Head: Volume, Affinity & Underwriting - Sandton at Guardrisk

Role Purpose

• Oversee the identification and development of new business initiatives and support the delivery of an excellent client experience in order to achieve business objectives. To maintain and enhance strategic stakeholder relationships.

Requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualification
• FAIS compliant
• Related Insurance qualification (preferred)
• At least 8-10 years’ experience in the short-term industry
• At least 5 years leadership experience
• Extensive client facing, advisory and new business development experience.
• Solid knowledge of the financial/ Insurance industry and legislative requirements
• Strong understanding of 3rd party cell captives and measures of performance

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop strategies to identify and develop new business opportunities in existing and untapped markets.
• Develop and implement new business development plans which expand presence in existing markets, new markets and develop new client relationships in line with the ethos of client centricity and legislative requirements.
• Create strategic partnerships with business partners and stakeholders in order to understand business priorities and requirements.
• Set new business targets and drive the achievement of targets to increase new business and the acquisition of new clients.
• Based on client need framework customise solutions for clients across licences.
• Identifying opportunities for improvement or potential challenges and implementing mitigating tactics.
• Gather competitive intelligence and new product ideas from the business environment and share market insights with the management team.
• Development and implementation of commission and remuneration structures to maximise sales growth.
• Give input and recommendations at all forums such as Product Management Committee, Market Conduct Committee, IT Steerco, Company Finance and so forth.
• Encourage cross-collaboration and increasing synergies with the broader Guardrisk and MMH community.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders including cell owners to define service delivery operational standards, measures and targets in line with client requirements.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders including cell owners to define service delivery operational standards, measures and targets in line with client requirements.
• Develop effective short, medium and long-term operating strategies and plans based on client’s financial services (including, insurance and investment) requirements in order to effectively on-board and service clients/policy holders.
• Manage the client experience and expectations in order to ensure client’s needs are being successfully addressed.
• Develop initiatives to improve or enhance the client/policy holder experience.
• Oversee the assessment and analysis of service delivery gaps and challenges, and implement remedial action strategies.
• Manage the development and implementation of quality management processes which ensure service delivery is line with client expectations and requirements.
• Identify, plan and manage process improvement projects to improve operational efficiencies and create a culture of continuous improvement across operations.
• Manage the planning of resource requirements for operations to ensure sufficient resources are in place to meet client service delivery requirements.
• Oversee the provision of accurate, current advice and information regarding solutions to all clients/policy holders/stakeholders.
• Drive the application of good governance principles and legislative compliance within operations.
• Provide meaningful and relevant reporting on operations and client services functions and trends as required.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Contribute to sustaining a competitive edge through external networking and benchmarking and representation on related forums such as SAIA technical forums etc.
• Define fair and innovative client service practices which build rewarding relationships, and allows team to provide exceptional client service.
• Engage with key internal and external stakeholders to identify changing client needs and make recommendations to align service offering with client needs.
• Contribute to a client service excellence culture which builds enduring relationships and allows team to provide exceptional client service.
• Develop client service level agreements and standards in order to ensure clients receive clear and accurate information and are kept informed at all times.
• Drive efforts to improve client service and fair treatment of clients within area of responsibility.
• Incorporate client feedback into the enhancement of daily business processes and management operating systems.
• Create a positive work climate and culture to energise employees, give meaning to work, minimise work disruption and maximise employee productivity.
• Demonstrate exemplary leadership behaviour, through personal involvement, commitment and dedication in support of organisational values.
• Select and recruit suitably qualified talent in line with Employment Equity principles and Guardrisk values.
• Drive a culture that guides and directs best practice, fostering an environment of continuous learning, improvement and cohesiveness.
• Enable a learning and growth culture whereby information regarding successes, issues, trends and ideas are actively shared between team members.
• Execute effective workforce planning practices to ensure that staffing requirements are accurately forecasted.
• Identify employee growth and development needs and schedule interventions to enable ongoing development, training and personal growth.
• Effectively manage performance within the team in order to ensure business objectives are achieved.
• Manage the delivery of the required volumes of quality business through the segment client base.
• Prepare revenue budget for area and control expenditures and implementation of financial regulations.
• Effective management of capital adequacy requirements for Guardrisk and all business partners.
• Manage high risk and problematic financial issues in area of accountability and contribute to the development of policy.
• Identify solutions to enhance cost effectiveness and increase operational efficiency.
• Implement and manage financial risk methodologies, techniques and systems and use to monitor and report on financial activities.
• Implement and provide feedback on the effectiveness of financial policy, practice and procedures preventing illegal, unethical or improper conduct.
• Implement risk management, governance and compliance policies in own practice area, to identify and manage governance and risk exposure liability.
• Investigate reported wilful acts of non-compliance to organisation policy and practice and report on findings.

Competencies

• Business acumen 
• Strategic thinking 
• Participation leadership
• Collaborative