Company Details
Responsibilities
The Senior Commercial Lines Underwriter evaluates (selection and pricing) and maintains (control) risk acceptability and profitability within the companys underwriting guidelines and procedures for commercial risks. S/he partners with agents to manage a challenging and/or complex book of commercial business or agency relationships. Demonstrates complex decision-making with little or no supervision, recommending quality exceptions where appropriate to maximize profitability and meet business plans. Supports marketing activities to agents and actively participates in the agency management process. Serves as a mentor providing technical support, training, and problem solving for other underwriters. Responsible for working with and protecting confidential and proprietary customer and Company information. Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
* Analyzes commercial lines accounts to make decisions based on individual risk characteristics, exposure analysis, hazard recognition and control.
* Utilizes underwriting guidelines to ensure compliance with state regulations. Within delegated authority levels, accepts, rejects or modifies new and/or renewal business to ensure a profitable book of business.
* Prices business according to Company underwriting and pricing guidelines. Assists less experienced underwriters in the handling of high hazard or more complex accounts.
* Partners with Territory Managers to support marketing activities by developing ongoing relationships with agents to discuss market appetite, quality and profitability of submissions, service standards, and underwriting and/or product changes.
* Communicates with agents on underwriting issues including decisions on cancellations, declinations, exposure concerns, and survey results.
* Partners with Territory Managers to identify issues or patterns and works to resolve or improve them; participates in agency planning and review processes; and may identify sales and marketing opportunities. Takes a lead role relative to Key Account review and recommendations.
* Travels, with or without Territory Manager, to assigned agent locations to develop agency partnerships.
* Trains and educates agency staff on Company products, services, processes, and underwriting philosophy.
* Assists in training and serves as a technical resource to other underwriters as needed.
* Attend industry workshops/meetings each year.
Qualifications
* Four-year college degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
* Minimum of five years commercial lines underwriting experience, including but not limited to CGL, Property, Packages, BOP, Auto, Crime, IM, Umbrella and/or WC.
* CPCU Designation or other equivalent coursework preferred.
* Ability to use creativity and underwriting knowledge to write risks and retain business.
* Good organizational skills, ability to handle multiple tasks and effectively prioritize.
* Comprehensive knowledge of commercial lines products and contract knowledge including regulatory and policy differences among applicable states.
* Demonstrated depth in negotiation, analytical and problem solving skills.
* Strong computer skills and ability to work with multi-faceted systems.
* Ability to effectively and independently manage complex workload while exhibiting very sound judgment.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
* Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain relationships with agents and other departments and must also exemplify superior teamwork.
Greenwich, CT
Founded in 1967, W. R. Berkley Corporation is an insurance holding company that is among the largest commercial lines writers in the United States and operates worldwide in two segments of the property casualty insurance business: Insurance and Reinsurance. Each of the Berkley companies, or operating units, within Berkley participates in a niche market requiring specialized knowledge about a territory or product.
Our competitive advantage lies in our long-term strategy of decentralized operations, allowing each of our Berkley companies to identify and respond quickly and effectively to changing market conditions and local customer needs. This decentralized structure provides financial accountability and incentives to local management and enables us to attract and retain the highest caliber professionals.
We have the expertise and resources to utilize our strengths in the present environment, and the flexibility to anticipate, innovate and respond to whatever opportunities and challenges the future may hold.