Senior Underwriter: Digital Distribution

What will you do?

As a Senior 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.

What will make you successful in this role?

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.
• Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the Casualty underwriting team, transferring knowledge and providing coaching and technical support.
• Collaborate closely with brokers, internal stakeholders, MIS, Operations, and third-party providers to align underwriting and service objectives.
• Provide input into training and development programmes for new and existing team members.
• Support the Underwriting Manager with operational projects, performance tracking, and strategic initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with brokers, clients, and internal partners.
• Deliver efficient, solution-oriented service within agreed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and turnaround times.
• Represent Santam’s values and uphold a customer-centric approach in all interactions.
• Support marketing and business development initiatives to grow the SME Casualty portfolio.
• 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 8–10 years underwriting experience in short-term insurance, with at least 5 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).

Skills & Competencies

• Deep understanding of underwriting principles and ability to handle complex and non-standard risks.
• Strong judgment and decision-making ability supported by data-driven analysis
• Commitment to providing exceptional broker and client experiences.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; professional presentation and negotiation ability.
• Ability to guide, upskill, and motivate team members
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
• Embraces change and continuously seeks ways to improve systems and processes
• Performs effectively under pressure and takes ownership of results