SUMMARY:
To underwrite commercial business, including new policies, renewals, endorsements, quotes, and other
POSITION INFO:
An established and reputable insurance company is looking for an experienced Commercial Underwriter to join their dynamic team. This role offers an excellent opportunity for a skilled underwriting professional to deepen their expertise and advance their career within a respected organisation. You'll play a key role in assessing risk, supporting business growth, and contributing to a high‑performing underwriting function.
The purpose of this underwriting position is to underwrite commercial business, including new policies, renewals, endorsements, quotes, and other ancillary underwriting functions. The candidate must have experience at an insurer or broker with binding authority, having made binding decisions on rates, types of commercial risks, arranged surveys if needed, and complied with underwriting guidelines.
Commercial business involves underwriting policies for businesses and organisations, including but not limited to property, liability, business interruption, and other specialised coverages. This encompasses evaluating the risk exposure of various business sectors, from small enterprises to large corporations, ensuring appropriate coverage and compliance with industry standards.
DUTIES
Effectively maintaining underwriting standards and providing quality client service:
•Issuing new policies, renewals, and endorsements on the C360 System
•Prepare new business quotes.
•Underwrite in accordance with standards, policies and procedures
•Support the sales team in acquiring and retaining profitable business
•Attend to administration and written communication
•Ensure that all documentation is processed accurately & correctly
•Ensure documentation is checked and authorised if appropriate prior to dispatch
•Ensure queries are resolved as per company standards
•Negotiating renewal terms and preparing the renewal documentation.
•Ensure renewal reviews are completed timeously
•Ensure retentions are calculated
•Request and monitor survey and survey requirements as per laid down procedures
•Correct unprofitable policies
•Ensure policies are not overexposed
•Checking policies before sending to clients
•Telephone contact with clients when they phone in with queries or amendments/ additional covers
•Saving all work electronically
Service delivery to ensure customer satisfaction
•Maintain service, quality, and desired outputs within a specific functional process by ensuring compliance with tactical policies, procedures, and standards.
•Resolve escalated customer queries and complaints and provide feedback to customers on matters resolved.
•Develop work routines in line with operational plans / schedules in order to manage the achievement of service delivery goals
•Share knowledge on, and participate in the creation of new standards, control systems, and procedures to maintain service delivery.
Maintain effective people practices
•Align own behaviour with the organisation's culture and values.
•Share and transfer product, process, and systems knowledge to colleagues.
•Collaborate and work with the Underwriting team to ensure required service levels are delivered.
Continuous improvement to ensure effective service
•Ensure adherence to organisational policies, practices, and procedures.
•Identify and recommend areas/ways to improve processes
Formal Education
•Matric
•NQF 5 in Short-Term Insurance
•Regulatory Exam Certification
•A minimum of five years of relevant commercial underwriting experience
•Commercial Lines Class of Business
•DOFA confirmation from FSB
•Cardinal 360 system experience will be an advantage
Knowledge
•Microsoft Office
•Commercial Insurance Products and Financial Services industry
Skills and attributes
•Analytical and detail-oriented
•Ability to work independently and as part of a team
•Proactive and diplomatic
•Strong communication skills – both written and verbal
•Ability to prioritise tasks
•Logical thinker with a professional demeanour
•Strong work ethic and reliability
•Capacity to handle a pressurised, fast-paced work environment
•Strong sense of ethics
