Vice President, Claims

Essential Functions and Basic Duties

• Manage highly complex Transactional Liability claims, including primary and excess buyer and seller side Representations & Warranties and Tax claims.
• Oversee all aspects of claim handling, including coverage analysis, investigation management, settlement strategy, etc.
• Serve as a key point of contact among insureds, brokers, outside counsel, carrier partners, tax advisors, forensic accountants and other experts.
• Develop and enhance Ethos's claims handling processes and delegated claims authority framework.
• Manage a portfolio of claims from inception through final disposition.
• Review and analyze policy coverage, transaction documentation, disclosure materials, diligence reports, tax memoranda and other relevant materials.
• Conduct and direct claim investigations and develop appropriate strategies for claim resolution.
• Assess liability, damages, loss calculations and coverage issues.
• Prepare and issue coverage correspondence, including reservation of rights letters, information requests, coverage position letters and settlement communications.
• Communicate regularly with insureds and carrier partners regarding coverage, liability, damages and other key issues.
• Support renewal and new-business conversations on claims service with distribution and broking teams.
• Develop and implement claims handling procedures, workflows and best practices, including retaining and managing outside counsel and other advisors.
• Build and maintain a panel of approved coverage counsel, forensic accountants, and industry-specific experts.
• Build and maintain claims data infrastructure, including loss triangles, frequency/severity trends by industry vertical, and policy form/endorsement performance.
• Prepare large loss reports, watchlist summaries, reserve analyses and quarterly claims presentations.
• Partner with underwriting teams to identify claim trends, recurring loss drivers and emerging risks.
• Provide structured feedback to underwriting and product teams on policy wording, exclusions, and endorsements based on claims experience.
• Ensure claims handling practices comply with applicable state and jurisdictional claims-handling regulations, including unfair claims practices requirements.
• Build and lead a claims team, including hiring, training, and delegated authority oversight.

Experience and Skills Required

• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong understanding of mergers and acquisitions, transaction documentation and transactional liability insurance products.
• Ability to comprehend financial statements, appraisals, tax memoranda and opinions, tax diligence reports and other relevant legal documents.
• Minimum of 5-7 years experience in Transactional Liability insurance claims or claims examiner or related litigation in a law firm setting.
• MGA/MGU experience a plus.
• Experience managing outside counsel and expert advisors.
• Familiarity with reserve management, claims reporting and delegated authority environments.