Senior 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 underwrite business in accordance with the business plan and within delegated underwriting authority with the purpose of underwriting a profitable account on behalf of Aspen in Zurich and Aspen Values demonstrated in the delivery and performance

The role holder will also act as one of the Regional Leads within EMEA and LatAm with specific regional responsibilities including:

• Work with the Head of EMEA & LATAM to develop and execute a regional business strategy through close collaboration with product underwriting teams
• Measure and monitor regional portfolio progress by reviewing and analysing underwriting data to help identify opportunities for profitable growth and ensure that opportunities are shared across the other regional leads for adoption as applicable in other markets
• Actively manage relationships with clients, prospects, and brokers in respective country / region
• Collect market & customer-related trends & insights and ensure these are effectively facilitated and communicated to key stakeholder
• Develop customized underwriting and business solutions for our key clients in the region through effective cross-selling
• Focus on long-term client loyalty by working closely with relevant product underwriters to generate added value for the customer and ensuring we provide best-in-class service
• Contribute to local marketing events and thought leadership initiatives
• Support and promote the development of Underwriters and Assistant Underwriters to build their knowledge of the region to build a greater talent pipeline  

Key Results Areas

Strategy and Planning 

• Contribute to the development of the business plan for the portfolio and ensure delivery of the plan
• Awareness of and contribution to the delivery of the business plan, making decisions as appropriate
• Contribute and participate in all meetings, in order to share and develop strategy, knowledge and best practice
• Positively promote the department, division and company as a whole, in order to maximize brand leverage
• Apply the reinsurance strategy in order to safeguard the portfolio

Policy, Process and Procedures 

• Perform complex underwriting activities in accordance with all legal and regulatory requirements to ensure obligations are met
• Adhere to underwriting standards, instructions and good practice to minimize risk and maximize efficiency
• Ensure the recording and measurement of insurance risks, including DUA’s where relevant, to ensure accuracy and good practice, developing or modifying policy wordings as appropriate
• Apply any reinsurance requirements to minimise risk and to deliver business plan objectives

Technical Performance 

• Continually develop expertise and technical knowledge through identifying and implementing appropriate learning and development activities
• Underwriting complex insurance risks in accordance with the business plan and the delegated underwriting authority to meet business objectives. This includes negotiating rates, terms and conditions for existing and new business (developing or modifying policy wordings as appropriate), ensuring compliance with internal and external regulations and guidelines, ensuring contribution to the business plan and objectives, and support credit control in payment collection
• Contribute and influence in the review and analysis of the portfolio to identify progress towards business objectives
• Ensure all business is thoroughly evaluated by peer review and that risks written adhere to the Company’s underwriting standards and individual authority

Knowledge 

• Extensive knowledge of relevant market conditions for specific class / portfolio
• Thorough knowledge of underwriting strategy and how this translates into targets and delivery 
• Good knowledge of Reinsurance and Expected Profitability Analysis (EPA) requirements 
• Strong understanding of the reinsurance strategy affecting portfolio
• Good knowledge of relevant underwriting systems
• Strong knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements 
• Strong knowledge of underwriting process and procedures

Skills

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills 
• Strong negotiating skills
• Strong customer orientation skills
• Manage conflicting priorities to achieve deadlines
• Able to plan effectively and efficiently

Experience 

• In depth experience of working in an underwriting environment within a specialised / complex underwriting area
• Specific professional qualifications (CII)
• Qualified within own professional discipline, with significant post-qualification work experience within class of business
• Experienced in the use of risk profiling and pricing tools and loss models
• Strong established customer / broker relationships
• Experience of managing underwriting individuals / teams

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.