Group Underwriting Manager | Fourways

The Recruitment Council; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services organization is seeking a Group Underwriting Manager to oversee underwriting performance and compliance. The role involves managing a team, enhancing processes, and ensuring customer satisfaction while adhering to regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten years in commercial and personal underwriting.
• At least three years in a supervisory or management role.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the performance of the Underwriting Department.
• Manage a team of commercial and personal lines underwriters.
• Ensure compliance with underwriting processes.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Education

Degree in Risk Management

Short-term Insurance qualification (e.g., ACII)

FAIS Fit & Proper requirements

Tools

Flexibroker

Cardinal

MS Office

Job description

Job Description: Group Underwriting Manager

Are you a seasoned Group Underwriting Manager looking to elevate your career with a trailblazing financial services organization?

Our client, a dynamic industry leader renowned for its commitment to innovation, integrity, and client satisfaction, is seeking a qualified candidate for the role of Group Underwriting Manager. The successful candidate will oversee the performance of the Underwriting Department and ensure compliance with underwriting processes and procedures.

This position involves managing a team of commercial and personal lines underwriters, providing guidance to branch staff, and offering insights on underwriting functions to management. The Group Underwriting Manager will act as a Key Individual (Multi Admin – Underwriting) as defined under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS), responsible for overseeing the delivery of financial services by the FSP concerning all underwriters.

Key Performance Areas

1. Mission, Values, and Service Strategy: Uphold and support the company's core values of Focus, Resilience, Tenacity, Discipline, and Relationships, aligning with the company vision and brand promise.
2. Leadership and Performance Management: Recruit, train, and manage a team of underwriters, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment. Conduct regular appraisals, address non-performance, and implement development plans.
3. Process Improvement: Monitor and enhance underwriting processes to ensure high-quality service delivery within agreed timeframes.
4. Treating the Customer Fairly (TCF): Ensure the application of the 6 TCF outcomes in all underwriting activities, ensuring customer confidence and satisfaction.
5. Relationships: Build and maintain effective relationships with internal departments, insurer partners, and key customers.
6. Reporting and Administration: Generate reports, analyze data, and provide insights for management, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
7. Portfolio Management and Profitability: Analyze market offerings, develop strategies for portfolio growth, and monitor profitability with corrective actions as needed.
8. Risk and Compliance Management: Ensure underwriting practices comply with legislative and contractual requirements, and stay updated on regulatory changes.
9. Self-Development: Maintain FAIS compliance, stay informed on industry developments, and pursue ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Degree in Risk Management or Short-term Insurance qualification (e.g., ACII)
• FAIS Fit & Proper requirements, including RE5, RE1 certifications, and product-specific training
• Class of Business Training (Personal & Commercial Lines)
• Continuous Professional Development

Experience

• Minimum of ten years in commercial and personal underwriting
• At least three years in a supervisory or management role with a team of five or more subordinates

Competencies

• Strong leadership and team management skills
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills
• Extensive knowledge of underwriting (commercial and domestic)
• Analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities
• Industry knowledge and organizational skills
• Proficiency in Flexibroker, Cardinal, and MS Office suite