Personal and Commercial Lines Underwriter (JG 9 - Bellville)

Who are we?

Santam is the market leader in the general insurance industry in Southern Africa. As a large, diversified, and expanding company, we are committed to transformation and growth. While our headquarters are in South Africa, we are rapidly extending our presence into emerging markets across Africa and Asia.

With a client base of over 1 million policyholders, Santam serves individuals, commercial enterprises, specialist business owners, and institutions—including 80 of the Top 100 companies listed on the JSE. Our commitment to Insurance, Good and Proper goes beyond just providing cover—we offer peace of mind, ensuring our clients can focus on living in the moment, not worrying about the unexpected. Because at Santam, we believe the freedom to seize every day is worth protecting.

People drive our business, and we are committed to attracting the best talent, whether for permanent roles or short-term opportunities.

Santam is committed to diversity, inclusion, and belonging. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including persons with disabilities. We are dedicated to neuro-inclusivity and fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive.

Take the next step in your career—apply now and be part of a company that’s shaping the future of insurance. This is Freedom!

What will you do?

The incumbent will be responsible for commercial lines above mandate authorizations.
The incumbent will also be responsible for commercial lines transactional functions which includes broker appointments, cancellations, reinstatements, refund calculations etc. in support of the company's objectives regarding profit and growth.  Coaching and upskilling of broker staff/system users. 

What will make you successful in this role?

• Manage allocated portfolio growth, retention, profitability, and any other business relevant factors and agreed growth plan

• Reporting on performance against agreed targets

• Identify and develop sales opportunities and retain existing business

• Ensuring a consistent and detailed understanding of the sales targets, goals, performance levels, products, business rules and conditions

• Ensure a consistent detailed understanding amongst brokers of their growth targets, goals, performance levels and availalble products

• Establish strategies to further grow the portfolio and contribute ideas, leadership and innovation

• Utilize technology to manage data and the performance of the portfolio under management

• Analyze data and regularly ensure that rating structures are aligned with products,underwriting criteria and risks

• Identify and drive areas of service levels opportunities (review administration procedure in broker office)

• Engaging with underwriting, and finance teams etc.

• Serves as the primary contact for operations, systems, training, audits as well as liaison for resolving issues

• Ensure alignment of quality standards and alignment of business processes

• Ensure brokers operate within agreed mandates and authorizations

• Comply with corporate governance policies, procedures and standards

• Identify and drive opportunities to improve and enhance product and service offerings

• Keep abreast of market conditions and trends and relevant industry regulations

• Ensuring credibility with brokers by maintaining detailed knowledge of current market conditions and competitor's products

• Resolve broker complaints and queries where necessary

• Drive increased utilization of online and any other self-service platforms

• Collaborate and work with suport units to deliver required service levels

• Co-ordinates and delivers new and on-going trianing on products, processes and systems

• Implement retention strategy

• Create a culture of service excellence both internally and externally

Qualifications and Experience

• Grade 12 or equivalent

• FAIS credits (150 NQF 4)

• RE5 and rep registration advantageous

• Commercial product training completed / RIA completed / policy center system training completed

• Minimum 5 years Commercial and Agri underwriting experience

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to understand client base related requirements and to conceptualise and develop relative support

• Good understanding of value chain to implement cost savings and maximise profitability

• Working knowledge and good understanding of all operating and strategic processes, re-engineering and design

• Project management skills

• Change managment skills

• Understands value chain principles and management concepts

• Working knowledge of Policy Centre system information systems and marketing

• Strong business orientation with commercial and financial skills

• Computer literate in data manipulation, i.e. Excel as well as technology in general

• Strong networking and relationship building skills

• Negotiating skills

• Decision making abilities

• Technical claims and underwriting skills

• Risk managmement skills

Build a successful career with us

We’re all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping our employees to realise their worth. Through its four business clusters – Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Emerging Markets, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development

Turnaround time

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers.

Our commitment to transformation

The Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity.  This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace as we believe that these are key components to ensuring a thriving and sustainable business in South Africa.  The Group's Employment Equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the selection process.