Assistant Underwriting Manager job in Nairobi at AAR Insurance

Overall Purpose of the Job

Reporting to the Head of Reinsurance and Technical Services, the Assistant Underwriting Manager will be responsible for assisting in overseeing and managing the underwriting function to support the delivery of profitable growth in the General Insurance business.

Assistant Underwriting Manager job Responsibilities

• Ensure risks accepted are within the set underwriting guidelines and supported by the applicable reinsurance arrangements.
• Vet and approve risks to ensure alignment with the company’s profitability objectives and risk appetite.
• Review and approve policy schedules and underwriting documentation within delegated authority levels.
• Oversee business onboarding, risk surveys, valuations, policy issuance, cancellations, endorsements, refunds and related processes.
• Ensure underwriting decisions and processes comply with regulatory and internal policies, including authority limits and reinsurance requirements.
• Prepare and submit monthly underwriting returns to the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA).
• Coordinate with the reinsurance unit for all facultative placements and treaty coverage matters.
• Support product development and innovation initiatives in line with market trends and emerging customer needs.
• Assist in pricing of risks and preparation of quotations.
• Continually review the performance of products and provide technical insights for enhancements.
• Participate in reviewing and updating underwriting manuals, SOPs, and business rules to align with changing business needs.
• Drive the implementation and optimization of underwriting systems and ICT projects to improve process efficiency and service delivery.
• Respond to operational and client queries to ensure prompt resolution and excellent customer experience.
• Support the marketing and sales teams with technical input to acquire and retain profitable business.
• Maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders including brokers, agents and clients.
• Monitor and audit compliance with underwriting policies, reinsurance protocols, documentation standards and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain updated records on compliance, risk events and mitigation actions in the enterprise risk management system.
• Enforce 100% compliance with regulatory and internal control requirements.
• Lead, train, coach and mentor the underwriting team to build technical capability and high-performance culture.
• Identify skills gaps and coordinate appropriate technical and process training.

 Education, Experience & Competencies

• Bachelor’s Degree in Insurance, Actuarial Science, Business, or a related field.
• Professional qualification in Insurance (ACII, AIIK) – completed or at an advanced stage.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in general insurance underwriting with demonstrated experience in technical underwriting, product knowledge and team leadership.
• Strong technical underwriting skills with a solid understanding of general insurance products and reinsurance structures.
• In-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements and compliance frameworks.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong leadership, team management, and interpersonal skills.
• Customer-focused with excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Proficient in underwriting systems and Microsoft Office (especially Excel).
• Proven ability to implement and manage underwriting-related ICT projects.