Product Underwriting Business Owner

Firstrand; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstRand seeks a Product Underwriting Business Owner to own and evolve underwriting strategy across FNB Life's product portfolio. Reporting to the Product Pricing and Analytics Head, you will translate insights into action to ensure shareholder value and exceptional client outcomes.

You will define underwriting policy, oversee guidelines, and monitor performance while collaborating with pricing, analytics, and IT teams to drive efficient processes and strong risk management.

Qualifications

• Minimum qualification: University degree
• Preferred qualification: Actuarial Science, Data Science, Engineering or similar
• Experience: 3-4 years in product, pricing or data analysis in Life insurance preferred
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience with data analytics techniques; clear communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment

Responsibilities

• Define underwriting policy and strategy for life insurance products to maximise client and shareholder outcomes
• Oversee development and maintenance of underwriting guidelines, rating classes, medical/non-medical underwriting rules
• Monitor underwriting performance: decline rates, experience vs expectations, rejections, lapses, outcomes
• Translate data into insights for decision-making and track performance over time
• Collaborate with actuarial pricing and experience investigations teams to feedback into strategy
• Design underwriting processes that are efficient, fair, and customer-friendly with controls
• Manage underwriting risk (fraud, adverse selection, medical risk) with proper documentation
• Contribute to business planning: volume forecasts, pricing setting, capital requirements, cost of underwriting
• Consult with analytics team to drive models that enhance underwriting outcomes
• Drive changes with IT underwriting business lead

Skills

Strategic thinking

Underwriting policy

Data analytics

Leadership

Education

University degree

Actuarial Science

Tools

Excel

Job description

To own and evolve the underwriting strategy across FNB Life's product portfolio. Reporting into the Product Pricing and Analytics Head, provide clear strategic direction, translate insight into action, and ensure underwriting delivers both shareholder value and exceptional client outcomes.

Hello Future, Product Underwriting Business Owner,

Welcome to FNB, the home of the #changeables. We design for the shapeshifters and deliver products and services that make us incredibly proud of the people that make it happen.

As part of our team in FNB Life , you will be surrounded by unique talents, diverse minds, and an adaptable environment that lives up to the promise of staying curious. Now's the time to imagine your potential in a team where experts come together and ignite effective change.

This is a high-impact role for someone who thrives at the intersection of strategy, actuarial science, data, technology, and operations. You'll influence how products are designed, priced, and delivered - ensuring underwriting remains a competitive advantage in a fast-evolving market.

About the Role

As the Product Underwriting Business Owner, you will own and evolve the underwriting strategy across FNB Life's product portfolio. Reporting into the Product Pricing and Analytics Head, you will provide clear strategic direction, translate insight into action, and ensure underwriting delivers both shareholder value and exceptional client outcomes.

Are you someone who can:

• Define underwriting policy and strategy for life insurance products to maximise client and shareholder outcomes
• Oversee development and maintenance of underwriting guidelines, rating classes, medical / non-medical underwriting rules
• Monitor underwriting performance: decline rates, selection experience vs expectations, rejections, lapses, morbidity/mortality outcomes, straight through processing
• Translate data into clear management insights that inform decision‑making and track performance over time
• Work with actuarial pricing and experience investigations teams to feedback experience into strategy
• Collaborate with product development and underwriting operations to design underwriting processes that are efficient, fair, customer-friendly, with appropriate controls
• Manage underwriting risk: fraud risk, adverse selection, medical risk, reputational risk etc by ensuring risk management process and documentation is appropriate
• Contribute to business planning: volume forecasts, pricing setting, capital requirements, cost of underwriting
• Consult with the analytics team to drive implementation of models to enhance underwriting business outcomes
• Drive changes with IT underwriting business lead.

Key success measures include straight-through-processing rates and reduced lost sales across the underwriting journey.

What We are Looking For

• Minimum qualification: University degree
• Preferred qualification: Actuarial Science, Data Science, Engineering or similar
• Experience: 3 - 4 years' relevant experience within a product, pricing or data analysis role within Life insurance is preferred
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience with data analytics techniques - Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment

What You'll Get in Return

• A flexible, people-first working environment with a strong focus on wellbeing
• Opportunities to innovate, collaborate, and influence at enterprise level - Competitive salary and benefits, including preferential employee banking rates
• Generous leave, including support for actuarial exams and professional development
• Exposure to experienced actuaries and a diverse range of life insurance products within an inclusive, dynamic culture

We can be a match if you are:

• Curious & courageous - you're driven by always wanting to know more and learn more and you're brave enough to take action
• Obsessed with mastery - you know what it takes to become good at what you do and are constantly pushing yourself to achieve this
• A team player - you believe in the power of teams, building and leveraging your networks
• Emotionally intelligent - you are able to connect with people to build trust

Important Closing Date Note

Take note that applications will not be accepted on the below date and onwards, kindly submit applications ahead of the closing date indicated below.
09/09/26
All appointments will be made

All appointments will be made in line with FirstRand Group's Employment Equity plan. The bank supports the recruitment and advancement of individuals with disabilities. In order for us to fulfill this purpose, candidates can disclose their disability information on a voluntary basis. The Bank will keep this information confidential unless we are required by law to disclose this information to other parties.