Westfield Insurance Jobs


Consulting Underwriter

Westfield Center, Ohio

 

BUILD YOUR FUTURE…WHILE PROTECTING THEIRS.

You will be challenged. Rewarded. And valued for your unique experience, background and perspective.

Join a team where hard work pays off and original thinking is celebrated. As you build your future at Westfield Insurance, you will quickly learn that protecting our customer’s future by delivering on our promise to help restore lives and rebuild businesses when the unexpected happens is at the heart of what we do. Building relationships and caring about people has been part of our culture since 1848. Be a part of a team that recognizes and appreciates those who take initiative, know how to elevate an idea and can innovate and seek opportunity in a changing world.

Consulting Underwriter Job Summary

$131,374

The Consulting Underwriter is the underwriting expert for commercial lines, utilizing deep technical underwriting knowledge and proficiency to assist in making underwriting and pricing decisions in alignment with corporate underwriting rules and guidelines. Acts as the profit guardian for commercial lines by ensuring thorough understanding and utilization of technical underwriting processes and pricing tools while holding highest level of delegated underwriting authority. Drives accountability and continuous improvement by performing individual commercial lines underwriting audits on all sizes of accounts including large, complex accounts. Analyzes and reports on audit findings to inform commercial underwriting policy decision and training opportunities. Provides support to Underwriting and Sales by reviewing and analyzing lar ge Commercial Lines accounts.

Essential Functions (primary functions and/or reasons the job exists in order of importance)
1. Utilizes deep technical underwriting knowledge and proficiency to assist in making underwriting and pricing decisions in alignment with corporate underwriting rules and guidelines.
2. Acts as the profit guardian for commercial lines by utilizing the highest level of delegated underwriting authority to review and approve division underwriting referrals that the Authority Grants dictate. Reviews items that require approval from the National Underwriting Office Leader.
3. Acts as the resource and subject matter expert for large commercial accounts. Leverages deep understanding and expertise of exposures and their relationship to premium as well as expertise with various rating plans, reinsurance, and pricing needs by class to effectively evaluate pricing adequacy of large complex accounts.
4. Provides thought leadership to the Authority Management function, including recommendations on Underwriting Authority Grants and Class Authority Guides.
5. Participates in account collaborations for the Middle Market, ABD, Special Risk, and Small Business Accounts.
6. Provides quality assurance support to the business units by conducting timely file reviews on all account sizes including large complex accounts in alignment with underwriting doctrine. Assures adherence to underwriting policy and authority. Communicates with region leaders and underwriters regarding file reviews. Reviews comments by underwriters to determine if adjustments to the file reviews are appropriate.
7. Develops narrative reports for region and division leadership to summarize file review results including recommendations for underwriting improvement. Reports are then reviewed for approval by the Underwriting Practices Leader.
8. Participates in calibration sessions with peers and other experts across the organization to ensure consistency in the file review process and continuous improvement in underwriting quality across the underwriting system.
9. Leads specialty audits, as assigned, and develops narrative report with findings and recommendations.
10. Provides insights based on data and analysis gained through the collective file review results and participates in establishing, maintaining, and continuously improving Commercial Lines underwriting policy.
11. Publishes assigned sections of the underwriting guide and related underwriting white papers.
12. Provides underwriting guideline support to Sector and Line of Business Managers.
13. Leverages expertise to support the creation and facilitation of Commercial Lines underwriting training and development opportunities. Attends business unit staff meetings on request of the Region Leader to provide insight on underwriting policy and issues. Coaches experienced underwriters on complex accounts. Mentors recently trained underwriters.
14. Provides input into audit questionnaires in alignment with underwriting guidelines and to enhance the quality assurance process.
15. Provides expertise on or leads projects as assigned.
16. Travels occasionally in order to provide assistance in large account sales opportunities and to participate in special assignments, training, and/or travel between office locations.

Desired Qualifications/Experience/Certification/Education (in order of importance)
1. 10-12 years of relevant multi-line commercial underwriting experience (property, casualty, automobile, and workers’ compensation lines of business).
2. Progressive underwriting experience including a role as a Production Underwriter or Field Underwriter focused on complex accounts in excess of $100,000 written premium.
3. Recognized deep technical underwriting skillset and experience including multi-line account collaboration, reinsurance (including layer coordination, marketing, and facultative reinsurance), handling of loss-sensitive accounts including large deductibles (i.e. in excess of $100,000), and self-insured retentions and/or retrospectively rated accounts.
4. Demonstrated experience and proven ability to provide effective technical underwriting consultation, training, coaching and mentoring across multiple divisions/departments.
5. Demonstrated excellent oral and interpersonal communication skills resulting in the ability to effectively interact with all levels of management and employee population.
6. Demonstrated computer skills: working knowledge of spreadsheet, presentation, and word processing software packages (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, Visio, etc.).
7. Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
8. Demonstrated time management and project planning skills including ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities/assignments.
9. CPCU, ARM, CIC, AFSB, CRM, or AU designations or working toward one or more of these designations.
10. Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience.
11. A valid driver’s license and a driving record that conforms to company standards.

Physical Requirements (specific to the role)
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
* Ability to work effectively in an office environment for 40+ hours per week (including sitting, standing and working on a computer for extended periods of time).
* Ability to communicate effectively in a collaborative work environment utilizing various technologies such as: telephone, computer, web, voice, teleconferencing, e-mail, etc.
* Ability to travel as required.
* Ability to operate an automobile within the parameters of the driving policy.

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed in this role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, skills, responsibilities, knowledge, etc. These may be subject to change and additional functions may be assigned as needed by management.

Westfield offers a Total Rewards program that focuses on compensation, benefits and wellness, and includes perks like 401(k), pension plan, annual incentive, education reimbursement, flex-time, onsite fitness center and casual dress. Work-life balance, recognition, and learning and career development are all part of a rewarding career with Westfield Insurance.

To learn more about Westfield and the opportunities available, please visit us at www.westfieldinsurance.com

We are an equal opportunity employer/minority/female/disability/protected veteran.

Salary Range: US$114238.0 - US$148510.0 per year