Commercial Underwriter

Morton Moore Pty Ltd; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

Morton Moore Pty Ltd in George, Western Cape, is seeking an experienced Commercial Underwriter to manage a range of commercial risks for a diverse client base. The role focuses on underwriting accuracy, client advisory skills and the growth of a portfolio with limited supervision.

The successful candidate will interpret policy wordings, negotiate with insurers and uphold FAIS and PPR compliance while expanding within the Garden Route region.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Commercial Underwriter within the short-term insurance industry.
• Solid technical understanding of commercial risk, policy wordings, extensions, limits and excesses.
• Compliance with FAIS fit and proper requirements and regulatory examinations where applicable.
• Ability to assess sums insured, valuation methods and underinsurance exposure.
• Strong negotiation skills and established relationships with insurers.

Responsibilities

• Manage commercial renewals, endorsements and new business from start to finish.
• Analyse clients' businesses to identify material risks and gaps in cover.
• Interpret policy wordings, exclusions, extensions, limits and excesses.
• Obtain and compare quotations from insurers and negotiate terms.
• Provide sound insurance recommendations rather than just processing instructions.
• Review sums insured and valuation bases for potential underinsurance exposure.
• Prepare records of advice and maintain FAIS and PPR compliance.
• Authorise claims payments on a rotational basis.
• Communicate professionally with clients, insurers and colleagues.
• Develop towards managing a commercial portfolio with limited supervision.

Skills

Underwriting experience

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Independent worker

Education

FAIS qualification

Regulatory examination

Job description

Job Description

Commercial Underwriter George, Western Cape Overview Our client, an established independent short-term insurance brokerage based in George, services a diverse commercial client base and partners with several leading South African insurers. They are looking for an experienced Commercial Underwriter who genuinely understands commercial risk, rather than an administrative policy processor. This role offers the opportunity to grow into managing a commercial portfolio with limited supervision and to build a medium to long term career in the Garden Route.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage commercial renewals, endorsements and new business from start to finish.
• Analyse clients' businesses in order to identify material risks and gaps in cover.
• Interpret commercial policy wordings, including exclusions, extensions, limits and excesses.
• Obtain and compare quotations from insurers and negotiate terms on behalf of clients.
• Provide sound, considered insurance recommendations rather than simply processing client instructions.
• Review sums insured, the basis of valuation and potential underinsurance exposure.
• Apply an understanding of how underwriting decisions, claims experience and loss ratios relate to one another.
• Prepare clear records of advice and maintain FAIS and PPR compliance.
• Authorise claims payments presented by the claims department on a rotational basis.
• Communicate professionally with clients, insurers, claims personnel and colleagues.
• Take ownership of work and follow all matters through to completion.
• Develop towards taking full responsibility for a commercial portfolio with limited supervision.

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Commercial Underwriter within the short-term insurance industry, preferably in a brokerage environment.
• A solid technical understanding of commercial risk, policy wordings, extensions, limits and excesses.
• Compliance with FAIS fit and proper requirements, including the relevant qualification and regulatory examination where applicable.
• The ability to assess sums insured, valuation methods and underinsurance exposure with confidence.
• Strong negotiation skills and established working relationships with insurers, or the ability to build them quickly.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in order to engage clients, insurers and colleagues professionally.
• A high level of accuracy, accountability and follow through.
• The ability to work independently and to grow into managing a commercial portfolio with limited supervision.
• A commitment to building a medium to long term career in George and the surrounding Garden Route area.

Benefits and Compensation

The salary for this position is open and will be determined by the candidate's level of experience and technical ability, so our client welcomes applications from suitably qualified professionals across a range of salary expectations. Further details regarding benefits have not been confirmed by our client at this stage and will be discussed during the interview process.

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Commercial Underwriter within the short-term insurance industry, preferably in a brokerage environment.
• A solid technical understanding of commercial risk, policy wordings, extensions, limits and excesses.
• Compliance with FAIS fit and proper requirements, including the relevant qualification and regulatory examination where applicable.
• The ability to assess sums insured, valuation methods and underinsurance exposure with confidence.Strong negotiation skills and established working relationships with insurers, or the ability to build them quickly.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in order to engage clients, insurers and colleagues professionally.
• A high level of accuracy, accountability and follow through.
• The ability to work independently and to grow into managing a commercial portfolio with limited supervision.
• A commitment to building a medium to long term career in George and the surrounding Garden Route area.