Senior Account Executive-Strategic Client Advisory | Umhlanga

The Simah Group; Durban; On-site; ZAR 400 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance firm in Durban is seeking a dynamic Senior Account Executive to drive client relationships and provide tailored insurance solutions. The ideal candidate should have substantial experience in corporate insurance, strategic thinking capability, and ambition for leadership growth. This role offers an opportunity to influence decision-making and work alongside executive leadership.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in corporate insurance or financial advisory.
• Strong business acumen to understand complex client needs.
• Confidence in utilizing technology to improve services.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and grow relationships with target clients.
• Manage a high-value client portfolio.
• Propose strategic alternatives to traditional insurance.

Skills

Corporate insurance experience

Business acumen

Networking ability

Technological proficiency

Strategic leadership ambition

Job description

Overview

Senior Account Executive – Strategic Client Advisory | Umhlanga

Are you ready to elevate your career in a role that blends strategic client engagement with leadership exposure?

We’re seeking a dynamic Senior Account Executive to join our high-performing team, working directly alongside the Managing Director to shape the future of our client relationships. This is more than a sales role — it’s a trusted advisory position focused on delivering tailored insurance solutions to niche corporate clients.

What Makes This Role Exceptional

• Strategic Influence: Collaborate with the MD on key accounts and business initiatives.
• Client-Centric Advisory: Provide expert guidance, not just products — become a true advisor to your clients.
• Leadership Exposure: Be at the heart of decision-making, with a clear path to future leadership opportunities.
• High-Impact Portfolio: Manage and grow relationships with some of our most valued corporate clients.

What You Bring

• Fit for Purpose: Proven experience in corporate insurance or financial advisory.
• Strategic: Strong business acumen with the ability to understand complex client needs and craft strategic solutions.
• Vigorous: Confidence in leveraging technology to enhance client service and streamline processes.
• Considered: A strong networker who thrives in high-trust environments.
• Ambition to grow into a strategic leadership role.

What you would be doing

1. Maintaining and growing current target clients
2. Own and grow a high-value portfolio
3. Use analytics to assess profitability and risk
4. Influence insurer negotiations to enhance portfolio value
5. Beyond servicing, Senior Account Executives should act as strategic advisors to key clients
6. Interrogate client’s traditional insurance structures and propose alternatives
7. Build a relationship with the client’s risk team and risk managers to identify opportunities and risks
8. Keep up to date with competitors and client industry changes
9. Identify new products in the market and determine which key clients need them
10. Drive and manage debtors to ensure timely collection of premiums to earn additional interest

How do we measure your success?

• Reach organic growth targets
• Total portfolio managed
• Profitability margin per client
• % increase in key client portfolio value
• % of portfolio with strategic structures (e.g., aggregate excess, burning cost)
• Number of insights generated from key client data
• Number of strategic account plans developed and executed per key client
• Key client retention rate year-on-year
• % of clients transitioned to more cost-effective or innovative insurance structures
• Technical broking skill level
• Level of influence with the client
• Identify and translate opportunities for up/cross selling into organic growth
• Positive and constructive client or stakeholder feedback on clarity and value
• Number of cross-functional engagements (e.g., risk, claims, finance)

2 Driving and converting new business

Weighting 35%

1. Identify and pursue high-value prospects in line with our selected target market
2. Develop strategic partnerships
3. Lead pitch presentations
4. Collaborate cross-functionally (e.g., risk, claims)

How do we measure your success?

• Reached or exceeded new business targets
• Conversion rate of strategic leads
• Time to close deals
• Number of strategic partnerships formed
• Quality of client referrals generated
• Average revenue per new client
• % of new business from target clients

3 Achieve goals through technology

Weighting 10%

• Use systems effectively
• Track growth and new business targets
• Manage and share client documentation well
• Adapt to new documents/templates and SOPs that are continually being developed
• Track and manage your performance
• Follow guidance and adapt from project team on automation and system changes

How do we measure your success?

• Feedback from Team Leader on tech adaptation
• Demonstrated improvements in efficiency through use of relevant tools
• Number of data errors or breaches (should be zero)
• % reduction in manual processes

4 Develop yourself and build a good culture

Weighting 10%

• Ensure you are regularly aligned with the business strategy and what you need to do to achieve your targets
• Develop, manage and own your Development Plan
• Ask for help and support so that Simah can enable and retain your skills to deliver on the targets
• Help grow a psychologically safe workspace where you and your team want to work
• Fully understand the expertise within Simah and the service offerings when broking an account
• Engage, share knowledge and upskill others
• Participate in Simah - not an observer or naysayer
• Sincerely express appreciation, acknowledgement or support to others regularly

How do we measure your success?

• Your self-assessment (bi-annual)
• Training registered for the year/evidence of upskilling
• Completion rate of personal development plans
• Number of knowledge-sharing sessions led
• % active participation in culture-building initiatives
• Feedback score from internal collaboration surveys
• Completion of mandatory regulatory training

5 Ad hoc duties

Weighting 5%

• Perform all responsible tasks given by the Team leader

How do we measure your success?

• % of ad hoc tasks completed on time
• Quality rating of ad hoc task execution
• Responsiveness score from team leader
• Number of proactive contributions beyond assigned tasks