Associate Underwriter - Small Business

About the role

JOB OBJECTIVE: The Associate Underwriter within designated authority utilizes basic underwriting techniques to evaluate and price new business and renewal applications in order to determine acceptability in accordance with corporate guidelines and standards. The Associate Underwriter will also accurately enter policy information, process endorsements, audits and other policy transactions and refer them to a staff member with a higher authority level when appropriate. This position’s objective is to support the team goals of writing profitable new business and retaining profitable renewals while ensuring excellent customer service.

Encova is only able to employ associates who reside and work within specific U.S. states. Our current footprint includes: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine selection, evaluation, and pricing of all assigned risks, following established procedures, for policies for all lines of commercial insurance. This includes the processing of new business, revisions, renewals and select reinsurance quoting.
• Review basic new and renewal business requests and determine acceptability, using appropriate Encova, state specific and industry rules, policies, procedures, guidelines, etc.
• Perform new business set-up and rating, including obtaining additional information needed to develop a new business quote and/or proposal.
• Issue and assemble policies.
• Effectively utilizes industry rules and guidance to ensure proper policy construction.
• Process endorsements, cancellations, declinations, and reissues of policies, following appropriate rules, policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Field routine agency service requests, referring more complex issues to the team’s mentoring underwriter and/or Regional Vice President.
• Ensure accurate and timely servicing of accounts.
• Maintain user knowledge of internal systems and any available rating programs.
• Successfully complete transactions such as supplemental underwriting reports, MVRs, financials, surveys, agency transfers, statement of values, and driver list follow-ups within assigned authority and refer risks to commercial underwriter that do not meet guidelines.
• May assist in training others.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required.
• Two years’ experience in a professional business or insurance environment preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university is preferred and may substitute for experience.
• Preference may be shown to applicants who have previous commercial lines underwriting experience.

Skills

• Critical thinking: Ability to assess an individual situation and select applicable alternatives from an array of options, resulting in the most appropriate and sustainable decision.
• Working knowledge of the state specific underwriting laws and rules and their application to the book of business.
• Working knowledge of underwriting principles and practices, risk selection and classification.
• Working knowledge of the operational policies and procedures.
• Ability to multi-task several assignments simultaneously while meeting established guidelines.
• Results-oriented with strong decision-making, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a team environment.
• Ability to adjust priorities based on changing situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others to achieve objectives.
• Proficient in Excel.

Benefits

• Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Company-prov