Underwriting Review Leader

Our Company provides a state of predictability which allows brokers and agents to act with confidence.

Founded in 1967 W. R. Berkley Corporation has grown from a small investment management firm into one of the largest commercial lines property and casualty insurers in the United States.

Along the way weve been listed on the New York Stock Exchange become a Fortune 500 Company joined the S&P 500 and seen our gross written premiums exceed $10 billion.

Today the Berkley brand comprises more than 60 businesses worldwide and is divided into two segments: Insurance and Reinsurance and Monoline Excess. Led by our Executive Chairman founder and largest shareholder William. R. Berkley and our President and Chief Executive Officer W. Robert Berkley Jr. W.R. Berkley Corporation is wellpositioned to respond to opportunities for future growth.

The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

A leadership role with responsibility for the coordination and implementation of the Underwriting review process. Extensive and diversified technical property casualty and specialty underwriting experience will be utilized to evaluate W. R. Berkleys Business Units underwriting practices and procedures based on their business strategies focus guidelines and financial return goals. The Leader will work with a team of underwriting experts from other W. R. Berkley Business Units or outsourced partners and communicate results and valueadded recommendations to Senior Management.

Reviews include an examination of individual underwriting files for: risk selection; underwriting; pricing use and adequacy of rating models; wordings including coverage provided and other terms and conditions; rate rule and form compliance; limits management; use of loss control and/or risk management use of facultative reinsurance; and quoting binding and issuance process. In addition the process can include an evaluation of the management of producers and distribution channels delegated underwriting authorities service standards aggregations exposures emerging issues and interaction with Claims and Actuarial functions.

Responsibilities:
Lead a valueadded Underwriting review process that provides Management with an independent assessment of the Underwriting practices of the Business Units portfolio and/or a specific class of business.
Develop and maintain relationships and communication with corporate Segment Heads Actuaries SVP Enterprise Risk Management and Corporate Claims.
Continuously improve the Underwriting review process and reporting procedures through automation standardization and a current understanding of the underwriting environment market conditions competition and other factors facing the industry.
Ensure that reviews are well planned thorough and useful and achieve the goals of confirming and enhancing underwriting risk selection pricing and processes at Business Units
Maintain and improve necessary skills to conduct a review and report on the underwriting practices pricing and risk selection.
Utilize product level knowledge to consider whether the Business Units pricing and underwriting policies and other procedures are applied correctly and consistently.
Assess the effectiveness of the organizational structure staffing and management information.
Analyze key performance metrics in order to determine whether the Business Units are achieving Operating Plans and goals.
Staff and plan the review (reviews are primarily staffed by Underwriters from W. R. Berkleys other Business Units).
Lead interviews with departmental personnel and Senior Management.
Coordinate the work of the review team members.
Document the work performed and the findings.
Identify opportunities for improvement.
Lead closing meetings and delivering feedback.
Prepare written reports and recommendations.
Follow up on implementation of recommendations.

Experience:
Accomplished commercial P&C insurance professional (over 10 years)
Seasoned commercial multiline underwriting expertise
o been underwriter and underwriting manager
o been involved with underwriting best practices development and monitoring
o lead underwriting quality review and file audit processes
o knowledgeable about pricing evaluation forms and coverage and regulatory compliance
Diversified P&C insurance experience
o various primary insurance products
o admitted and nonadmitted
o standard lines and specialty lines
o treaty and facultative reinsurance

Skills and characteristics:
Strong leader and manager with ability to manage and direct a diverse group of volunteer underwriting expert team members
Have presence to and experience in dealing with Senior and Executive Management
Good at relationship building influencing and persuading at all levels
Strong project management organization and documentation skills
High level of attention to detail with an inquisitive nature
Ability to work independently and has strong work ethic
Excellent communicator (verbal and written)
Willing to roll up sleeves and do work vs. just delegating
Assertive yet flexible and open minded in a professional manner
Excellent computer and data analytic skills
Creative thinking needed to improve automate and standardize the review process
Independent nature. Work in an environment with no administrative support
Improve automate and standardize the review process through innovation.
Work in an environment with no administrative support.

Location and Travel:
WRBC headquarters are in Greenwich CT. Will consider a location where there is a significant W. R. Berkley presence such as Atlanta Des Moines Portland ME or Richmond VA. The job will require travel (approximately 25 to 35%) to Business Unit locations. Travel is mostly within the United States but there is some international travel as well. The US trips are usually 4 to 5 days the international trips could be longer.