Job Description

• To provide an effective and efficient service to clients by obtaining the correct medical and setting of underwriting requirements telephonically, that need to be referred to a Senior Underwriter for sign-off. Facilitation of such requirements related to new and existing business.
• The role requires you to perform assessment of life insurance applications based on medical occupation, avocation travel and financial information, ensuring adherence to underwriting guidelines.

Are you someone who can:

• Conduct tele interviews or tele-underwriting to assist applicants to complete their life insurance application for new policy or changes to an existing policy by asking prescribed questions about health and other information, accurately recording the responses in the administration system.
• Manage medical, occupation, part- time activities, travel & Financial Underwriting standard and substandard cases for: Disability and Critical Illness Underwriting, Income Protection, Business Cover, Group Risk, Alterations & Queries
• Ensure placement of cases according to reinsurance treaty and internal guidelines
• Liase with planners/ Business Development Manager on special terms, queries, presales and underwriting refreshers sessions with the front liners
• Ensure resolution of underwriting enquiries & cases
• Participate Chief Medical Officer sessions and other Underwriting training presentations (i.e, Case Studies, Sales training)
• Ensure Underwriting – medical queries and tasks allocated are resolved timely and effectively by providing first time resolution on enquiries.
• Ensure accurate completion of documentation as per departmental guidelines to meet client needs and effectively utilise IT systems to ensure accuracy of documentation.
• Ensure adherence to organisational best practice and legislative requirements. Adhere to policies and procedures and take corrective action where necessary.
• Ensure all risks to the company are mitigated, identified and escalated where necessary.
• Maintain product knowledge to respond to customer queries effectively and accurately.
• Stay abreast on industry regulations, trends and best practices in underwriting.
• Approve and countersign cases above the acceptance limits of the underwriter.
• Assess all applications not accepted by the online underwriting engine – initial applications, additional information and policy alterations.
• Provide fair and balanced underwriting decisions using the appropriate amount of evidence necessary

You will be an ideal candidate if you:

• Minimum: Grade 12 (NQF Level 4)
• Preferred qualification: Relevant undergraduate degree and Fit & Proper requirements for long term insurance category B1 for advice
• 3 – 5 Years of proven experience as an underwriter in the life insurance industry
• A proven working knowledge of Lump Sum Disability and Critical Illness, Income Protection, Business Cover and Group Risk
• Knowledge of insurance products, regulations, and underwriting guidelines and current practices
• Experience working with underwriting systems and tools
• Be competent in interpretation of doctors’ reports, medical results and risk – linked to abnormalities of these.
• Assessment of medical, financial & occupational underwriting risk of an organisation.
• Proven experience as an underwriter in the life insurance industry