Full-Time

Senior Schemes Underwriter

Posted on 11/23/2025

Hiscox

Hiscox

1,001-5,000 employees

Specialized insurer for high-net-worth risks.

No salary listed

London, UK + 1 more

More locations: Ipswich, UK

In Person

Category
Finance & Banking (1)
Requirements
  • The candidate must be able to make confident decisions in difficult and complex situations.
  • The candidate should have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently in a collaborative environment.
  • The candidate must have previous underwriting experience specifically relating to schemes covering Property, Public Liability and Employers Liability.
  • The candidate must be able to act as a sector expert within the Property and Contractors sub-sector.
  • ACII qualification or progression towards ACII is preferred but not essential.
  • The candidate should be comfortable analysing, making and executing underwriting recommendations on portfolios of business.
  • The candidate must be able to demonstrate influencing and negotiation skills.
  • The candidate must be able to open to new ideas, innovation and educated risk taking.
Responsibilities
  • Delivering exceptional service to our brokers, dealing with referrals and writing more complex business.
  • In conjunction with Sector lead and schemes underwriting team responsible and accountable for the profitable growth of schemes.
  • Challenge convention on a regular basis, able to suggest and execute effective growth and portfolio underwriting strategies to ensure sustained profitable growth.
  • Keep abreast of new risks and exposures within our chosen sectors to ensure Hiscox market leading position is maintained.
  • Working with the Sector lead to help develop new products and propositions and maximise the opportunity within our current/future portfolios of business.
  • As a senior member of the team take an active role in mentoring and developing more junior members of the team.
  • Working with the Sector lead around shaping and driving the underlying underwriting strategy and portfolio of business to deliver our ambitions.
  • Taking underwriting ownership, relationship management and accountability for some of our key strategic broker partners.
  • Operating within the Property and Contractors sub-sector.

Hiscox is a specialized insurer that focuses on high-net-worth individuals and complex, niche risks (including fine art, kidnapping, and other unconventional coverages). It underwrites and issues insurance policies through its global operations, built on Lloyd's heritage and expanded after re-domiciling to Bermuda to operate in 13 countries. Its products work by assessing and underwriting tailored insurance contracts for specific, often hard-to-place risks, with coverage and claims handling aligned to the insured’s needs. The company differentiates itself from competitors by concentrating on specialized, hard-to-place risks rather than mass-market insurance, maintaining independence, and leveraging deep underwriting expertise and a global footprint. Its goal is to grow as a focused, independent specialist insurer that serves ambitious clients worldwide and expands its geographic reach and capabilities.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

London, United Kingdom

Founded

1901

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Attracted $1B ILS capital in Q1 2026, growing AUM to $2.4B in catastrophe bonds.
  • Retail premiums rose 10.2% to £1.7B in Q1 2026, driven by 8% US and UK growth.
  • Acquires US insurtech Vouch and launches Cargo API on June 30, 2025 for digital underwriting.

What critics are saying

  • Softening cat reinsurance rates cut net premiums 5.6% in Q1 2026, eroding Hiscox Re margins.
  • Pen-Zurich-Hiscox partnership floods UK non-standard home capacity, slashing quirky property premiums.
  • Vouch acquisition triggers regulatory delays and integration failures within 3-6 months.

What makes Hiscox unique

  • Hiscox specializes in insuring complex risks like fine art and kidnapping since 1970s.
  • Roots in Lloyd's of London since 1901 enable underwriting non-standard marine and specialty lines.
  • Focuses on high-net-worth quirky UK homes via April 2026 Pen-Zurich partnership.

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Benefits

Flexible Work Hours

Hybrid Work Options

Company News

Yahoo Finance
Feb 25th, 2026
Hiscox posts record profit of $733M as retail segment drives growth with 7.5% customer increase

Hiscox reported record profitability for 2025, with group insurance contract written premiums rising 5.9% to $275 million year-on-year. The insurer's undiscounted combined ratio improved to 87.8%, its best in a decade, driving a record insurance service result of $614 million. Profit before tax reached a record $733 million, up 6.9%, whilst operating return on tangible equity stood at 20.9%. Investment results hit $443 million, supported by strong yields and higher assets under management. Retail premiums grew 6.3% in constant currency to over $2.6 billion, driven by 7.5% customer growth rather than pricing. The London Market returned to growth with premiums up 1.6%, maintaining its undiscounted combined ratio in the 80s for the sixth consecutive year. Management emphasised underwriting discipline and product innovation across the diversified portfolio.

Hiscox
Aug 14th, 2025
Hiscox appoints new Group Head of Technical Claims

London, UK (14 August 2025): Leading global specialist insurer, Hiscox, today announces the appointment of Matthew Budd to the newly created role of Group Head of Technical Claims.

Insurance Journal
Aug 6th, 2025
Hiscox Agrees to Acquire US Specialist Insurtech

As part of the transaction, Hiscox is acquiring Corix Insurance Services LLC and Vouch Insurance Company from Vouch Inc. subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.

Hiscox
Jun 30th, 2025
Hiscox launches Cargo API for small cargo and stock throughput risks

London, UK (30 June 2025): Leading global specialist insurer, Hiscox, has launched a new Cargo API (application programming interface) based solution, available through broker partners for underwriting small cargo and stock throughput risks.

Reinsurance News
Jun 16th, 2025
Hiscox appoints Harriet Hanna as COO of Lloyd's managing agent HSL

Based in London and reporting to Hiscox London Market CEO Kate Markham, Hanna succeeds Adam Rushin, who is retiring after more than 25 years of distinguished service with Hiscox.

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