Manager, Underwriting

Sammons Financial Group•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Ensure the Underwriting team is evaluating life insurance applications in a timely manner, applying guidelines to ensure fairness to the proposed insured, the agent and the company. Support, train, counsel and guide the underwriting staff in order to facilitate workflow and ensure consistent, fair and timely underwriting decisions. Stay abreast of industry best practices, regulatory guidelines, life underwriting tools and techniques, and fraud prevention, apply critical thinking in daily operational and risk management decisions.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree or industry related equivalent Required
Management skills and training Required
Minimum 10 years of underwriting experience Required
Ability to interpret EKGs is required
Ability to deal with Sales organization, Executive Office, and Underwriting staff effectively is critical
Act independently to identify and resolve issues within the scope of the role; possess the judgment necessary in recognizing when issue should be escalated
Strong decision-making and analytical skills
Ability to act independently to identify and resolve complex issues
Strong sense of Urgency
Customer centric mindset
Accomplishes staff results by communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; developing, coordinating, and enforcing systems, policies, procedures, and productivity standards
Effective leadership skills
Strong motivational skills; Advanced knowledge of risk selection is essential
A good relation with the Field and all departments in the Executive Office is important
Criminal background check required.

Nice To Haves

Minimum 3 years’ experience in a management role Preferred
Fellowship in the Academy of Life Underwriters or LOMA and/or completion of CLU courses of study is preferred

Responsibilities

Perform compliance review of larger complex cases in order to provide our agents with timely and fair underwriting decisions.
On a daily basis, direct workflow among staff to ensure timely processing of all cases within the underwriting teams. Lead daily huddle boards and problem solve for peak workload days or unexpected challenges.
Foster the professional and technical development of the Underwriters to empower them to more effectively execute and communicate full spectrum underwriting and meet key producer expectations.
Establish guidelines and procedures to ensure understanding of and competency in Full Spectrum Underwriting in order to give Sammons Financial Group product lines underwriting a competitive advantage.
Give direction, guidance and counsel to Underwriters on difficult unusual cases and escalations.
Handle problem cases or situations with an Underwriter, Sales Support Team or Service Account Manager (SAM when these problems or situations that exceed the authority or expertise of the Underwriters.
Collaborate with internal/external business partners and Distribution Partners to ensure timely, open communication about field matters to maintain good field relationships and to encourage additional sales of quality business; active participation in occasional field meetings. Provide coaching to Underwriters based upon feedback received form internal/external business partners and Sales Distribution Partners.
Review Underwriting audits performed by Corporate Underwriting for of each Underwriter’s performance to ensure consistency in decisions and appraise individual Underwriter growth and professionalism; perform additional or special audits, as circumstances require. Provide feedback and coaching to Underwriters based upon Audit results; take appropriate corrective action based upon internal audit performance guidelines.
Complete evaluations and compensation level reviews based upon each Underwriter’s performance.
Responsible for training and developing Underwriters on career development; handle Corrective Action situations; identify high potential Underwriters, mentor and groom for promotional opportunities; communicate developmental criteria and assist in creation and execution of each Underwriter’s action plan.
Responsible conducting appropriate performance evaluations and TIP reviews; provide SMART goals with measurable milestones and action items; monitor in scheduled one on one’s.
Approve vacation requests and monitor Underwriter absenteeism.
Actively pursue professional growth through LOMA, ALU and CLU and promote staff participation to foster solid relationships between field organizations and the Executive Office.
Keep abreast of current developments in risk selection, business administration, medicine, insurance law, claims decisions, competitors’ activity, mortality/morbidity trends and general social economic, political and military matters in order to advise management and staff of developments which need to be addressed in the underwriting and risk management process.
Conduct regular underwriting meetings and coordinate subject assignments to ensure informative, effective and educational benefits to the underwriting staff.
Execute compliant procedures for all departmental Operational Readiness; ensure consistent adherence to internal guidelines and controls by underwriting team.
Execute, maintain, and ensure departmental compliance with Record Information Management (RIM) requirements.
Conduct or direct the handling of issued cases referred for rescission consideration, contestable claim review and policy change/reinstatement in order to ensure fairness for policyholders and to avoid selection against the company.
Work with Legal and outside counsel as requested to provide expert testimony and represent the company as the subject matter expert.
Assist the Reinsurers with their underwriting audits and prepare for the AVP & Chief Underwriting Officer the written reply to the life audit findings.
Commitment to embrace Sammons Financial Group Companies shared values (Accountability, Connection, Openness, Respect and Integrity).
As stated within the Company Attendance and Punctuality policy, regular attendance is required and expected in order to meet the business service levels and workflow demands.
Participate in other initiatives and/or projects as necessary.

Benefits

Sammons Financial Group offers a competitive benefit package that includes: Health, Dental, Vision, Company Paid Retirement, PTO and Holiday Pay.
Our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a 100% company-funded retirement plan, so you can save for retirement without contributing a penny of your own paycheck.
Healthy balance between work and personal lives. Friday afternoons off all year long, competitive PTO, and generous number of paid holidays.
Our incentive program for defined goals subject to eligibility and performance. Monetary rewards are based on individual and/or overall company performance.
Colleagues who support one another, model our core values, and drive our healthy, high-performing culture.

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