AVP, Contract

Berkley•Seattle, WA

About The Position

Berkley Surety is a service-oriented surety underwriting management company that provides contract, environmental, and commercial surety bonds through distribution channels in the United States and Canada. The company writes on behalf of Berkley Insurance Company, a W. R. Berkley Corporation member company with an A.M. Best rating of A+ (Superior). The AVP, Contract serves as a lead underwriter for assigned field offices, with responsibility for the contract or commercial departments, or both. The role underwrites new and renewal business with limited supervision and supports the Head of Underwriting in achieving budgeted financial results through sound underwriting and effective price management. The AVP also leads book-of-business reviews, assists with portfolio management, and collaborates with field underwriters and internal and external business associates. The position requires expert analysis of financial statements, bond forms, supporting documents, and government regulations to assess risk and make underwriting decisions. It provides approvals or declinations within prescribed authority limits and recommendations for requests beyond those limits. The AVP develops producer and account relationships through regular travel, contributes to underwriting procedures and policy, supports reinsurer submissions for large-capacity accounts, and trains and mentors other team members.

Requirements

At least 10 years of experience in the surety industry or related experience.
Minimum four-year degree or related industry experience.
High degree of analytical and communication skills, including the ability to convey knowledge and expertise to others.
Expertise in reading, analyzing, discussing, and interpreting financial statements, bond forms, supporting documents, and government regulations, and reaching appropriate risk-assessment conclusions.
Ability to provide well-developed reasons for underwriting approvals and declinations and recommendations for new and existing accounts and bond needs beyond granted authority limits.
Ability to communicate difficult decisions and positions when faced with counterpositions.
Effective oral and written communication skills, including the ability to write clear reports and business correspondence.
Ability to solve practical problems and manage concrete variables in situations with limited standardization.
Ability to organize and adjust workflow during periods of high activity and to work independently and in a team environment.
Self-motivation, an outgoing orientation, and strong customer focus.
Proficiency with company-provided automation tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Lotus Notes, and the underwriting system.

Nice To Haves

Business, finance, or accounting major.
Prior experience in branch or field office management.

Responsibilities

Serve as lead underwriter for assigned field offices in the contract or commercial departments, or both.
Underwrite new and renewal business from assigned field offices with limited supervision.
Provide timely approvals, conditional approvals, or declinations within prescribed authority limits and consistent with company guidelines and goals.
Recommend courses of action to the Head of Underwriting for requests requiring approval beyond the role’s authority, and provide input on policy positions and underwriting guidelines.
Analyze submitted data and obtain additional information as needed.
Support the Head of Underwriting in achieving budgeted financial results, including premium volume, loss ratio, premium collections, and expense management.
Lead book-of-business reviews and assist with portfolio management.
Communicate underwriting recommendations and decisions clearly and professionally with internal and external parties.
Plan and conduct regular travel to develop and strengthen producer and account relationships.
Visit accounts, prepare and share meeting agendas, obtain follow-up documentation, and evaluate accounts for appropriate action.
Collaborate with assigned field offices, Home Office colleagues, reinsurers, and other business associates.
Manage workflow and communications with assigned field offices in accordance with company standards and expectations.
Participate in senior management decisions concerning underwriting procedures, guidelines, and policy.
Evaluate bond forms and other relevant documents to assess risk.
Keep the Head of Underwriting informed of important issues.
Submit Special Acceptance requests to reinsurers for large-capacity accounts.
Develop and train team members, including senior underwriters, underwriters, associate underwriters, and trainees, as appropriate.
Provide coaching, mentoring, and leadership to others.