Asst Mgr Underwriting

Western & Southern Financial Group•Cincinnati, OH

About The Position

This position manages a specific team of underwriters within Insurance Operations, underwrites cases, and concurs on larger underwriting decisions. It is responsible for performance management and development of underwriting associates and for the integrity and execution of business processes and systems. The role ensures that service and underwriting standards in Partnership Agreements and scorecard objectives are consistently achieved or exceeded while managing potential risk to the Company. The Assistant Manager maintains positive business relationships with high-level personnel, clients, agents, internal departments, vendors, and other insurance companies. The position works closely with the Manager, Underwriting; Vice President & Chief Underwriter; Director of New Business; Medical Department doctors; and New Business management staff to develop underwriting staff, procedures, and guidelines that support outstanding service and effective cost management.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
Proven experience coaching and developing individuals, including providing direction and effective feedback using performance management practices.
Previous underwriting experience.
Strong knowledge of the insurance industry, business unit products, and regulatory requirements related to underwriting.
Solid customer service experience, including identifying client problems and initiating effective resolutions; must provide examples of strong negotiation skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to interpret and clearly communicate business needs and information to internal groups and external clients.
Experience coordinating multiple assignments and consistently achieving business goals; must be able to provide examples of organization and workload-prioritization methods.
Experience identifying and resolving problems while demonstrating independent decision-making and sound judgment.
Successfully pass at least one ALU exam within 1 year; the posting also states this is required within 24 months.
Ability to communicate verbally and exchange accurate information with customers and associates regularly.
Ability to read and interpret correspondence, procedures, reports, and forms, and to assess work accuracy and thoroughness.
Ability to prepare written correspondence, reports, and forms using prescribed formats and appropriate punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
Ability to apply logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to perform substantial, continuous wrist, hand, and finger movement for computer work.
Ability to work extended hours during peak workloads or special projects/events.

Responsibilities

Assist the Manager, Underwriting, in establishing underwriting policies and standards with the Vice President, Medical Director, and underwriting and new business management staff, to support consistent risk classification and favorable mortality and morbidity.
Work with field sales associates and management to promote profitable new business; interact with senior-level Enterprise management on daily administration and initiatives; and participate in field advisory conferences, agent schools, meetings, and office visits.
Assist with underwriting audits and provide timely feedback to underwriters and their line managers to support staff development.
Underwrite large-amount applications and serve as back-up to the Vice President for concurrence on larger or difficult applications.
Assist in handling formal insurance department complaints and complaints from agents or policy applicants; support New Business and Claims management in analyzing and responding to complaints and disputes; and counsel underwriters on improving professional relationships with producers.
Promote open communication, integrity, professionalism, urgency, and teamwork throughout underwriting operations.
Plan, organize, and direct team work by monitoring production, time-service, and quality statistics, observation, and customer contact; approve financial transactions within assigned authority.
Evaluate productivity and performance quality against Partnership Agreements, manage work activities, and balance department resources to meet or exceed goals.
Lead and coach staff, administer the Company's performance management model, communicate goals and initiatives, and provide regular performance feedback.
Evaluate team members' potential and productivity, support skills and competency development, create a departmental education plan, and address performance issues.
Keep associates informed about Company initiatives, projects, procedures, goals, priorities, and department philosophy through written and oral communication, including meetings.
Participate in reward and recognition programs for team and individual accomplishments.
Anticipate staffing and resource needs as workloads change, plan to protect service levels and Company goals, and work with other Insurance Operations managers to maximize resources.
Recommend and implement changes to keep operations and philosophies aligned with industry trends; stay current through industry publications, LOMA resources, and industry conferences.
Seek expense reductions and efficiency improvements, and champion process, system, or personnel changes to achieve them.
Participate in research and decision-making for departmental and corporate committees and projects; manage projects and teams for process improvement, efficiency, and expense reduction.
Build and maintain vendor and insurer relationships, identify process improvements and cost reductions, and implement vendor changes without disrupting Partnership Agreement service levels.
Identify production problems and work with IS staff on solutions; prioritize work orders; develop interim or manual processes when needed; and implement manual processes when system correction is not cost-effective.
Assist with the annual department salary and expense budget, monitor overtime and mail expenses, and adjust spending where possible.
Perform other duties as assigned and comply with all policies and standards.