Chief Underwriting Officer

Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) - City of London

Finitas are currently working with a well-established and growing insurance firm based in the City of London to find a talented Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO). This is an exciting opportunity for someone with significant commercial insurance underwriting experience to take on a key leadership role and make a real impact on the business's strategic direction.

This role is perfect for a Senior Underwriter, or Underwriting Manager, ready to take the step up into their first C-Suite role in a business passionate about growth, ambition, and innovation.

The Role

As CUO, you'll lead the underwriting function and play a critical role in shaping the overall underwriting strategy, ensuring compliance with internal standards and industry regulations. Reporting directly to the CEO, you'll drive process improvements, enhance product offerings, and ensure the profitable growth of the company's underwriting portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Guide and improve underwriting policies, procedures, and controls to increase efficiency and compliance.
• Develop strategies to enhance underwriting results and expand the distribution of key products.
• Lead the evolution of package policies, including the development of product wordings and guidelines across all channels.
• Oversee the Underwriting Audit function, conducting audits and providing key insights.
• Collaborate closely with the Claims Department to identify trends and ensure policies and procedures are adjusted accordingly.
• Set underwriting authorities and provide technical training to underwriters to enhance team skills.
• Drive portfolio management, using a risk-based approach to improve underwriting performance and execution.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements, maintaining a high standard of control processes.

About You

• 10+ years of experience in commercial (Property & Casualty) insurance underwriting.
• Demonstrable account management experience and expertise in implementing underwriting policies and procedures.
• Strong knowledge of commercial insurance wordings, product development, and regulatory frameworks.
• Proven leadership experience with the ability to manage and motivate teams.
• Excellent analytical, collaboration, and project management skills.
• ACII Chartered Insurer qualification preferred, with some experience in IT functionality development within an underwriting context.

Why This Opportunity?

This role offers the chance to join a successful and ambitious company with a strong reputation in the market. They embody collaboration, stability, reward, and innovation, leveraging their 90+ year history and experience to seek continuous improvement.

If you're an experienced insurance professional ready to take the next step in your career and lead an underwriting team to new heights, I'd love to hear from you.