Commercial Residential Underwriter Associate

Underwriter Associates (UA) provide administrative, customer, and technical support for all underwriting functions. Tasks and responsibilities may include but not be limited to:

Provides technical and administrative support in the preparation of new and renewal commercial residential insurance business:

• reviews applications for insurance and compares against guidelines to determine if a submission is eligible for underwriting review;
• sorts incoming requests by task type (new business review, renewal review, inspection, endorsement, loss run request, other service request, etc. and route the task to the appropriate workflow;
• performs initial eligibility reviews, including but not limited to preparing files for underwriting review and assisting with ongoing account review and service;
• saves documents to underwriting files and format files to ensure consistent and complete record management;
• orders inspections, reviews inspection reports, collaborates with underwriters on inspection results, and corresponds with agents on any inspection recommendations;
• monitors follow-up tasks to ensure receipt of required documents;
• processes non premium bearing endorsement requests, as needed;
• assists with creating and sending legal notices with support from underwriters;
• efficiently and effectively utilizes Company’s information systems and software programs in carrying out all designated responsibilities outlined above.

Regularly communicates with Cabrillo Coastal agents and policyholders, positively represents Company in telephone and email interactions and provides exceptional customer service to our external customers, as applicable and per specified Company guidelines, Company quality and time standards and Governmental regulations:

• monitors department email; identifies the subject of each email and the associated task; responds to inquiries or setup tasks in the file management system, as appropriate;
• manages team's phone lines, answering incoming inquiries or requests for assistance; monitors and returns voicemail messages from agents, their staff and policyholders;
• corresponds with agents on the status of items sent to or required by the underwriting department in a consistently professional and relationship-driven manner;
• supplies loss run reports to agents and policyholders upon receipt of valid requests;
• may collaborate with other departments to meet customer needs or provide agent partners with guidance on how to access and navigate company systems.

Actively contributes as a member of the Company team by:

• providing assistance and support to residential commercial underwriting, claims, sales, product, systems and/or other team members;
• actively managing task routing and underwriting workflows to ensure files, tasks, and records are accurate and complete;
• preparing weekly report of assigned tasks and workflow volumes;
• assisting with testing and designing new or modified systems.

Dynamically enhances Company’s success by taking advantage of learning and development opportunities and personally integrating positive actions to improve individual performance.

Participates in, assists with and/or carries out responsibilities for “special” Company projects and/or performs other related duties as assigned.

The UA role helps build foundational knowledge supportive of ongoing career progression both within and outside the residential commercial underwriting department. By aligning job functions with underwriting tasks and working closely with underwriters and other team members, UAs interested in an underwriting focused career progression can receive ongoing training and mentoring in the course of daily tasks. Skill progression can be earned by demonstrating proficiency and taking on increasingly complex tasks and job functions. Individual development plans are also available as part of the performance recognition system, with the intent of aligning business opportunities with the individual interests of high performing team members.

The Underwriting Associate I, II, and III roles are part of a progressive job series, where team members may be eligible for “learn and earn” advancement by demonstrating mastery of advanced requirements and exhibiting core aptitudes including effective interpersonal skills, professional communication, critical thinking, learning agility, and effective time management skills.

The commercial residential underwriting team is responsible for analyzing and assessing the risks of providing insurance and selecting pricing and terms that result in ethical, profitable, and sustainable portfolio performance. To this end, commercial residential underwriting also assesses and manages agent relationships, providing ongoing customer service, sales support, and performance management feedback. Daily functions include reviewing applications for insurance, preparing new and renewal quotes, issuing policies, endorsing policies, servicing agent and policyholder inquiries, reviewing performance indicators, addressing underperforming accounts, conducting agent and site visits, and contributing to presentations in support of agent partners.

Qualities: Strong Written and Verbal Communication skills, exhibits commitment to ethical business practices, exhibits sense of personal accountability, quality-oriented; service-oriented; detail-oriented; self-starter; team player; multi-tasker; adaptability; flexibility; strong work ethic; positive “can do” attitude; coachable; dependable; collaborator

Strong skill sets in the following areas: organization; problem analyses/solving; active listening; conflict resolution; oral (with an emphasis on telephone) and written (with an emphasis on email) communication; interpersonal communication; time management/working under tight deadlines; information and financial analyses; creation of marketing materials; keyboard entry speed of 45 WPM or more.

Strong knowledge of: business writing, grammar and punctuation rules; telephone and email business etiquette rules; desktop computer operations; standard business software and web-based engine operations (e.g., Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook and Internet Explorer). MS Access and MS PowerPoint a plus.