Senior Liaison Underwriter - Parktown North at PPS

Job Advert Summary
This role reports to the Executive Underwriter. The Liaison Underwriter is responsible for underwriting life, disability, critical illness, sickness and permanent incapacity cover within agreed underwriting authority limits.

This role is crucial in building strong rapport with brokers to stay competitive in the dynamic market we operate in. Building and maintaining positive relationships with brokers and sales. The Liaison Underwriter will play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between underwriting decisions and effective communication with brokers as they will directly contribute to enhancing our ability to connect with brokers, provide tailored solutions, and ultimately strengthen our market position.

• The incumbent will deal with technical and complex underwriting queries and/or complaints providing an excellent service offering. A close relationship with Research & Development to support interdepartmental and wider organizational goals.

Minimum Requirements
Education: 

• Financial / Medical aligned degree, e.g. Nursing, BCOM, BSC

Experience:

• 10+ years underwriting experience in long term insurance.
• 10+ years insurance industry experience.
• Proven experience in underwriting or related roles.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Sound medical & life assurance knowledge. Familiarity with industry regulations and compliance standards.
• Good computer knowledge - MS Outlook, Excel and Word are necessary.
• Must have a mature, disciplined and driven personality.
• Ability to work independently as well as being a good team-player with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Deadline/target driven, with ability to work under pressure.
• Have a skill set that includes good levels of communication (both written & verbal up to senior & executive level), negotiation and analytical skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage effectively with clients.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks efficiently.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy in documentation and communication.
• Competencies:
• Must use underwriting initiative and discretion in decision making.
• Business writing skills. Business Acumen.
• Planning and organizing.
• Client centricity.
• Building and maintaining relationships.
• Resilience.
• Complex problem solving.
• Adapting and responding to change.
• Innovation and Forward Thinking
• Persuading and Influencing 

Duties and Responsibilities

Process optimization and efficiencies:

• The successful candidate will be responsible for underwriting life, disability, critical illness, sickness and permanent incapacity cover within agreed underwriting authority limits.
• To underwrite cases within the agreed service level agreements.
• Candidate must be willing to work under pressure and within agreed service levels.
• Responsible for achieving and maintaining standards in underwriting. Conduct regular audits on underwriting department and ensure standards are maintained.
• Provide constructive feedback to underwriting manager/underwriter team regarding matters arising. 
  Assess and authorize specific underwriting cases.
• Responsible for financial underwriting to ensure accurate financial underwriting decisions.
• Participation in projects to improve departmental service-owning your role in the project and completing tasks as required by providing input.

Liaison Champion:

• Assist in the creation and presentation of counter-offer letters to clients.
• Collaborate with underwriting team to tailor counter offers that align with client needs and company policies.
• Ensure timely delivery and follow-up on counter-offer responses.
  Professionally handle declines by providing clear and comprehensive explanations to clients.
• Effectively communicate deferrals, managing expectations and offering guidance for future submissions.
• Serve as a bridge between underwriting decisions and client understanding, fostering positive relationships.
• Conduct tele-underwriting interviews with potential clients, showcasing strong interpersonal skills.
• Manage calls efficiently, asking probing questions to gather necessary information.
• Provide accurate and detailed information to clients while adhering to company guidelines and compliance standards.
• Discussing all adverse decisions with Financial Advisors (counter offer letters, Decline and defer.

Risk and Compliance:

• Adhere to internal SLA's to ensure operational efficiency and achievement of agreed customer service standards.
• Proficient in the assessment and management of underwriting decisions.
• Must understand the underwriting environment and general protocols and processes.
• Ensure adherence to regulatory and compliance requirements.
• Contribute and assist to review processes and protocols where required to assist in PPS’ delivery of quality underwriting decisions.

People and Culture:

• Checking and Authorization of underwriting decisions in terms of published delegation of authority.
• Collaboration with relevant stakeholders: Research & Development, Member Services and Intermediary Services.
• Deal with Arbitration and Ombudsman cases and collaborate with other stakeholder during the Complaints proces.
• Forge strong working relationships with stakeholders.
• Support Managers and Learning and Development to identify learning objectives; implement training interventions and create development plans.
• Support active learning plan for onboarding of new employees and constant learning for all employees through coaching and other interventions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, brokers, and other stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted advisor during the underwriting process, ensuring clients are well-informed and supported.

Knowledge Champion:

• Provide guidance and support to junior underwriters.
• Empower team members with transfer of knowledge, be the Underwriting Team SME.
• Ensure that own knowledge is kept abreast with industry & regulatory information and changes through various internal and external information sources. Regulations to provide informed and up-to-date support.
• Provide technical information and support.
• Refer cases to Reassurers.
• Underwriting Life, TPD, Critical Illness and IP cover.Proactively identify opportunities to enhance underwriting processes and communication strategies.