At a Glance
- Tasks: Assess and underwrite Professional Indemnity risks while managing broker relationships.
- Company: Established independent underwriting agency with a focus on Professional Risks.
- Benefits: Competitive package up to $130k, mentoring, and clear career progression.
- Other info: Flexible location in Melbourne or Sydney with direct access to decision-makers.
- Why this job: Gain autonomy in underwriting and make a real impact in a growing business.
- Qualifications: Experience in Professional Indemnity or Financial Lines; strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 117000 - 143000 $ per year.
Hooker & Heijden are specialists in the recruitment of insurance professionals. Our consultants provide career advice and opportunities across Underwriting, Broking, Claims, Risk and other specialist insurance disciplines, working with leading insurers, underwriting agencies and brokerages throughout Australia.
About the Organisation
Our client is an established, independent specialist underwriting agency. It writes on behalf of Lloyd's, international and local insurers. The business runs several specialist underwriting divisions, and Professional Risks is a core part of what it offers. It has strong relationships across the Australian broker market and is known for technical underwriting and a service-focused approach. It's a growing business with a flat structure. Underwriters have direct access to senior decision-makers and can see how their work contributes to the portfolio.
About the Role
We're recruiting a Professional Indemnity Underwriter to join the Professional Risks team. The role can be based in Melbourne or Sydney. The role suits someone at the junior to lower-mid level of their underwriting career. You should already have experience assessing and underwriting risks, and be ready to take on more. This is not an Assistant Underwriter role. You'll hold your own underwriting authority, deal directly with brokers and manage your own new business and renewals, with support from experienced senior underwriters.
Responsibilities include:
- Assessing and underwriting Professional Indemnity and related Financial Lines risks
- Preparing quotations, renewals and endorsements within your underwriting authority
- Reviewing submissions and assessing individual risk exposures
- Negotiating terms, conditions and pricing with brokers
- Managing new business opportunities and the existing renewal book
- Building relationships with brokers across the intermediary market
- Contributing to portfolio growth, retention and profitability targets
- Referring more complex risks to senior underwriters where appropriate
As your experience grows, you'll take on more complex risks and a larger underwriting authority.
About You
You’ll have some existing experience in Professional Indemnity or Financial Lines. You may currently be:
- A junior PI or Financial Lines Underwriter looking for more responsibility
- An Underwriter wanting broader technical exposure in a specialist agency environment
- An experienced Assistant Underwriter already working at underwriting level and ready to step up formally
Ideally you’ll bring:
- Experience in Professional Indemnity, Financial Lines or a closely related class
- Experience assessing risks and preparing quotes or renewals
- A developing understanding of underwriting principles, pricing and policy coverage
- Confidence communicating and negotiating with brokers
- Good attention to detail and sound commercial judgement
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Candidates from an underwriting agency or insurer will suit this role. Financial Lines broking experience will also be considered.
What’s on Offer
A package of up to $130,000, depending on experience. Your own underwriting authority and broker relationships from the start. Exposure to a broad range of Professional Indemnity risks. Mentoring from experienced Professional Risks underwriters. A clear path to increased authority as you develop. A choice of Melbourne or Sydney.
Underwriter – Financial Lines in Melbourne employer: Hooker & Heijden
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