Underwriting Specialist (Underwriting Hub)

CNA

Chicago, Illinois

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Analysis Skills, Brokerage, Business Growth, Coaching, Communication Skills, Industry/Trade Analysis, Insurance, Insurance Regulations, Insurance Underwriting, Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Mentoring, Microsoft Office, Negotiation Skills, Process Development, Profit & Loss, Regulations, Reporting Skills, Risk, Team Building, Team Player, Underwriting
LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois
POSTED
30+ days ago

You have a clear vision of where your career can go. And we have the leadership to help you get there. At CNA, we strive to create a culture in which people know they matter and are part of something important, ensuring the abilities of all employees are used to their fullest potential. 

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Under technical direction, responsible for underwriting risks in a book of business. Works within specific limits of authority on assignments requiring significant technical complexity and coordination. Utilizes underwriting policies and guidelines, rating manual rules and insurance laws and regulations. 
 
This Underwriting Specialist position is part of the Underwriting Hub—a growing team designed to provide expanded underwriting capabilities for the organization. We will elevate underwriting excellence through streamlined processes, strategic focus, and collaborative growth that enables our field underwriting teams to deepen agent and broker engagement and drive new business growth. If you're ready to stretch your skills and grow your career, we’d love to meet you.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Performs a combination of duties in accordance with departmental guidelines:

1.    Reviews applications and financial requirements for risks requiring complex underwriting skills. Determines acceptability of risk in accordance with company guidelines and standards. Also, determines the need for additional evidence of insurability and appropriate strategy.

2.    Determines appropriate pricing based on financial and competitive analysis in line with compliance requirements.

3.    Prepares quotes and answers questions from agencies, policyholders or other external contacts and escalates issues to management along with proposed solutions as necessary.  Negotiates with agents to reach positive and profitable outcomes.

4.    Notifies agencies of adverse underwriting decisions, rate appeals, underwriting requirements, status and declinations.

5.    Analyzes quality, quantity, and profitability of risks underwritten and prepares reports for management review.

6.    Mentors and guides less experienced underwriters and underwriting associates and assists in the development of underwriting training.

7.    Keeps current on state/territory issues and regulations, industry activity and trends and freely shares information with others.

8.    Utilizes advanced functionality in relevant CNA systems to perform day-to-day activities.

9.    Works with more senior underwriters or management on risks exceeding authority level or requiring special handling.


Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
1.    Advanced knowledge of underwriting and insurance industry theories and practices. 

2.    Demonstrated high level of technical expertise and product specific knowledge. 

3.    Strong interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills. Ability to effectively interact with all levels of CNA's internal and external business partners.  

4.    Ability to work independently. 

5.    Strong analytical and problem solving skills.  

6.    Ability to exercise independent judgment and to make critical business decisions effectively. 

7.    Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite as well as other business-related software. 

8.    Demonstrated leadership skills.

9.    Proven ability to support and coach underwriting team members, contributing to team development and underwriting quality.

Education & Experience
1.    Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. Professional designations preferred. 

2.    Typically a minimum three to five years underwriting experience. 

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In certain jurisdictions, CNA is legally required to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. In District of Columbia,California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois,Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Washington,the national base pay range for this job level is $72,000 to $141,000 annually. Salary determinations are based on various factors, including but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and location. CNA offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to help our employees – and their family members – achieve their physical, financial, emotional and social wellbeing goals.  For a detailed look at CNA’s benefits, please visit cnabenefits.com.

CNA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact 

leaveadministration@cna.com

.

About the Company

C

CNA

CNA's approach to research is a modern iteration of the Newtonian principle that complex, dynamic processes are best understood through direct observation of events and people. That was the methodology CNA analysts first applied in the 1940s when they pioneered the field of operations research by helping the Navy address the German U-boat threat. Not content to study the problem from afar, this small group of MIT scientists insisted on deploying with Navy forces in order to observe operations and collect the data needed for meaningful analyses. Their groundbreaking work, and the anti-submarine warfare equations it produced, set a standard for operations research methods that CNA has maintained for 75 years. Today, with more than 500 professionals at our headquarters and 50 researchers in the field, CNA still takes a multi-disciplinary, real-world approach to our work. On-site analysts carefully observe all aspects of a process—people, decisions, actions, consequences—and then collaborate with a headquarters-based research team to assess data and arrive at findings. CNA's objective, empirical research and analysis helps decision makers develop sound policies, make better-informed decisions, and manage programs more effectively. Our work, which in its early decades focused solely on defense-related matters, has grown to include investigation and analysis of a broad range of national security, defense, and public interest issues including education, homeland security and air traffic management. Through our Center for Naval Analyses and Institute for Public Research, we provide public-sector organizations with the tools they need to tackle the complex challenges of making government more efficient and keeping our country safe and strong.
COMPANY SIZE
100 to 499 employees
INDUSTRY
Other/Not Classified
FOUNDED
1940
WEBSITE
https://www.cna.org/