Vice President of Underwriting

Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. is a diversified specialty property/casualty insurer with offices in Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Chicago, Los Angeles and Atlanta. Hallmark markets, underwrites and services approximately half a billion dollars annually in commercial and personal insurance premiums in select markets. Hallmark is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and its common stock is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "HALL."

As Hallmark continues to grow, we strive to find talented, innovative and creative professionals to join our team. We offer very competitive compensation and benefit packages combined with a team atmosphere that encourages independent initiative and professional growth.

Summary: Individual will be responsible for managing the company’s underwriting activities in a manner consistent with the company’s risk appetite and risk tolerance levels and that will help the company achieve its underwriting profit targets.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Provide a leadership/expert role to establish the company’s risk appetite working within the risk tolerances set by the corporate underwriting committee.
• Manage the day-to-day underwriting functions ensuring effective risk solicitation, selection, pricing, and retention of desirable business.
• Establish and assign underwriting authority levels and implement controls to monitor.
• Establish underwriting file audit processes to ensure business written falls within the company’s risk guidelines.  Review audit results with underwriting staff and define corrective action when problems are identified.
• Participate in the financial management and budget process and take direct responsibility of

expense management for areas of responsibility.

• Coordinate with the Claims department in the review and research of coverage issues and work with the product development, regulatory and IT areas to coordinate and implement changes identified.
• Review regular department reports on production, claims and employee productivity trends.  Research areas where trends show signs of potential deterioration in performance and recommend appropriate actions.
• Work with the Business Development Director to establish underwriting territory and agent goals, identify areas needing new agent representation, and establishing plans for agent performance issues.

Supervisory Responsibilities                                                 

Manage employees in the Underwriting department. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience                                                

Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university; or five to ten years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge/Skills

• Experience in management of P&C Underwriting teams with strong underwriting acumen and an understanding of industry best practices.
• Ability to analyze various types of insurance data, draw appropriate conclusions from the data and develop actionable items to improve underwriting results.
• Keen understanding of risk exposures and how those relate to insurance coverage and rates.
• Ability to work in a team environment and be flexible to daily changing needs and job duties.
• Ability to analyze and problem solve, working closely with others to coordinate and complete projects.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.          

Computer Skills                                             

Advanced Microsoft Office Skills

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

CPCU, ARM or other similar industry designations are preferable.