Head: Underwriting Analytics

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Santam Broker Solutions has a Head Underwriting Analytics role available. The role reports to the Chief Underwriting Officer, Santam Broker Solutions.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

Santam Broker Solutions (SBS) needs to meet its growth and profitability targets. Key to any decision making in this regard is our data, management information and resultant underwriting and actuarial analytics. 

The tracking and monitoring of our actions and resultant analyses are critical to ensure the profitability, growth and ongoing sustainability of our portfolio. This role is responsible for these functions within SBS.

The role calls for a business minded individual to maintain and develop analytical insights and implement appropriate underwriting interventions across Santam’s Broker book to assist in meeting the overall profit and growth targets. 

The role will also assist in overseeing data cleansing and asset building in order to deliver on these analytic capabilities.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Contribute, as member of SBS Underwriting management team, to the development, implementation, and execution of the Commercial & Personal Lines underwriting strategies & priorities.
• Shared responsibility for :
  • delivery of current and future strategic underwriting projects.
  • the setting and achievement of CL and PL growth and profit targets with all distribution channels through pro-active trend analysis.
• Deliver monthly growth and profit driver reporting, statistics and analytics
• Continually Identify new areas of concern with regards to profitability and concentration of risk.
• Continually identify opportunities for profitable growth. 
• Prioritise appropriate corrective actions to address growth and profit deviations.
• Liaise with Actuarial & Product Management on Santam’s Commercial and Personal Lines pricing and product strategy and maintenance of product range to remain competitive.
• Provide data insights to team and executives and develop commercially viable solutions and drive various process automations and efficiencies.
• Contribute to new business model development and enable delivery thereof from a pricing and underwriting perspective.
• Manage relationship with internal and external business partners – provide pricing and underwriting insights and expertise where required.
• Lead and build a team of underwriting data analysts.
• Analyse and build statistical models for various sets of data on a regular basis to assist in determining business trends. This includes forecasting models & assist in financial budget assumption setting and scenario testing.
• Predictive Underwriting model design and implementation.
• Data quality control and data management:
  •  Develop and extend Santam’s Data analytics capability. 
  • Create and maintain business reports to direct thought processes that drives action. 
  •  Automate reporting as required. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s Degree - applicable major preferred (Actuarial/Statistics/Applied Maths).
• Minimum of 10 years strong Data Analysis & Management experience is required.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in insurance products, systems and data management.
• Minimum 5-8 years’ experience operating at a management level.
• Insurance-related qualifications, such as AIISA/FIISA (recommended but not required).
• Post graduate degree in computational science, e.g. Mathematics, Statistics, Actuarial, Data Science recommended
• Experience in leading and managing a team of specialists
• Experience working with client administration systems and data warehousing 
• Strong commercial acumen and experience with change management and / or organizational change processes

KNOWLEDGE

• Short-term insurance knowledge 
• Underwriting and financial concepts
• Short-term insurances (Commercial and Personal Lines) pricing and underwriting systems (including rating and decision engines)

SKILLS

• Analytical skills (knowledge and experience)
• Financial and Commercial acumen 
• Excellent people skills (relationship management)
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship building skills
• Excellent multi-level task management and organisation skills
• Logical, analytical and business problem framing ability 
• Self-starter, problem solver and finisher 
• Good report writing and presentation skills 
• Ability to engage with people from all parts of the organisation 
• General understanding of the short-term insurance environment
• Independent minded individual 
• Planning and organising skills 
• The following skills are also recommended
  • Advanced coding skills in one or more of the following: SAS, SQL, Java, R, Python, etc.
  • Strong modelling skills including experience in performing statistical investigations and building pricing / predictive /machine learning models 
  • Strong data management skills

COMPETENCIES

• Passion for data
• Analysing information
• Problem solving
• Developing and implementing strategy
• Adapting to changing circumstances
• Performing under pressure
• Enterprising and commercial thinking
• Deciding and initiating action
• Leadership
• Building networks and good relations
• Negotiating and achieving workable solutions
• Applying expertise and technology
• Achieving personal work goals and objectives
• Attention to detail
• Collaborates
• Client focus 
• Drives results
• Flexibility and adaptability 
• Cultivates Innovation

ABOUT THE COMPANY

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!