Head of Underwriting

As Admiral Business seeks to drive growth in the SME business marketplace, we have an opportunity for an experienced Head of Underwriting to shape our Underwriting approach and

As a proven Underwriting SME in the Business Insurance/Commercial Business space you will be part of a team that will operate as a start-up with appropriate specialists across all functions.

Reporting directly to the Admiral Business CEO you will be responsible for leading the Underwriting function of the Admiral Business focused on SME customers, establishing Underwriting policies, Process and Procedures that drive exceptional outcomes for our future customers.

Given the importance of the role within the regulatory context you will have significant input into the Regulated Business Plan alongside other senior individuals within the team.

You will need to build and nurture a best-in-class team, setting our Underwriting Risk Appetite, identify opportunities for profitable growth and delivering underwriting guidelines for our cross functional and frontline teams. Continuing Admirals reputation for growing internal talent you will use your proven leadership skills to develop those around you, so they are able to seize growth opportunities that further their careers.

A bit about Admiral Business

Admiral Business is an exciting, new business within the Admiral Pioneer part of the Admiral Group. We have the freedom and innovation of a small start up with the security of a large parent company, Admiral. 

We are keen to grow the SME business significantly over coming years with new exciting propositions for micro and small businesses. We’re looking for people who are keen to learn, excited about getting stuck in and are ready for a challenge to help us to achieve our aim of creating a special customer centred SME insurance business.

What You’ll be Doing

• Leading the Underwriting portfolio management of the Admiral Business P&L navigating performance to Financial Plan goals and realising the business growth of this start-up business
• Lead the Underwriting Strategy, Guidelines and setting of Risk Appetite to drive risk selection and business expansion in target market segments
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with Intermediary Partners, Technology Partners and Re-insurers to underpin business growth and performance
• Ensuring that the expectations of the Regulator are reflected in our SME business
• Providing a point of Underwriting Escalation for your team and the wider business in relation to technical referrals and interpretation of Underwriting strategy.
• Alongside Credit Risk and Pricing Lead set our Risk Appetite for Exceptions to policy and matters of Underwriter discretion
• Work in collaboration with the Data team to build and utilise an MI Suite to help in the effective management of both the tactical and strategic goals of the Admiral Business Team
• Assist with input into the Regulated Business Plan with specific input into the underpinning Policies and Procedures.
• Working alongside the Product and Proposition team you will add SME input into requirements and support change development and delivery through robust UAT
• Utilise your knowledge of SME Underwriting to shape our processes, procedures and associated risk framework
• You will own 1LOD for mandated underwriting ensuring robust controls and reporting are firstly developed and then adhered to
• Anticipate the needs of the business and ensure that optionality is maintained when considered against cost/benefit/schedule

About You

• As part of the initial Admiral Business team you will need to be super flexible, proactive and a team player
• You will be analytical and comfortable in taking decisions and committing to action
• An ability to mediate between conflicting views whilst considering the interests of the wider business  
• You will be comfortable in articulating our Underwriting approach with wider internal and external stakeholders
• You will constantly look for ways to do things better, innovate and lead and inspire the team to do the same
• You will use your technical knowledge and industry experience of SME insurance, to understand what works well but how you could do things differently to drive great customer experience
• You will be excited about being part of team that is building brand new proposition to customer audiences in SME insurance across distribution channels.
• You will be a natural relationship builder, working cross-functionally with a wide range of people.

Salary, Benefits and Work-Life Balance

At Admiral, we are proud to be a diverse business where we put our people and customers first. We have great benefits to ensure employees have a great work-life balance; it's one of the reasons we’re consistently voted one of the Sunday Times Best Big Companies to Work For in the UK.

All colleagues will receive 33 days holiday (including banks holidays) when they join us, and this will increase with length of service, up to a maximum of 38 days (including banks holidays). You also have the option to buy or sell up to five days of annual leave in addition to your allocation.

You can also view some of our other key benefits here.

Our Commitment to You

At Admiral, we are committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace. Admiral is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other legally protected status.

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration.

#LI-HJ1 #LI-AdmiralPioneer