Senior Underwriter - Parktown North Johannesburg at PPS

Job Advert Summary    

• This role reports to the Executive Underwriter. The Senior Life Underwriter is responsible for underwriting life, disability, critical illness, sickness and permanent incapacity cover within agreed underwriting authority limits.
• 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: 

• Medical Degree or equivalent 

Experience:

• 6+ years underwriting experience in long term insurance
• 4-5 years insurance industry experience

Knowledge and Skills:

• Sound medical & life assurance knowledge 
• Fluent in English both written and verbal
• 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
• Logical and analytical
• Have a skill set that includes good levels of communication (both written & verbal up to senior & executive level), negotiation, analytical and numerical skills 

Competencies:

• Must use underwriting initiative and discretion in decision making 
• Communication skills (written and verbal)
• Business writing skills
• Planning and organizing
• Attention to detail
• Client centricity
• Building and maintaining relationships
• Resilience

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 Life
• Conduct regular audits on underwriting department and ensure standards are maintained
• Provide constructive feedback to underwriting manager/underwriter regarding matters arising 
• Assess and authorise cases 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.

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

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 process.
• Contribute and assist to review processes and protocols where required to assist in PPS’ delivery of quality underwriting decisions.
• Forge strong working relationships with stakeholders.

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.
• Provide technical information and support.

Closing Date    
2023/07/16