SME Commercial Underwriter - Existing Business - Ipswich

Job description details

Job ref: 2024-1570

Closing date: 29/11/2024

Location:
Ipswich

Career area:
Underwriting

Salary:
Dependent on experience


At AXA Commercial, we support our business customers, large and small, by making it easy for them to do business with us in the way that suits them. Whether they insure with us via brokers, directly on the phone or online through comparison sites, we've got them covered.

Building on our success, a key initiative for the future of AXA Commercial is enhancing our current teams with experienced, engaging, and forward-thinking Commercial Underwriters. These roles provide a fantastic opportunity for you to build key foundations and shape the narrative, that will provide AXA the exposure and scope required for growth.

We're very proud of our focused SME unit following the successful launch of creating a single SME operating model, that has delivered effective and efficient work streams, giving choice. If you want to take on a new opportunity in a supportive environment, we’re looking for an experienced Existing Business Underwriter, where you’ll be part of a team where people, development and teamwork are a key focus. We pride ourselves on not only our strong team engagement but forming long lasting relationships with our UK Brokers, based on integrity, honestly and transparency, as well as a great service with the end Customer being at the heart of everything we do.

What you’ll be doing:

As Commercial Underwriter you’ll help drive and transform how we partner our broker portfolios, through responsive, flexible, and collaborative relationships. With a strong balance of technical and trading capability, you’ll be empowered to make decisions, supported by data, insight, and decision support tools on mobile technology to succeed. You’ll be focused on developing and delivering profitable growth, across existing business within the key markets.

  • Deliver on trading team targets through profitable underwriting of our products for SME Existing Business, whilst developing key relationships and credibility with brokers and customers.
  • You’ll be proactive, outgoing and confident in dealing with our strategic partners, retaining and maximising business through the delivery of exceptional customer service.
  • Underwrite our products for SME customers profitably, accurately, consistently using the full range of appetite and tools available.
  • Be an advocate for AXA contributing to meetings with brokers to secure clients, you’ll be an active and visible coach to executive leaders who are change sponsors.
  • Monitor the overall performance of the book you’re responsible for and ensuring remedial action is taken to correct any performance issues.

What's in it for you:

  • We’ll equip you with the technical skills for tomorrow: It’s our job to support you in becoming an expert who has ownership over their work. We want you to be confident that you can make an impact by helping our customers. We ask ourselves what we can do today that will help us in the future. That’s why we offer continuous development to help our colleagues become experts in tomorrow.
  • Build a career that’s as dynamic as the market you work in: We’re on a journey of transformation, so we’re investing in new technology that enables us to help our people and businesses thrive.
  • Shape your career one decision at a time: We’ll support you to progress through the business and are committed to developing talent. We do this with training and tailored development plans.

At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team and our customers. You'll work at least 40% of your week away from home, moving to the majority of your working week from September 2025. Away from home means either attendance at one of our office locations, visiting clients or attending industry events

What you'll bring:

  • Keep an open mind: Keen to learn and challenge the status quo, able to approach tasks from different perspectives while focusing on helping colleagues and customers.
  • Stay curious: You’ll be perceptive of what our customers and the market wants and bring that knowledge into your work, whilst making the most of AXA’s development opportunities.
  • Be a team player: Able to use your unique skills and knowledge to collaborate with your colleagues, take accountability and discover new ways of doing things.
  • High level of technical underwriting expertise.
  • You’ll possess a strong trading capability, commercial awareness and expert negotiation skills.
  • Ability to build strong broker relationships and a sound understanding of the current commercial insurance market.
  • Sound knowledge of legislative and regulatory requirements for insurance, including treating customers fairly.
  • Developed analytical skills with proven experience of account monitoring and action planning.
  • You’ll be pragmatic and a confident decision maker.

This position has been defined as an Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) role under the IDD regime which means that in addition to pre-employment screening checks, the successful candidate will be subject to background screening every 4 years with an annual declaration in interim years.

