Underwriter: SME Casualty at Santam Insurance

What will you do?

• We have an exciting opportunity for a Underwriter - SME Casualty within Santam Specialist Solutions.

What will make you successful in this role?

• As a Underwriter within Santam’s SME Casualty division, you will play a key role in shaping and driving profitable growth across SME Casualty lines.
• This role combines advanced technical underwriting, mentorship, and leadership in delivering sustainable portfolio performance and superior broker experience.
• You’ll underwrite complex and specialist risks, support the continuous improvement of processes, and act as a technical expert and mentor to the underwriting team.

Key responsibilities:

• Examine insurance proposals for both new and renewal business by gathering and analyzing background information, conducting research, and assessing risks across coverage, pricing, and structure.
• Evaluate and negotiate risks with brokers to secure profitable new business and high-quality renewals in line with Santam’s underwriting strategy.
• Calculate and price risks accurately using established underwriting tools, practices, and sound professional judgment.
• Quote within delegated authority and refer complex or non-standard cases in accordance with Santam’s policies and technical guidelines.
• Monitor the performance of your portfolio, ensuring effective tracking of renewals, new business, and lost business, while maintaining cancellation reserves below 2.5%.
• Prepare accurate premium forecasts and financial reports to support budget setting and performance monitoring at both individual and team levels.
• Confidently communicate technical insights and provide training to internal stakeholders, brokers, and clients when required.
• Support and mentor junior underwriters in risk evaluation, renewal negotiations, and technical decision-making.
• Maintain data accuracy by capturing underwriting information in company systems and producing timely management reports to support informed business decisions.
• Ensure all underwriting and policy documentation is complete, accurate, and compliant with audit and regulatory standards.
• Actively participate in departmental projects and initiatives aimed at improving operational efficiency, service quality, and underwriting excellence.
• Assist senior leadership through the application of portfolio underwriting methodologies to inform strategic underwriting decisions.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of underwriting guidelines and methodologies to enhance consistency and control.
• Conduct peer reviews and sign-off of accounts within your delegated authority, ensuring quality assurance for policies outside junior staff mandates.
• Resolve account and credit control queries professionally and promptly to maintain broker satisfaction and financial accuracy.
• Continuously seek opportunities to refine operational and procedural standards in alignment with Santam’s best practices.
• Undertake any additional reasonable responsibilities as requested by the Underwriting Head or Manager to support the achievement of departmental objectives.
• Ensure all activities comply with regulatory, FAIS, and internal compliance requirements.
• Contribute to portfolio management, data integrity, and performance monitoring reports.
• Provide technical input into product development, pricing, and policy wording enhancements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 4–8 years underwriting experience in short-term insurance, with at least 4 years focused on SME Casualty or liability lines.
• NQF Level 5 qualification in Short-Term Insurance (working towards/ or higher).
• RE 5 and FAIS compliant.
• Proven experience underwriting within delegated authority and working through digital or portal-based systems.
• Strong technical knowledge of SME markets, risk assessment, pricing methodologies, and claims trends.
• Advanced computer proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).