Specialist, Underwriting - Personal Lines

Nationwide•Iowa City, IA

3d•Remote

About The Position

Success on our team requires a blend of customer service skill and analytical prowess. Each account we work on is interesting and challenging. Satisfaction comes from finding solutions that provide the best coverage and give our partner agents a way to differentiate themselves from the competition. If you are adaptable, responsive, love customers and really want to make a difference, we want to hear from you! As a Specialist, you'll manage an assigned underwriting territory to identify business trends, ensure profitability and build agency relationships. Responsible for case and account underwriting (new and renewal policies) of profitable business within a complex and challenging territory, which may include private client and high value home accounts. We'll count on you to be the primary contact for portfolio profitability and growth management action plans and partnership with sales and claims and the portfolio underwriting efforts within assigned territory. We may also ask you to provide guidance and assistance to less experienced underwriters and other functional areas. You may also lead projects or research activities in support of business goals and support broader regional initiatives in partnership with product management.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, insurance, or a related field
6+ years of underwriting or insurance experience
Progress toward a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation or similar certification
Strong understanding of underwriting, pricing, and insurance contracts
Skilled in data analysis and tools like Excel
Clear communicator with agents and internal teams
Experience leading projects or working across teams
Strategic thinking and sound business judgment
Relationship-building and negotiation skills
Data-driven decision-making
Motivation to deliver results and support team growth
Minimum of six years of experience in underwriting or related insurance experience.
Experience leading or working on complex projects and or task teams.
Strong knowledge of core business functions, underwriting polices and best practices, pricing, marketing, and insurance contracts.
Role may require a strong knowledge of financial analysis concepts.
Understands and can articulate company product details and values.
Has a good understanding of competitor products and marketing strategies.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills are necessary to present information to agents and sales managers.
Skilled in Excel and other analytical tools to evaluate data.
Role may require strong knowledge company data warehouse tools and related systems.
Key competencies include: business acumen, functional/technical skills, command skills, interpersonal savvy, negotiating, problem solving, drive for results, managing and measuring work, customer focus, and decision quality.

Nice To Haves

Definite progress toward attaining CPCU or other related insurance certification desirable.

Responsibilities

Researches agency, district, and market data for assigned underwriting territory to identify business trends and opportunities for profitable growth.
Obtains data/information from published sources, company data bases, and partnerships with sales, claims, agency or other contacts.
Reviews and analyzes profitability measures through existing reports and through adhoc reports and queries to develop creative, intuitive and profitable business recommendations for agency, market, state and/or region.
Develops written portfolio management reports/action plans for joint implementation with sales to drive profit and growth results or may support the portfolio management plans within assigned territory .
Links knowledge of products, competitors, appropriate business mix, state statutes, rate structure, and underwriting guidelines to develop and/or support action plans in partnership with product management.
Makes appropriate new business and renewal policy level underwriting decisions based on analysis, experience, and judgment in accepting, modifying or rejecting risks.
Reviews and considers business loss experience, investigative reports, claims activity, file information and nature of risks, etc. in reaching sound decisions.
Understands and adheres to filed rating plans.
Makes account underwriting decisions based on agency history, policyholder's tenure, number of accounts, claims history, and long term performance indicators.
Accountable for the proper classification of risks to ensure the matching of price and product to the customer.
Is skilled at interpreting and using approved classification systems, rating plans and selection standards to determine eligibility, desirability and proper classification/pricing benchmarks for assigned product lines.
Leads assessment of product/pricing effectiveness as it relates to underwriting and provides input to leadership.
Initiates consulting opportunities with assigned agency force regarding business results, trends, competitor information and application of portfolio management action plans as appropriate.
Recommends additional products, coverages and discounts to ensure the agency and customer receive maximum value.
Uses curiosity, ingenuity and creativity to identify profitable opportunities.
Actively pursues partnerships with sales, claims, and product management in implementing and driving profitable solutions for all lines of business submitted in assigned territory/underwriting district.
Supports and may participate in agency reviews.
Markets company products and services by working with agencies to identify needs and create or source profitable solutions.
Builds and enhances the agency relationship by making contact that conveys interest in the agency¿s needs and goals.
Completes all transactions in a first time final mode.
Assists in providing agency staff with education when necessary.
Manages the communication process between agencies and processing areas and makes decisions regarding the most effective and efficient method of communicating based on the issue, situation, and audience.
Educates contacts on how to find answers to assist in streamlining communications.
May lead special projects, task teams, or underwriting roundtables.
May represent the company in DOI hearings/complaints.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

medical/dental/vision
life insurance
short and long term disability coverage
paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date
nine paid holidays
8 hours of Lifetime paid time off
8 hours of Unity Day paid time off
401(k) with company match
company-paid pension plan
business casual attire