Underwriter

FirstRand Life Assurance Ltd; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 840,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstRand Life Assurance Ltd in South Africa is seeking a Life Underwriter to assess and underwrite complex life insurance applications across Group Employee Benefits. The role requires judgment on medical, occupational, avocation, travel and financial information to support sound risk decisions and excellent service to brokers and the business.

You will evaluate risks, apply terms, refer when needed, and contribute to process improvements while meeting turnaround times.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Life Underwriting experience; Group Employee Benefits experience is advantageous.
• Strong understanding of mortality and morbidity risk.
• Knowledge of Life, Disability and Critical Illness underwriting.
• Understanding of reinsurance and delegated underwriting authority.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Commercial awareness and sound underwriting judgement.
• Good communication and stakeholder relationship skills.
• Ability to work accurately under pressure and meet service delivery requirements.
• A willingness to embrace technology, automation and new approaches to underwriting.

Responsibilities

• Assess and underwrite Group Employee Benefits risks within delegated authority.
• Evaluate medical, occupational, financial and demographic risk factors.
• Apply underwriting terms, including loadings, exclusions, postponements and declines.
• Identify and refer risks requiring additional evidence, senior authority or reinsurance input.
• Apply Free Cover Limits, Maximum Automatic Acceptance Limits and relevant reinsurance requirements.
• Work closely with Employee Benefits, brokers, reinsurers and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure underwriting decisions are accurate, consistent, well documented and aligned with risk appetite.
• Communication of underwriting outcomes and assist with Ad hoc letters, non-disclosure letters & communicating changes in standards.
• Meet agreed turnaround times and service levels.
• Contribute to underwriting quality, process improvement and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support the design, testing and implementation of underwriting workflows, controls and system integrations.
• Identify operational, conduct, legal and claims risks and ensure that appropriate preventative controls are implemented.
• Responsible for compiling and analyzing underwriting management reports, e.g.: Produce underwriting reports and insights on volumes, outcomes, service levels and emerging risks.

Skills

Life Underwriting

Mortality risk

Morbidity risk

Life/Disability/CI underwriting

Reinsurance knowledge

Analytical skills

Commercial awareness

Stakeholder management

Under pressure delivery

Tech in underwriting

Education

Degree advantageous

Job description

Job Description

To perform assessment on complex life insurance applications based on medical, occupation, avocation, travel and financial information, ensuring adherence to underwriting guidelines.

Hello Future, Life Underwriter – Group Employee Benefits, 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 FR Life Assurance, 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. We are looking for a Life Underwriter to join our Group Employee Benefits underwriting team. The role is responsible for assessing and underwriting individual and group risks across Life, Disability and Critical Illness benefits, ensuring sound risk decisions while supporting the delivery of excellent service to our business and broker partners.

• Assess and underwrite Group Employee Benefits risks within delegated authority
• Evaluate medical, occupational, financial and demographic risk factors
• Apply appropriate underwriting terms, including loadings, exclusions, postponements and declines
• Identify and refer risks requiring additional evidence, senior authority or reinsurance input
• Apply Free Cover Limits, Maximum Automatic Acceptance Limits and relevant reinsurance requirements
• Work closely with Employee Benefits, brokers, reinsurers and internal stakeholders
• Ensure underwriting decisions are accurate, consistent, well documented and aligned with risk appetite
• Communication of underwriting outcomes and assist with Ad hoc letters, non-disclosure letters & communicating changes in standards
• Meet agreed turnaround times and service levels
• Contribute to underwriting quality, process improvement and continuous improvement initiatives
• Support the design, testing and implementation of underwriting workflows, controls and system integrations
• Identify operational, conduct, legal and claims risks and ensure that appropriate preventative controls are implemented
• Responsibility for compiling and analyzing underwriting management reports, E.G: Produce underwriting reports and insights on volumes, outcomes, service levels and emerging risks

You will be an ideal candidate if you have: Grade 12 (NQF Level 4), Degree advantageous.

What We Are Looking For

• 5 Years + Relevant Life Underwriting experience; Group Employee Benefits / Group Risk experience is advantageous.
• Strong understanding of mortality and morbidity risk.
• Knowledge of Life, Disability and Critical Illness underwriting.
• Understanding of reinsurance and delegated underwriting authority.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Commercial awareness and sound underwriting judgement.
• Good communication and stakeholder relationship skills.
• Ability to work accurately under pressure and meet service delivery requirements.
• A willingness to embrace technology, automation and new approaches to underwriting.

You Will Have Access To

• Opportunities to network and collaborate
• A challenging yet growth enabling environment
• Opportunities to innovate

We Can Be a Match If You Are

• Adaptable and curious
• Analyse and map out end to end processes
• Be an independent worker and be able to work with a broad range of stakeholders
• Thrive in a collaborative environment

Employment Equity

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.

Closing Date

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. 11/09/26

Company Information

FirstRand provides a comprehensive range of financial services in South Africa and certain markets in broader Africa. The group also offers certain niche products and services in the UK and India. Listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX), FirstRand Limited is the largest financial institution by market capitalisation in Africa. The group follows a multi-branding approach. Its portfolio of financial services businesses includes FNB, RMB, WesBank, Ashburton Investments, Aldermore, MotoNovo and DirectAxis. Many are leaders in their respective segments and markets, offering transactional, lending, investment and insurance products and services The FirstRand Corporate Centre houses many of the critical functions required by a large and complex financial services group. The group's track record of delivering superior returns to shareholders has been achieved through a combination of organic growth, acquisitions, innovation and the creation of completely new businesses. The group’s purpose of delivering Shared Prosperity provides many opportunities for employees to innovate to address social and environmental challenges in our markets. All of our businesses have successful Volunteering programmes which also allow employees to adopt and support causes close to their hearts.