Senior Underwriter - Property & Casualty

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work arrangement

Performance-based incentives

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a highly experienced Senior Underwriter for a leading insurer based in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, with remote-first work across South Africa. The role focuses on underwriting complex commercial property and casualty risks, portfolio management, and shaping underwriting strategy.

Ideal candidates have 7+ years in underwriting, a relevant tertiary qualification, and professional designations such as CIP/FCII.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years underwriting experience with Property & Casualty.
• Tertiary qualification in Insurance, Finance, Business, or related field.
• Professional designations (e.g., CIP, FCII) desirable.
• Experience with underwriting support systems and analytics tools.

Responsibilities

• Underwrite complex property and casualty risks ensuring profitability.
• Analyze financial statements, loss history and data to assess risk.
• Develop and maintain relationships with brokers and agents.
• Price policies accurately and structure coverage to meet client needs.
• Mentor junior underwriters.
• Monitor market trends and adapt underwriting strategies.
• Contribute to underwriting policies and procedures.
• Manage a portfolio of accounts with timely reviews and renewals.

Skills

Analytical skills

Decision making

Problem solving

Negotiation

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

Tertiary qualification in Insurance/Finance/Business

Tools

Underwriting systems

Analytics tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading insurer renowned for its robust property and casualty offerings, is seeking a highly experienced Senior Underwriter to join their distinguished team. This critical role, based in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga , will involve evaluating and underwriting complex commercial property and casualty risks, managing a portfolio of key accounts, and contributing to underwriting strategy. You will play a vital role in ensuring profitable growth by making sound underwriting decisions based on thorough risk analysis. This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned professional looking to advance their career within a dynamic and reputable organization. The position is offered with a remote-first approach, allowing you to leverage your expertise from anywhere within South Africa, providing a superb work-life balance. We are committed to building a high-performing, distributed team and seek individuals who are proactive, detail-oriented, and possess exceptional analytical skills. Your contributions will be instrumental in shaping the company's underwriting approach and ensuring its market leadership. This role requires a deep understanding of complex risk factors and the ability to make independent, well-reasoned judgments.

Key Responsibilities

• Underwrite complex property and casualty insurance risks, ensuring profitability and adherence to guidelines.
• Analyze financial statements, loss history, and other relevant data to assess risk exposure.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with brokers and agents.
• Price policies accurately and structure coverage to meet client needs while managing company risk.
• Mentor and provide guidance to junior underwriters.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activities to adapt underwriting strategies.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of underwriting policies and procedures.
• Manage a portfolio of accounts, ensuring timely review and renewal.

Requirements

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Insurance, Finance, Business, or a related field.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in underwriting, with significant focus on Property & Casualty lines.
• Proven expertise in assessing and pricing complex commercial risks.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and effectively in a fully remote environment.
• Familiarity with South African insurance market and regulations.
• Professional designations (e.g., CIP, FCII) are highly desirable.
• Experience with underwriting support systems and analytics tools.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary package.
• Performance-based incentives and bonuses.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering significant flexibility and work-life balance.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund.
• Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement.
• Exposure to a diverse portfolio of challenging risks.
• A supportive and collaborative remote team environment.
• Continuous learning opportunities and industry training.