Head of Underwriting SME Intermediary

AXA is a global leader in insurance and financial services, dedicated to helping customers protect what matters most to them. As the sixth-largest insurance company in the world, we provide a wide range of services, including health, car, home, and business insurance. We support millions of customers worldwide, helping them navigate life's uncertainties with confidence.

AXA Commercial protects businesses, from multinationals to micro start-ups, giving them the confidence to thrive.

We're looking for a dynamic and strategic Head of SME Underwriting to lead and oversee the underwriting function within our Intermediated SME segment, encompassing both traded and digital channels. In this role, you'll drive the nationwide deployment of our SME Commercial Lines strategy, focusing on delivering profitable growth through the application of innovative underwriting and pricing strategies, policies, and technical excellence. Reporting directly to the Director of SME and Financial Lines, you'll be responsible for managing a significant portfolio of GWP, analysing performance trends, and ensuring the effective implementation and governance of central initiatives to achieve our profit and income targets.

• Drive the SME digital underwriting agenda, with a Retail mindset and agility, but with a deep appreciation of Commercial insurance.
• Accountable for the underwriting approach, strategy, and profitability of all SME business traded through the nationally.
• Ensure delivery of planned underwriting results through financial planning, account monitoring, and analysis of underwriting trends.
• Oversee underwriting governance and control for the SME portfolio to maintain risk management standards.
• Demonstrate loss ratio control by effectively implementing and monitoring underwriting controls.
• Collaborate with UPP (Underwriting, Pricing and Portfolio) to develop and influence underwriting philosophy and strategy to achieve financial objectives.
• Develop and implement digital underwriting strategies and the move from manually traded.
• Set and monitor underwriting standards and governance controls across the SME portfolio, ensuring effective management, deployment of empowerment, and technical excellence.

At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team and our customers. You'll work at least two days a week (40%) away from home, moving to three days a week (60%) in the future. Away from home means attending the office, visiting clients or attending industry events. Regular travel is required as part of this role and a car allowance of £6,700 is included as part of the benefits package.

• Previous experience of working at a senior level within a Commercial or Retail insurance environment with a sound understanding of insurance market and processes is essential.
• People and resource management skills with previous experience and ability to lead and motivate underwriting teams.
• Excellent relationship management skills and experience of building successful long-term relationships both internally and externally.
• Ability to create and maintain an open and honest culture which drives engagement, development and opportunity for all employees.
• Pragmatic decision maker with good analytical and numerical reasoning skills.
• Experience with matrix management environment.
• ACII qualification is desirable.

As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom.

This position has been defined as an Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) role under the IDD regime which means that in addition to pre-employment screening checks, the successful candidate will be subject to background screening every 4 years with an annual declaration in interim years.

To apply, click on the 'apply now' button, you'll then need to log in or create a profile to submit your CV. We're proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and don't discriminate against employees or potential employees based on protected characteristics. If you have a long-term condition or disability and require adjustments during the application or interview process, we're proud to offer access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge. For our support, please send an email to .

We encourage you to apply for this opportunity as soon as possible, as we may close this advert earlier than the listed closing date.