Senior Underwriting Manager: Personal Lines
Senior Underwriting Manager: Personal Lines
Santam is the market leader in the general insurance industry in Southern Africa. We are a large, diversified, expanding and transforming company and whilst based in South Africa, we are rapidly moving into a number of emerging markets, both in Africa and Asia. Our success is rooted in our passion for our clients and everything we do is centred on our delivery of Insurance Good and Proper.
About Us
With over 106 years of experience, Santam is Africa’s leading general insurance company with a market share exceeding 24% in South Africa. Our client solutions business leads with a culture and work environment that truly provides meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth. This is a contributing factor to Santam being recognised this year, and for the fourth consecutive year, as a Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute, the only general insurer in South Africa to achieve this rating.
This speaks volumes about our focus on best people practices, as well as our commitment to optimising and improving our business performance by selecting employees who are ready to thrive and perform with purpose.
Santam Client Solutions (SCS) Underwriting is a key insurance capability of Santam’s SCS business unit, ensuring the achievement of the collective growth and profit responsibilities. Close collaboration with internal stakeholders, such as Actuarial, Operations, Distribution and Claims is required, to achieve these financial targets. And similarly, a proper understand of the needs of external stakeholders and our clients.
What will you do?
To manage Santam Client Solutions (SCS) Personal Lines (PL) business portfolio to ensure achievement of SCS’s profitable growth targets. Create, develop and grow a world class underwriting team in support of the SCS strategic objective to grow in its target markets through the multiple distribution channels within SCS. Manage and deliver on the following areas:
• PL insurance classes performance with regards to premium growth and profitability
• Ownership of the full underwriting functions, including Underwriting Guidelines for Santam SCS and where appropriate collaboration with peers within Santam.
Key accountabilities and responsibilities include:
• Achieve SCS financial targets by working with internal stakeholders, including Pricing, Product Management, Distribution, and Operations, to drive profitable and sustainable growth.
• Implement strategic initiatives to meet financial goals, including designing SCS products for target markets and distribution channels in partnership with Product Management.
• Develop and manage underwriting rules and processes to ensure they align with Santam’s risk appetite and facilitate ease of business.
• Draft and update policy wordings, conditions, and rules to minimize underwriting leakage, enhance client experience, and comply with legislative changes.
• Collaborate with SCS Pricing to set and align rating parameters and underwriting rules based on data analysis.
• Manage underwriting authority and compliance, balancing flexibility with Santam’s profit and growth targets.
• Stay informed on global underwriting trends for Personal lines risks, exploring opportunities for innovation or risk adjustments in the South African market.
• Develop new solutions and innovations to maintain Santam’s market leadership across segments.
• Engage with Santam Group’s expert underwriters to ensure optimal client and broker solutions.
• Ensure offerings are competitive and market-related, achieving the required return on investment.
• Drive and manage the achievement of SCS’s Personal lines business growth targets, balancing profitability across business classes.
• Address profit and growth challenges with solutions such as improved underwriting rules, automation, and risk models.
• Collaborate with Operations, Distribution, and external stakeholders on complex underwriting issues to secure buy-in and identify growth opportunities.
• Implement and oversee adherence to underwriting guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• Approve technical policy wordings, underwriting manuals, and reinsurance processes.
• Report on compliance with underwriting guidelines in collaboration with SBS Governance.
• Assess and discuss reinsurance programs with Santam Reinsurance for optimal structures.
• Represent Santam at industry forums and SAIA as needed.
• Influence external stakeholders on general insurance and risk relevance.
• Build and lead an effective SCS PL Underwriting team, fostering technical expertise and managing talent for succession.
• Inspire and motivate staff to manage turnover and compete for talent.
• Provide guidance on complex risks and insurance matters to internal staff.
What do you need?
- Bachelor’s degree or relevant insurance qualification e.g. AIISA or FIISA or similar
• Proven track record of at least 6 years’ experience within STI Underwriting environment, of which at least 2 years’ management of an underwriting function.
• Good knowledge of Personal underwriting is essential.
• Specialist Property & Motor technical underwriting expertise.
