Small Business Underwriter (Western Zone)

Job Summary

The Small Business Underwriter, working under moderate supervision, represents the company among a defined territory of agencies, with responsibility for the management and servicing of a profitable renewal book of Commercial Lines (CL) business, while working to grow and strengthen technical underwriting ability. The role actively participates in the monthly renewal strategy meeting. The role acts as an account steward for the customer and as a key point of contact for the agency, maintaining and implementing appropriate service strategies to deliver our customer service commitment to the customer. The role makes responsible decisions regarding risk acceptability and pricing and escalates issues as needed. The role also maintains intra-company communications.

Job Responsibilities

• Supports managing the underwriting profitable growth, and retention of new and/or renewal business that is consistent with Company underwriting strategies.
• Analyzes new business and/or renewal accounts, including risk assessment, terms and conditions and pricing and recommends submissions/renewals for acceptance or declination within established appetite.
• Develops relationships with agencies, producers, and other distribution partners (producers) and works to understand their needs, including travel to agencies and/or customers, as needed.
• Determines acceptability of risk in accordance with company guidelines and standards by reviewing the application and risk for exposure identification.
• Leverages portfolio underwriting of the book and territory leveraging analytics and information garnered through various underwriting sources.
• Provides leadership with feedback on product, pricing and rate/rule activities of the competition and reviews high value inspections for assigned agencies.
• Strives to create and build effective communication externally (between agents and company) and internally (within the company) regarding underwriting procedures and practices, growth/profit goals and objectives, and agency relations.
• Negotiates with agents to reach positive and profitable outcomes and coordinates and owns agency business plans and key activities with moderate management oversight.
• Develops and maintains an operating knowledge of Westfield standardized hardware, software programs, third party software, and processing procedures.
• Influences current and prospective agencies, producers, and other distribution partners to represent and promote Westfield products and services to customers.
• Answers questions from agencies, producers, distribution partners policyholders or other external contacts and escalates issues to leadership as necessary.
• Collaborates with and leverages corporate shared services functions to bring the competitive strategy to life and achieve results; aligns with corporate governance while maintaining a singular focus on the customer.

Job Qualifications

• 2+ years of commercial underwriting experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Business or related discipline and/or commensurate work experience.

Location

Hybrid defined as three or more days per week in the office.

Licenses and Certifications

• Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) or
• Property And Casualty Insurance License (PCIL) or
• Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) or
• Certified Risk Manager (CRM) or
• Associate in Underwriting (AU) or
• Agribusiness and Farm Insurance Specialist (AFIS)

Behavioral Competencies

• Collaborates
• Communicates Effectively
• Customer Focus
• Decision Quality
• Nimble Learning

Technical Skills

• Commercial Lines Underwriting
• Underwriting Strategy
• Risk Management
• Insurance Industry Knowledge
• Customer Service Management
• Financial Controls
• Data Analysis and Reporting

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.