Senior Underwriter: Motor Fleet

Santam Insurance; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Santam Insurance in Sandton seeks an experienced Senior Underwriter to carefully select, analyse and underwrite risks, ensuring profitability and alignment with governance. You will support the leadership team with daily management, mentor junior staff, and contribute to product, process, and market innovations.

You will build brokers and client relationships, quote within authority, and monitor portfolio performance. Governance and compliance are integral to your day-to-day work in this role.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7–10 years of senior underwriting experience across underwriting, re-insurance, legal and general insurance.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capability.
• Ability to analyse complex risk profiles and negotiate with brokers.

Responsibilities

• Examine proposals, assess background information, and evaluate risk to win or renew business.
• Determine premiums using underwriting tools and judgement; quote within approvals.
• Monitor portfolio performance and ensure renewals and cancellations stay within targets.
• Articulate technical messages and provide underwriting training when needed.
• Enter data accurately in company systems and produce management reports.

Skills

Senior underwriting

Leadership

Risk assessment

Education

Commercial Degree

FAIS Compliance

Job description

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As Senior Underwriter you will have carefully select, analyse and underwrite risks, in a cost-effective manner and in accordance with company requirements, guidelines and governance, to ensure good risk selection and profitability and ensure business targets are met.

They will support the leadership team with the day-to-day management and operation of the department including knowledge sharing and guidance of junior team members and leading by example. Maintaining industry awareness, innovating (product, process and marketing) and staying up to date with general market intelligence, technology and other relevant developments will also be crucial.

What will make you successful in this role?

Accountabilities and responsibilities:

Technical:

• Examine insurance proposal for new and renewal business, gathering and assessing background information, conducting necessary research, evaluating and assessing the risk (including but not limited to coverage analysis, pricing and structure) and discussing/negotiating risks with the broker in order to effectively win or renew the risk.
• Calculate possible risk and determine appropriate insurance premiums using underwriting tools and practices, underwriting information and own judgement and experience.
• Quote within designated authority levels and refer where necessary in accordance with company policy and technical guidelines.
• Monitor portfolio performance and ensure that renewals, new business, lost business are tracked and that the cancellation reserve does not exceed 2.5%.
• Set accurate, realistic premium forecasts and draft financial reporting as required in a timely manner to enable management to set budgets and monitor performance targets for your own portfolio of accounts and as a contribution to the team portfolio.
• Be able to confidently articulate technical messaging and deliver training, as and when necessary, internally as well as to brokers and clients.
• Support junior underwriters with the underwriting process and renewal negotiations as necessary.
• Accurately enter data into company systems and produce management reports that ensure that the company remains aware of the nature and financial impact of all risks written for your own portfolio.
• Maintain accurate electronic records for auditing and regulatory purposes.
• Proactively participate in projects or other initiatives designed to improve the effectiveness or efficiency of the department.
• Undertake any other reasonable tasks as requested by the U/W Head or Manager in order that the team achieve its objectives.
• Ability to use Portfolio underwriting methodologies to assist Senior leadership in making key underwriting decisions.
• Design and implement underwriting notes, guidelines and methodologies.
• Adhere to and where possible, improve, all operational and procedural standards.
• Peer review and sign off including checking policy documentation for all accounts within authority but outside of junior staff authority.
• Handle accounts queries and credit control queries to the satisfaction of all parties.

Client and marketing responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain relationships with brokers and clients at all relevant levels of their businesses.
• Liaise with brokers, clients and potential clients preparing quotes and negotiating terms as required, writing polices and specifying any conditions that should apply to policies.
• Visit brokers to discuss renewals and new business with a focus to build relationships and develop market presence.
• Respond to queries and resolve to the satisfaction of the affected parties within the scope of authority and / or responsibility.

Governance:

• Fulfil individual risk and compliance related obligations and provide support to and monitoring of the department’s adherence to Group and Regulatory guidelines.
• Provide proactive risk and compliance awareness by reporting any incidents or breaches identified within our compliance requirements.
• Perform underwriting and operational audits to ensure compliance and address breaches where necessary.

Qualification & Experience

• Commercial Degree
• FAIS Compliance
• Minimum of 7-10 years relevant experience at a senior level with a combination of underwriting, re-insurance, legal and insurance in general.

Our recruitment process

Onboarding

You made it. Here we ensure we receive all your documents to get you onto our payroll system.

Our recruitment process

Advertise

Step 1

Our vacancies are advertised between 3-5 days depending on the market availability of the skills required.

Our recruitment process

Step 2

Could take a couple of days depending on the volume and the screening process, which various according to the complexity of the role.

Our recruitment process

Step 3

Long listed candidates are sent to the hiring manager to review and consider for the next stage of the selection process.

Our recruitment process

Telephonic screening

Step 4

Candidates may be contacted for a short screening interview to get to know them better and to ask any clarity seeking questions.

Our recruitment process

Your interview

Step 5

We use a competency interview model. Interview dates will be confirmed via e-mail. During the interview you will be introduced to the panel and the process will be explained. Remain calm and sell yourself. This is our opportunity to match your skills to the job. You only get one shot!

Our recruitment process

Assessment

Step 6

Should we like what you bring to the table, depending on the job you are being considered for, you may be invited to complete a psychometric assessment. Further employment checks are conducted the ensure the validity of your credentials.

Our recruitment process

Step 7

Prior to an offer being made, there may be a second interview to meet with the Head of Department.Should there be a need for any further interviews, be sure to bring the same charm that got you through your first interview.

Our recruitment process

Onboarding

Step 8

You made it. Here we ensure we receive all your documents to get you onto our payroll system.

Our recruitment process

Advertise

Step 1

Our vacancies are advertised between 3-5 days depending on the market availability of the skills required.

Our recruitment process

Step 2

Could take a couple of days depending on the volume and the screening process, which various according to the complexity of the role.

Our recruitment process

Step 3

Long listed candidates are sent to the hiring manager to review and consider for the next stage of the selection process.

Our recruitment process

Telephonic screening

Step 4

Candidates may be contacted for a short screening interview to get to know them better and to ask any clarity seeking questions.

Our recruitment process

Your interview

Step 5

We use a competency interview model. Interview dates will be confirmed via e-mail. During the interview you will be introduced to the panel and the process will be explained. Remain calm and sell yourself. This is our opportunity to match your skills to the job. You only get one shot!

Our recruitment process

Assessment

Step 6

Should we like what you bring to the table, depending on the job you are being considered for, you may be invited to complete a psychometric assessment. Further employment checks are conducted the ensure the validity of your credentials.

Our recruitment process

Step 7

Prior to an offer being made, there may be a second interview to meet with the Head of Department.Should there be a need for any further interviews, be sure to bring the same charm that got you through your first interview.

Our recruitment process

Onboarding

Step 8

You made it. Here we ensure we receive all your documents to get you onto our payroll system.

TIPS & TRICKS

Getting ready for your interview

There is not just one way to be successful at Santam, nor is there one way to interview with us. Interviewing is a two-way process - it helps us learn about you, and it helps you learn about us, our people, and what you could do here.

Santam has been officially recognised by the Top Employers Institute as a Top Employer 2025 for excellence in people practices. This is the ninth consecutive year that we have achieved this accolade.