• Thorough knowledge of Santam’s products.
• Knowledge of (and understanding of the impact of) the relevant legislation on the business e.g. Building regulations etc.
• Advance Computer literacy (MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint)
Skills
• Personal lines Underwriting skill
• Advanced Excel
• All policy administration and quoting systems of Santam
• Management experience in Underwriting
• Excellent English communication & report-writing skills
• Presentation skills
• Establish interpersonal relationship, negotiating and networking skills
• Ability to influence
• Ability to work under pressure with appropriate prioritisation skills
• Results-orientated and deadline driven
• Good analytical skills and problem-solving abilities
• Skilled in leading and coaching staff
• Creativity and ability to innovate and find new solutions to new challenges
• Able to organise own and others workloads to achieve priorities and objectives
• Demonstrate capability to think of the organisation holistically
Build a successful career with us
We’re all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping our employees to realise their worth. Through its five business clusters – Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.
The Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace as we believe that these are key components to ensuring a thriving and sustainable business in South Africa. The Group's Employment Equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the selection process.
Our recruitment process
Onboarding
Step 8
You made it. Here we ensure we receive all your documents to get you onto our payroll system.
Our recruitment process
Advertise
Step 1
Our vacancies are advertised between 3-5 days depending on the market availability of the skills required.
Our recruitment process
Step 2
Could take a couple of days depending on the volume and the screening process, which various according to the complexity of the role.
Our recruitment process
Step 3
Long listed candidates are sent to the hiring manager to review and consider for the next stage of the selection process.
Our recruitment process
Telephonic screening
Step 4
Candidates may be contacted for a short screening interview to get to know them better and to ask any clarity seeking questions.
Our recruitment process
Your interview
Step 5
We use a competency interview model. Interview dates will be confirmed via e-mail. During the interview you will be introduced to the panel and the process will be explained. Remain calm and sell yourself. This is our opportunity to match your skills to the job. You only get one shot!
Our recruitment process
Assessment
Step 6
Should we like what you bring to the table, depending on the job you are being considered for, you may be invited to complete a psychometric assessment. Further employment checks are conducted the ensure the validity of your credentials.
Our recruitment process
Step 7
Prior to an offer being made, there may be a second interview to meet with the Head of Department.Should there be a need for any further interviews, be sure to bring the same charm that got you through your first interview.
Our recruitment process
Onboarding
Step 8
You made it. Here we ensure we receive all your documents to get you onto our payroll system.
Our recruitment process
Advertise
Step 1
Our vacancies are advertised between 3-5 days depending on the market availability of the skills required.
Our recruitment process
Step 2
Could take a couple of days depending on the volume and the screening process, which various according to the complexity of the role.
Our recruitment process
Step 3
Long listed candidates are sent to the hiring manager to review and consider for the next stage of the selection process.
Our recruitment process
Telephonic screening
Step 4
Candidates may be contacted for a short screening interview to get to know them better and to ask any clarity seeking questions.
Our recruitment process
Your interview
Step 5
We use a competency interview model. Interview dates will be confirmed via e-mail. During the interview you will be introduced to the panel and the process will be explained. Remain calm and sell yourself. This is our opportunity to match your skills to the job. You only get one shot!
Our recruitment process
Assessment
Step 6
Should we like what you bring to the table, depending on the job you are being considered for, you may be invited to complete a psychometric assessment. Further employment checks are conducted the ensure the validity of your credentials.
Our recruitment process
Step 7
Prior to an offer being made, there may be a second interview to meet with the Head of Department.Should there be a need for any further interviews, be sure to bring the same charm that got you through your first interview.
Our recruitment process
Onboarding
Step 8
You made it. Here we ensure we receive all your documents to get you onto our payroll system.
TIPS & TRICKS
Getting ready for your interview
There is not just one way to be successful at Santam, nor is there one way to interview with us. Interviewing is a two-way process - it helps us learn about you, and it helps you learn about us, our people, and what you could do here.
Santam has been officially recognised by the Top Employers Institute as a Top Employer 2024 for excellence in people practices. This is the eighth consecutive year that we have achieved this accolade.
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