Commercial Underwriting Manager

Commercial Underwriting Manager

Salary: Up to £100,000

Location: London

Sector: Commercial Insurance - Property & Casualty

Purpose of Role

A leading London-market MGA is seeking an experienced Commercial Underwriting Manager to lead and develop their Property & Casualty underwriting function. This is a senior leadership role responsible for driving profitability, maintaining underwriting discipline, and mentoring a team of underwriters across a broad commercial book of business.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the commercial P&C underwriting portfolio, ensuring profitability and growth targets are met.
• Set and enforce underwriting guidelines, risk appetite, and pricing frameworks in line with business strategy.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of underwriters, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Build and maintain strong broker relationships to drive new business and retain existing accounts.
• Collaborate with actuarial, claims, and finance teams to deliver data-driven underwriting decisions.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity, adapting strategies to maintain a competitive edge.
• Report underwriting performance to senior leadership, providing insight and recommendations.

Day-to-Day

• Review, assess, and sign off on complex and high-value commercial risks within delegated authority.
• Conduct portfolio reviews and contribute to quarterly business planning cycles.
• Attend broker meetings and market events to maintain and develop new business pipelines.
• Provide technical guidance and referral support to junior underwriters.
• Oversee adherence to regulatory requirements and internal compliance frameworks.

Experience

• 5-8 years of commercial underwriting experience, with at least 2 years in a managerial or lead capacity.
• Demonstrable expertise across Property & Casualty commercial lines.
• Proven track record of managing profitable books of business within a London market or Lloyd's environment.
• Experience working with brokers and managing key account relationships.
• Background in portfolio management, pricing strategy, and risk analysis.

Skills

• Strong technical underwriting knowledge across commercial P&C product lines.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills with the ability to develop talent.
• Commercially astute with strong negotiation and relationship-building abilities.
• Analytical mindset with proficiency in using data and MI to inform underwriting decisions.
• Effective communicator at all levels, from underwriting teams to senior stakeholders.
• ACII qualified or working towards qualification (preferred).