Underwriter

Since Aspen was founded in 2002, we have become a leading, diversified specialty insurance and reinsurance company. We respond thoughtfully and creatively to find the best outcomes for our clients and business partners through carefully-tailored solutions.

We believe the way we work is just as important as the work we do, and we are guided by our core values of respect, honesty, trust and professionalism.

Aspen is a great place to develop your career offering an exciting and challenging environment where achievement is rewarded.

Role Purpose 

To appropriately underwrite risks in accordance with the business plan and within delegated underwriting authority with the purpose of underwriting a profitable account for Aspen.

“Our Aspen Values are expected to be reflected in the delivery and performance of every role.

Key Results Areas  

Strategy and Planning 

• Contributes to, monitors and advises on the plan developments and changes in order to ensure relevancy, compliance and optimal delivery
• Assists in the preparation and implementation of the operational team plans to ensure these are in line with wider business strategy and reflect key priorities.
• Determines own work priorities and activities in line with agreed plans to ensure the achievement of the function’s objectives

Policy, Process and Procedures

• Applies specific expertise to advise and guide others within the team, to ensure accuracy, good practice and adherence to prescribed standards
• Is responsible for a range of duties and, as an experienced practitioner, completes transactions, within a broader range of value and complexity (making decisions within authority limits) to ensure that operational processes and/or individual transactions are appropriately executed and that files, documentation and related systems are properly maintained
• Assists in the interpretation of organisation goals and regulatory/legislative requirements; and is proactive, in reviewing, analysing and suggesting how compliance, effectiveness and risk management can be improved

Environmental Awareness/Customer Focus 

• As a subject matter expert and referral point within the team, responds to queries and requests, to provide advice, guidance and information to colleagues to support appropriate decision making and improve broader understanding of functional needs and standards
• Builds upon existing relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that service delivery meets customer/colleague expectations
• Develops new and existing internal relationships to best support the achievement of functional objectives
• Builds upon broad awareness of their market context, industry best practice and headline legislation related to their specific discipline, by engaging with external peers, to enhance personal contribution to functional performance
• As a subject matter expert, will represent the function by providing support and specific input to project teams and other areas of Aspen  to ensure solutions take account of functional needs

Technical Performance 

• As a more experienced practitioner, underwrites (standard and slightly higher value/complex) insurance risks in accordance with the business plan and the delegated underwriting authority to meet business objectives.

• Negotiating rates/ terms and conditions for existing and new business.
• Ensuring compliance in the production and issue of contract certainty documentation.
• Supporting credit control in payment collection.

• Participates in the review and analysis of the portfolio to identify progress toward business objectives.
• Acts as a subject matter expert to support the identification of issues and opportunities within area of expertise.
• Supports the senior underwriting team in the production of management information reports, to enable effective monitoring of underwriting activity.
• Ensures entries are properly and promptly recorded on relevant systems to ensure accuracy of data in relation to underwriting and aggregate exposures.
• Understands and contributes to management and peer review processes to encourage and develop excellence
• Act as a referral point for other, less experienced members of the underwriting team, on specific tasks or in the absence of a senior underwriter.
• Maintains expertise and team knowledge through identifying and suggesting appropriate learning and development activities.

Knowledge

• Extensive and relevant knowledge of underwriting in appropriate product line(s).
• Specific subject matter expertise and knowledge of relevant Aspen underwriting systems and processes.
• Understands, and anticipates how relevant market conditions impact upon their own specific class of business /portfolio
• Technical understanding of class specific underwriting and reinsurance parameters and delegated authorities; including relevant business goals/targets  - and how this role contributes to overall performance
• Working knowledge of risk profiling, pricing tools and loss models and how to apply these to their role
• Specific subject matter expertise and knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements (specific reference to FCA/Lloyds regulation)
• Technical understanding of Aspen’s underwriting and reinsurance programmes and Expected Profitability Analysis requirements.

Skills 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Good organisational skills.
• Able to work independently.
• Proficient in MS Office applications e.g. Excel and other departmental software packages.
• Able to manage conflicting priorities to achieve deadlines.
• Able to plan effectively and efficiently.

Experience 

• Broad experience of working in an underwriting environment within a specialised/complex underwriting area.
• Experience of resolving underwriting queries.
• Has established customer/broker relationships that are relevant to their role / product line
• Degree level education (or equivalent) (And relevance of degree subject to role) is preferred.
• It is expected that the incumbent is ACII (or equivalent) qualified or has made progress towards completion of insurance qualifications.
• They will have completed the Lloyds & London Market test (where relevant).

At Aspen we know that having a diverse and inclusive workforce is good for our people, good for our business and good for the environments in which we operate.  We therefore welcome applications from people which allows us to draw on diverse cultures, perspectives, skills and experiences.