Underwriting Manager, Apartments & Commercial Buildings Department

Underwriting Manager, Apartment & Commercial Buildings Department

Unico American Corporation, through its subsidiaries, underwrites property and casualty insurance in the western states, primarily, California.  The company's subsidiaries provide property, casualty, health, and life insurance products, as well as insurance premium financing and membership association services.  The company's subsidiaries market their insurance products through a network of brokers and retail agents.  Unico American Corporation was founded over 35 years ago, is publicly owned (traded under the symbol “UNAM”) and is located in Calabasas, California.

The Underwriting Manager is responsible for driving profitability and growth within the Company’s Apartment & Commercial Buildings programs by identifying, measuring, managing and accounting for risks through a team of production underwriters, in accordance with the Company’s Mission, Vision and Values.

Essential Functions

• Trains, mentors and manages staff to ensure thorough understanding of duties and achievement of premium and profitability goals.
• Provides a positive environment by consistently modeling company expectations, Mission, Vision and Values; and promoting a solutions-based approach.
• Provides timely and appropriate performance recognition and accountability; identifies and communicates opportunities to the General Manager of Underwriting.
• Directs staff through delegation of established authority in accordance with company guidelines.
• Ensures workflows are managed and completed in a timely, thorough and accurate manner, in all applicable company systems and operations; identifies and communicates opportunities to the General Manager of Underwriting.
• Establishes, maintains and grows strategic relationships with policy holders, business owners, agents, and brokers; participates in promotional activities.
• Provides timely input necessary for the research, development and marketability of products and services; identifies and communicates opportunities to the General Manager of Underwriting.
• Monitors and participates in claims adjustment, risk acceptability, pricing adequacy and classification accuracy of accounts to ensure profitable sales growth.
• Utilizes statistical reports, premium reports, loss reports, financial reports and other data to ensure departmental objectives are met.
• Identifies opportunities to improve business outcomes, prepares departmental business plans and communicates those to the General Manager of Underwriting in support of organizational objectives.

Other Functions

• All other duties, as assigned. 

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Accounting or Marketing.
• Professional certifications including CPCU or ARM.
• 3 years of underwriting experience in commercial property and casualty.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Must have proven track record of effective working relationships with peers.

Competencies

• Interpersonal Skills.
• Communication Proficiency.
• Time Management Skills.
• Organizational Skills.
• Technical Capacity.
• Personal Effectiveness/Credibility.
• Presentation Skills.
• Good Judgment.
• Ethical Conduct.
• Decision Making Propensity.
• Discretion/Confidentiality Sensitivity.
• Financial Management Prudence.
• Problem Solving/Analytical Skills.
• Thoroughness/Detail-oriented.

Managerial/Supervisory Responsibility

This position has direct managerial responsibilities.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and to hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and stand; walk; use hands to hold, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Though some flexibility in hours may be allowed, the employee must be available during the company’s regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5pm and for additional time outside of regular business hours, to support the company’s business needs.

Travel

A minimum of 10% travel is expected for this position (e.g., visits to brokers, agents, trade shows, etc.).

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, Responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.