Assistant Underwriter

Job Description

Are you looking for your next opportunity?

Sompo has a unique opportunity for an Assistant Underwriter in our Cross-Class Portfolio team.

Our Cross-Class Portfolio team supports the effective underwriting and management of casualty and specialty programme business across the underwriting lifecycle. Working closely with underwriters, brokers, coverholders, operations, claims and actuarial teams, the team helps deliver strong delegated authority oversight, high-quality underwriting data, portfolio insight and governance support. This is an excellent opportunity to build expertise in delegated authority business, Lloyd’s market practices and portfolio management while developing toward an underwriting career.

Location: This position will be based out of our London office. We strive for collaboration which is why we offer a work environment where our employees thrive and develop long lasting careers.

Our business, your impact, our opportunity:

What you’ll be doing:

Strategy and Planning

• Understand and contribute to delivery of the divisional business plan, referring to Senior Underwriters or Underwriters where appropriate
• Participate in relevant meetings to share insight, develop strategy, and promote knowledge and best practice
• Promote the department, division, and wider company to maximise brand value and leverage
• Apply the reinsurance strategy to protect the portfolio, referring to Senior Underwriters or Underwriters where appropriate

Policy, Process and Procedures

• Perform underwriting activities, where authority is granted, in line with all legal and regulatory requirements to ensure obligations are met
• Follow underwriting standards, instructions and good practice to minimise risk and maximise efficiency
• Ensure insurance risks, including delegated underwriting authorities where relevant, are accurately recorded and measured in line with good practice, while developing understanding of policy wording changes
• Maintain awareness and understanding of reinsurance requirements to minimise risk and support delivery of business plan objectives

Environmental Awareness/Customer Focus

• Establish technical knowledge and judgement to support Senior/Underwriters with identifying issues and opportunities
• Establishes, develops and strengthens relationships with stakeholders including customers, brokers, business partners and colleagues to maximise influence and achieve business objectives
• Demonstrate support for market associations and trade bodies
• Demonstrates an understanding and awareness of market dynamics and market cycle to drive and enhance business performance

Technical Performance

• Develop expertise and technical knowledge by working with Head of/Senior/Underwriters to identify and complete appropriate learning and development activities
• Underwrite insurance risks, where authority is granted, in line with the business plan and delegated underwriting authority. This includes negotiating rates, terms and conditions for new and existing business, supporting policy wording changes where appropriate, ensuring compliance with internal and external requirements, contributing to business objectives, and assisting credit control with premium collection where required
• Maintain awareness of portfolio review and analysis to monitor progress against business objectives
• Ensure all authorised business is appropriately peer reviewed and written in line with company underwriting standards and individual authority limits

People Management

• Operate collaboratively with colleagues in the team to acquire knowledge and expertise and understand required standards of performance
• Acts in accordance with, and is an advocate of the Sompo Values

What you’ll bring:

• Understanding of, or strong interest in, delegated authority business and programme underwriting.
• Strong Excel, analytical and data interpretation skills, with the ability to identify trends and performance drivers.
• High attention to detail, strong organisational ability and effective prioritisation skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across underwriting, operations, claims, actuarial and finance teams.
• Experience in an underwriting environment, bordereaux handling, claims reporting or underwriting administration is desirable.
• Knowledge of Lloyd’s market processes, delegated authority frameworks or progress toward industry qualifications such as CII is preferred.

At Sompo, we recognize that the talent, skills, and commitment of our employees drive our success. This is why we offer competitive, high-quality compensation and benefit programs to eligible employees.

Our compensation program is built on a foundation that promotes a pay-for-performance culture, resulting in higher incentive awards, on average, when the Company does well and lower incentive awards when the Company underperforms.  The total compensation opportunity for all regular, full-time employees is a combination of base salary and incentives that gets adjusted upfront based on overall Company performance with final awards based on individual performance.

We continuously evaluate and update our benefit programs to ensure that our plans remain competitive and meet the needs of our employees and their dependents. 

Below is a summary of some of the benefits we offer, which may vary depending on the country:

• Health & Wellness Benefits
• Retirement & Savings Plans
• Global Parental Leave & Adoption Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement & Professional Qualification benefits

Who we are and what we stand for:

At Sompo, our shared purpose is to create meaningful value for clients, communities, and each other. We strive to foster a workplace where everyone feels respected, included, and empowered to excel. As a global organization, we embrace diversity and champion equal opportunity. Guided by our core values—Accountability, Agility, Collaboration, Development, and Integrity—we build trust and support one another to achieve our goals worldwide.

Life at Sompo | Sompo

Our values come to life in how we hire and grow talent. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and organizational need, and we strive to ensure equitable access to opportunities so everyone can do their best work. If you need an accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact the recruiter in charge.