What we offer:

At AXA UK, we’re appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. You can expect to receive:

  • Competitive annual salary dependent on experience
  • Annual company & performance-based bonus
  • Contributory pension scheme (up to 12% employer contributions)
  • Life Assurance (up to 10 x annual salary)
  • 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
  • Opportunity to buy up to 5 extra days leave or sell up to 5 days leave
  • AXA employee discounts
  • Gym benefits

To apply, click on the ‘apply for this job’ button, you’ll then need to log in or create a profile to submit your CV. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and don’t discriminate against employees or potential employees based on protected characteristics. If you have a long term condition or disability and require adjustments during the application or interview process, we’re proud to offer access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge. For our support, please send an email to mel.ainscough@axa-insurance.co.uk.

#LI-Hybrid

Who we are:

AXA Commercial protects businesses, from multinationals to micro start-ups, giving them the confidence to thrive. We’re currently making our biggest ever investment to develop the expertise and skills we need to be the best. We’re a vibrant community where everyone is supported to learn, develop, and take ownership of their work.

What we offer

We acknowledge and appreciate the exceptional efforts of our people in protecting what matters most to our customers. In exchange we offer a series of core and supporting benefits designed to empower our people to thrive both professionally and personally.

Competitive Salary

Annual Bonus

25 - 28 Days Annual Leave

Volunteering Days

Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

Employee Discounts

AXA Share Plan

Gym Benefits

Retail Discounts

Wellbeing Apps

Voluntary Benefits

Our Values

Our Values shape what we do and how we do it.
They inspire, guide, empower & unite us.

Customer first

All our thinking starts with the customer

Integrity

We’re guided by strong moral principles

Courage

We speak our mind and act to make things happen

One AXA

Being together and being different makes us better

Inclusion

At AXA we have a culture of trust, respect and care, where everyone belongs. We have an ambition to become one of the most inspiring companies to work for, as such we’re committed to supporting employee needs, providing meaningful career development, and celebrating differences. We all have a role to play in ensuring a working environment in which everyone, regardless of who they are, can reach their true potential. 

Equal Opportunities

We believe in hiring people who possess the appropriate skills and values that align with our vision. Our selection process is fair and equitable, ensuring that all candidates have an equal opportunity to join us. We are dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion, and we actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we take pride in treating our employees and potential hires with respect and without discrimination based on any Protected Characteristics. 

Accessibility Concierge

As a Disability Confident employer, we’re proud to offer our support and access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge. A unique, industry leading offering created to support and encourage candidates with long term health conditions or disabilities that may require alternative methods of applying or for reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Our trained Accessibility Concierge Ambassadors will have a conversation with you to identify the support you need and explain how you will be supported throughout the process. The service is available to all candidates, including those already employed by AXA. To ensure ease of access, every job advert lists a responsible Talent Acquisition contact, who’ll be able to connect you with the Accessibility Concierge if you require any support.

Disability Confident 'Offer of Interview' Scheme

AXA UK are recognised as a Disability Confident Leader. We actively encourage applications from people who face barriers in the workplace due to a disability or long-term health condition. We participate in the Disability Confident ‘Offer of Interview’ scheme. This means a fair and proportionate number of candidates with long-term health conditions or disabilities who meet the essential criteria of a job, will be offered an interview.

  • You'll need to show you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job advert or job description
  • You don’t need to share the details of your long term health condition or disability for your application to be considered under this scheme

As part of your application, you’ll be asked if you would like to ‘opt in’. To ensure ease of access, every job advert lists a responsible Talent Acquisition contact, who’ll be able to connect you with our Accessibility Concierge if you require any support.

Screening & Conduct

As a regulated financial services company, all successful candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks. Additionally, adherence to the Prudential Regulation Authority’s (PRA) Insurance Conduct Standards and the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) Conduct Rules will be required.

How we hire

There are 3 stages to our recruitment process; Application, Interview and Decision. This process provides an opportunity for us to get to know you, and for you to get to know us. We’re looking for people who share our values and ambition.

Application

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Interview

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Decision

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How we work

We know one size doesn't fit all so depending on our customer's needs, your unique circumstances and how your team operates we offer a blend of home and office-based working.

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