Cape Town Strategic Lead, Underwriting

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

Retirement fund

Life insurance

Generous paid time off

Professional development

Leadership training

Job summary

Placements24 in Cape Town is seeking a seasoned Lead Underwriting Manager to shape underwriting strategy, lead a skilled team, and drive profitable growth while maintaining sound risk selection in the South African market.

The ideal candidate brings 8+ years in insurance underwriting, strong leadership, and expertise across major lines (property, liability, marine, personal). You will implement guidelines, monitor performance, and ensure regulatory compliance in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years in insurance underwriting with 3+ in management.
• Experience across major lines: property, liability, marine, personal lines.
• Strong leadership, decision-making and strategic planning.
• Knowledge of SA insurance market and regulatory landscape.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the underwriting team to foster a high-performance culture.
• Develop and refine underwriting policies to ensure profitability and consistency.
• Set underwriting authority levels and monitor adherence to guidelines.
• Analyze market trends and portfolio performance to identify opportunities and risks.
• Collaborate with product, claims and sales to support business objectives.
• Oversee review and approval of complex insurance applications.
• Develop and manage underwriting budgets and KPIs.
• Conduct regular training to enhance staff skills.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and internal controls.
• Drive continuous improvement in underwriting processes.

Skills

Leadership

Underwriting

Risk assessment

Pricing

Financial analysis

Communication

Presentation

Team management

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Master's degree or professional designation (ACII/FLMI)

Tools

Underwriting software

Data analytics tools

Job description

Placements24 in Cape Town is seeking a seasoned Lead Underwriting Manager to shape underwriting strategy, lead a skilled team, and drive profitable growth while maintaining sound risk selection in the South African market.

The ideal candidate brings 8+ years in insurance underwriting, strong leadership, and expertise across major lines (property, liability, marine, personal). You will implement guidelines, monitor performance, and ensure regulatory compliance in a dynamic environment.