Underwriter

Description

 At Seibels, we believe our people are our most important asset. They are the driving force behind our mission and the reason we are able to provide best-in-class services to the property and casualty insurance industry. Our culture is founded upon four core values: collaboration, accountability, respect, and transparency. Upholding this culture and embodying it in all that we do is paramount to the organization and its success.

We offer competitive benefits package to all of our employees. Benefits include health and dental coverage that begins the first day of employment, 401(k) with employer match, paid holidays, free downtown parking, up to 20 days of PTO accrual in first year, and much more!

The underwriter works with minimal supervision underwriting complex new and existing business applications, policies and endorsements within established guidelines to develop a growing and profitable book of business. Has contact with agents as necessary to collect additional information or to respond to questions regarding decisions. Assists in training and mentoring less experienced staff and serves as a resource in answering others’ questions. Maintains overall quality score of 98% or better while meeting or exceeding established production standards. 

Requirements

Essential Functions

Risk Evaluation:

• Uses good judgement to evaluate new accounts and renewals in a timely manner for compatibility with underwriting guidelines and procedures. Reviews various underwriting reports such as loss history, financial, and underwriting inspection reports to verify accuracy of information and eligibility of the risk. Approves, modifies or rejects these applications and/or renewals according to established guidelines. Provides the necessary documentation for others to follow the underwriting decision made.           

Customer Service:

• Maintains superior levels of customer service by responding to inquiries and questions from agents, vendors, customers and internal departments regarding rating, coverage(s), underwriting guidelines and company procedures. Researches problems and assists with solutions. Obtains additional underwriting information as needed to foster a cooperative agency/insurer relationship. 

Processing:

• Endorsement processing: All changes made to the policy should be processed within 48 hours of receipt with the correct effective date, using the correct reason code and comment. Employee is responsible for pulling this information from the appropriate sources in a timely manner. 
• Cancellation processing: Processes cancellations with the correct effective date and reason(s), following company guidelines and adhering to the requirements of the state in which the risk is located. Sends letter notifying agent of the effective date and reasons for the adverse action.
• Reinstatement processing: Notifies the agent and processes reinstatement in the policy operating system. 
• Follow up: Pending policies should be diaried in the appropriate operating system. 

Documentation and Correspondence:

• Reviews all comments and correspondence provided in the policy operating system prior to taking action. 
• Documents all pertinent comments relating to coverage changes, endorsement processing, rating changes, underwriting eligibility issues, correspondence received, conversations with agents, etc. 
• When corresponding with agents, addresses all issues in a single letter with appropriate time allowed for a response. The appropriate form letter, written without spelling or grammatical errors, should be used and modified if necessary. Agents should be notified of all premium increases, cancellations, and reinstatements.

Training:

• Assists the underwriting supervisor/manager as needed in mentoring less experienced underwriters. Assists in identifying training needs and aids in the development, administration, and evaluating of training programs.

Education / Experience     

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in relevant field plus 5 years of Homeowner’s underwriting experience; or a comparable combination of education and experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, along with active and attentive listening skills are required.
• Requires knowledge of complex rating plans and detailed knowledge of underwriting and rating.
• Experience in insurance processing systems.
• Competency in Microsoft Office applications a must.
• Insurance industry courses or certifications a plus.
• Strong organizational skills, the ability to multi-task, ability to think outside the box, strong analytical skills, and effective and timely decision making skills required.