Underwriter

Firstrand; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 520,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstRand Life Assurance is seeking a dedicated Life Underwriter for its Group Employee Benefits team. You will assess and underwrite life, disability and critical illness risks for individuals and groups, applying appropriate terms and reinsurance where needed.

You will collaborate with brokers, reinsurers and internal stakeholders to deliver accurate, timely underwriting decisions while maintaining risk appetite and service excellence.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of life underwriting experience; Group Employee Benefits or Group Risk experience 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.
• 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 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.

Skills

Life underwriting

Group Employee Benefits

Group risk experience

Analytical skills

Decision making

Communication with stakeholders

Underwriting judgement

Pressure handling

Technology and automation in under.

Education

Grade 12 (NQF Level 4)

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Ideal Candidate

• 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

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

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.