Account Manager - Group Benefits

The next part of your journey is right around the corner — with The Standard. A genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of others is the foundation for everything we do. With a customer-first mindset and an intentional focus on building strong teams, we’ve been able to uphold our legacy of financial stability while investing in new, innovative technologies that support the needs of our customers. Our high-performance culture focused on operational excellence thrives thanks to remarkable people united by compassion and a customer-first commitment.

About the role

As the primary point of contact for key policyholders and producers, you’ll build strong relationships through regular site visits, proactive communication, and skilled negotiation. Assigned groups will include cases with 500-4999 lives. You will act as the bridge between clients and the home office, tackle concerns, drive improvements, and resolve issues efficiently. Before each renewal, you’ll meet face-to-face with clients to review claims and contracts, recommend changes, and steer the amendment process. Collaborating with sales and underwriting, you’ll craft tailored renewal strategies, negotiate rates, and identify opportunities to boost profitability and retention. You’ll promote additional coverage options, manage proposal reviews and presentations, and lead the acquisition and setup of large accounts. From facilitating enrollment and benefit fairs to mentoring your team, you’ll make an impact at every step.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage effective primary relationships with key policyholders and producers through frequent on-site visits, professional negotiation, responsive communication, problem resolution, and meeting customer expectations.
• Work with clients to understand their concerns and needs and act as liaison between home office departments and the customers to initiate plan improvements and resolve administrative inconsistencies.
• Prior to each renewal, organize a face-to-face visit with key identified clients to present an analysis of claims experience and/or review the adequacy of the contract to recommend coverage or contractual changes to appropriately affect their experience and/or rates.
• When changes are requested, manage the amendment process for assigned accounts.
• In partnership with the assigned sales rep and underwriter, monitor renewal activity and prepare to present renewals with a customized strategy to retain the account.
• In preparation, gather underwriting data, review claims experience, review the recommended renewal action, and prepare a summary justifying the renewal and recommending changes if appropriate.
• Incorporate information gathered from the pre-renewal visit with the policyholder or broker.
• Negotiate rates, contract provisions, and administrative issues with Regional or National Accounts.
• Identify and promote the sale of additional lines of coverage or plan improvements on assigned block of business whenever possible.
• Request and review in-force proposal requests, providing all appropriate information to Regional or National Accounts, and present or assist in the presentation of the proposal to the broker and/or policyholder.
• Be actively involved with the sales rep and/or National Accounts Consultant in the acquisition, submission, and implementation of National Accounts cases and Regional Accounts cases over 500 lives.
• Lead and coordinate the submission, set up, and installation of assigned new groups with the policyholder, producer, and home office.
• Provide similar support to new administrators at assigned in-force accounts.
• Facilitate the enrollment process, which may involve preparation of enrollment materials, conducting enrollment meetings, or being present at benefit fairs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• 5+ years of experience in group insurance account management in the 2500+ lives space.
• Life and Disability insurance license for all states within the office’s assigned territory.
• Personal automobile available for business use with adequate insurance and a safe driving record.
• Ability to travel within territory for face-to-face client and broker meetings when requested.
• Living in the Houston, TX area is a requirement of the role.

Key Behaviors

• Winning Together: Actively engages colleagues to achieve shared outcomes by developing trust, inviting diverse perspectives, and pushing to bring the best ideas forward.
• Customer Focus: Understands and anticipates both internal and external customer needs and develops customer-inspired solutions that exceed expectations.
• Adaptability: Sees possibilities in changing circumstances, accepts and understands change, and alters behavior as necessary.

Benefits

• A rich benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and a 401(k) plan with matching company contributions.
• An annual incentive bonus plan.
• Generous paid time off including 11 holidays, 2 wellness days, and 8 volunteer hours annually — PTO increases with tenure.
• A supportive, responsive management approach and opportunities for career growth and advancement.
• Paid parental leave and adoption/surrogacy assistance.
• An employee giving program that double matches your donations to eligible nonprofits and schools.

Pay

Base Salary $76,250 - $129,750 + Incentive Compensation Plan. The actual compensation for this role will be based on a combination of education and experience, knowledge and skills, position budget, internal equity, and market data.