Team Leader Underwriting

Old Mutual Insure Limited; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 480,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

Old Mutual Insure Limited is seeking two Team Leaders: Underwriting at our Pinelands branch in Cape Town. You will manage a team of underwriters, review policies, and ensure adherence to underwriting guidelines while providing final approval on complex cases.

The role emphasizes leadership, risk management, and regulatory compliance within a dynamic life and general insurance environment. A relevant degree and 3–5 years underwriting experience are preferred.

Qualifications

• Matric and / or equivalent Diploma and /or equivalent in Level 6 qualification in general insurance
• 3-5 years' experience in Commercial Underwriting
• 1-2 years' experience in managing a Team of Underwriters would be advantageous
• NQF Level 7 - Degree, Advance Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate or equivalent

Responsibilities

• Underwriting Insurance Cases: Review and underwrite assigned new business and renewal cases within prescribed authority level, escalating unusual or complex cases to senior colleagues where appropriate.
• Underwriting Automation: Support development, testing, and improvement of automated underwriting processes and systems; suggest functionalities that reduce cost or enhance underwriting effectiveness.
• Organizational Risk Management: Use risk management systems to ensure the organization is not exposed to undue risks within a designated area.
• Regulatory and Compliance Management: Investigate incidents and provide expert advice to senior colleagues; ensure compliance programs are properly implemented.
• Leadership and Direction: Communicate the action plan; motivate people to achieve local business goals.
• Performance Management: Set objectives and manage team performance; take corrective actions to achieve goals.
• Budgeting: Deliver or analyze budgets for an area of the organization.
• Document Preparation: Edit documents and prepare information for publication.
• Financial Policies, Guidelines, and Protocols: Develop and deliver guidelines to ensure compliance with regulations and good financial practice.
• Organizational Capability Building: Identify and develop team capabilities; train or coach others to improve performance.

Skills

Budget Management

Change Management

Data Compilation

Financial Acumen

Legal Practices

Management Reporting

Numerical Aptitude

Oral Communications

Policies & Procedures

Presenting Solutions

Risk Management

Servant Leadership

Education

NQF Level 7 - Degree

Job description

Let's Write Africa's Story Together! Old Mutual is a firm believer in the African opportunity and our diverse talent reflects this.

Job Description An exciting opportunity is available at Old Mutual Insure. We are looking for x2 Team Leaders: Underwriting at our Pinelands branch.

Purpose:

Manages several underwriting professionals. Reviews and ensures conformance with underwriting policies, guidelines, and procedures by subordinate underwriters. Recommends changes in underwriting policies and procedures. Underwrites the large or more complex risks or provides final approval for those underwritten by subordinates.

Responsibilities:

• Underwriting Insurance Cases: Review and underwrite assigned new business and renewal cases within prescribed authority level, escalating unusual or complex cases to senior colleagues where appropriate.
• Underwriting Automation: Carry out allocated research and analysis to support the development, testing, and improvement of automated underwriting processes and systems; recommend new functionalities and/or improvements that reduce cost and/or enhance underwriting effectiveness.
• Organizational Risk Management: Ensure the organization is not exposed to undue risks by using risk management systems to achieve specific goals within a designated area of the business.
• Regulatory and Compliance Management: Investigate all kinds of incidents and reports and provide expert advice to more senior colleagues. Minimize risk exposures and ensure adherence with regulatory standards by working with all internal functions to make sure compliance programs are properly implemented.
• Leadership and Direction: Communicate the local action plan; explain how this relates to the function's strategy and action plan and to the broader organization's mission and vision; motivate people to achieve local business goals.
• Performance Management: Develop and propose own performance objectives; take appropriate actions to ensure achievement of agreed objectives, using the organization's performance management systems to improve personal performance. Or manage and report on team performance; set appropriate performance objectives for direct reports or project/account team members and hold people accountable for achieving them, taking appropriate corrective action where necessary to ensure the achievement of team/personal objectives.
• Budgeting: Deliver a budget for an area of the organization or conduct complex analyses on budget progress in other areas of the organization.
• Document Preparation: Edit document in line with organizational style guidelines and prepare information for publication.
• Financial Policies, Guidelines, and Protocols: Develop and deliver financial guidelines and protocols to ensure the company complies with regulations and good financial practice.
• Organizational Capability Building: Use the organization's formal development framework to identify the team's individual development needs. Plan and implement actions to build their capabilities. Provide training or coaching to others throughout the organization in own area of expertise to enable others to improve performance and fulfill personal potential.

Requirements (Skills & Experience):

• Matric and / or equivalent Diploma and /or equivalent in Level 6 qualification in general insurance
• 3 - 5 years' experience in Commercial Underwriting
• 1 - 2 years' experience in managing a Team of Underwriters would be advantageous
• Skills Accounting, Budget Management, Change Management, Data Compilation, Executing Plans, Financial Acumen, Legal Practices, Management Reporting, Numerical Aptitude, Oral Communications, Policies & Procedures, Presenting Solutions, Professional Presentation, Risk Management, Servant Leadership Competencies Action Oriented Business Insight Communicates Effectively Decision Quality Ensures Accountability Financial Acumen Instills Trust Manages Complexity Education
• NQF Level 7 - Degree, Advance Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate or equivalent

Closing Date 11 October 2026 , 23:59

The Old Mutual Story!

Old Mutual is a premium African financial services organisation that offers a broad spectrum of financial solutions to retail and corporate customers across key market segments in 14 countries. The lines of business include Life and Savings, Property and Casualty, Asset Management and Banking and Lending. We are rooted in our purpose of Championing Mutually Positive Futures Every Day and believe that a great customer experience is anchored in a great employee experience.