relationships professionally while preserving second-line independence.

4. Resource Planning & Vendor/Contractor Strategy

Build a multi-year resource plan (headcount, skills, hiring roadmap). Identify and engage third-party vendors/contractors to supplement capacity, with urgency around Q4 2026–Q1 2027 priorities. Establish vendor qualification standards and quality review protocols. Manage the PUA-QA budget and report utilization quarterly.

5. Alignment with Annual Program Renewal

Synchronize audit cadence with the 120-day renewal process so findings and corrective actions inform renewal decisions and authority adjustments. Provide pre-renewal audit summaries (compliance history, scoring trend, open findings, risk-tiered recommendation) to Program Underwriting leadership. Collaborate with Program Operations to reflect findings in MGA scorecards and governance calendars.

Select and implement the PUA-QA tech stack (audit management, workpaper repository, findings tracker, dashboard). Lead adoption of AI-assisted capabilities — NLP for file review, ML for anomaly detection, generative AI for workpaper prep and report drafting. Drive continuous improvement via benchmarking against NAIC MGA Act, AM Best, and CPCU/IIA standards. Candidates with demonstrated AI experience in audit/underwriting governance strongly preferred.

7. Remote Monitoring & AI-Enabled Data Strategy (12–36 Month Build)

Partner with Corporate CUO and Program Underwriting to design a remote/continuous monitoring capability supplementing on-site/virtual audits. Define the target operating model: automated exception triggers, escalation workflows, and interplay with the traditional audit cycle. Use AI to define BDX data requirements supporting price, rate, and exposure monitoring. Establish automated validation confirming MGA pricing adherence to filed rates, using BDX data to flag deviations. Serve as PUA-QA's lead voice in cross-functional data/tech initiatives to move audit toward continuous, exception-based assurance.

Qualifications

• 10+ years P&C underwriting/audit/governance experience; 5+ years in a program carrier, MGA, or delegated authority environment. Direct MGA/delegated authority audit experience required.
• Demonstrated ability to build or transform a governance/audit function from the ground up. Experience on both sides of the carrier–MGA relationship preferred.
• Broad multi-line P&C technical underwriting knowledge; ability to evaluate file quality, pricing adequacy, authority compliance, and forms/endorsement correctness.
• Working knowledge of lines of defense frameworks, RCSA methodologies, and second-line governance best practices.
• Strong analytical/quantitative skills; comfort with data and portfolio analytics. AI/automation experience in audit or document review is a meaningful differentiator.
• Experience with BDX reporting requirements and/or building remote/continuous monitoring capabilities is a strong plus.
• Exceptional communication skills; proven ability to present findings to senior leadership and external partners with clarity and diplomacy.
• Bachelor’s degree required. CPCU, AU, CIA, CISA, or ARM a plus. Familiarity with IIA, NAIC MGA Act, and AM Best standards valued.

Who Thrives Here

A builder who thrives creating and scaling new functions — bringing deep P&C underwriting and governance expertise, strong leadership, and a passion for using data and AI to enhance oversight, audit quality, and MGA partnership management.