Sunday, January 13, 2013

African Trade Insurance Agency Underwriting Job in Kenya


Underwriter

The underwriter manages client relationships with a view to underwrite and close insurance contracts.

Core tasks

    * He/ she manages the general relationship with existing or new contacts that are initiated either by himself/herself or by other colleagues. For strategic accounts he/she establishes a strategy for the management of the relationship and follows it up on a regular basis. The Underwriter makes all necessary initiatives to generate an interest in ATI’s products and inquiries that can lead to commercial proposals
    * He/she generates insurance inquiries, makes insurance proposals (“non binding indications”) and follows up with the management, team members and clients until a pricing and structure is found that meets the expectations of all parties involved
    * He/ she prepares the final underwriting report that is approved by the management and further prepares the detailed instructions for the issuance of the policy

Additionally

    * He/she contributes to the development of new generic products
    * He/she reports on his/her performance on an ongoing basis through call reports, monthly underwriting reports and a regular update of the underwriting system
    * Depending on his/her geographical responsibility, he/she contributes to the regular update of economic country report and the collection of market intelligence
    * On request, he/she helps to assess threatening claims and to solve them on an amicable basis
    * On request, he/she contacts companies that are credit risks to ATI and he/she collects information that help to assess the credit risk better
    * He/she manages and extends the distribution network, including brokers, banks and other intermediaries
    * He/she represents ATI in workshops, conferences and other events to increase the visibility of ATI and the understanding of the markets
    * He/she gradually extends their understanding of ATI’s products gradually till they can sell and underwrite the full range (including whole turnover credit insurance, commercial risk – single obligor insurance, surety bonds and political risk insurance)
    * He/she gradually extends his/her understanding of the commercial and economic situation of all the member countries of ATI so that he/she can perform his/her tasks in each of them
    * He/she develops a network with local and international banks, brokers, underwriters and other players and becomes an accepted and respected partner to them Profile
    * An advanced University degree in Banking and Finance, Insurance, Law, Economics, Business Administration, or related area, or the equivalent through experience
    * Professional qualifications in banking or insurance such as CII would be an added advantage
    * Technical understanding and expertise in the respective products
    * Knowledge, understanding and hands on experience with political and credit risk insurance and the related products (whole turnover trade credit, surety bonds, insurance of commercial loans, single obligor insurance, political risk insurance)
    * A minimum of 5 years insurance experience; with at least 3 years’ experience spent working with contracts and insurance covering the stated products or experience with structured finance products, corporate finance, credit risk and/or credit management, preferable in banking.
    * International experience in ATI member States and/or countries of similar profile to ATI member States
    * Team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills
    * Fluency in written and spoken English, working knowledge of French is an added advantage
    * Excellent report writing skills

Education and Experience

    * An advanced university degree in insurance, banking, law, economics, business administration, or related area plus five years post-qualifying experience, or a first degree plus eight years post-qualifying experience
    * Professional qualifications in insurance or banking would be an added advantage
    * Technical understanding and expertise in the respective products
    * Working knowledge, understanding and hands on experience with Political or Trade/ Credit Risk insurance, and related products (whole turnover, trade credit, surety bonds, insurance of commercial loans, single obligor insurance and trade finance), Invoice Discounting and Factoring, Credit Management, etc.
    * International experience in ATI member states and/or countries of similar profile to ATI member states – ATI’s current member states are Benin, Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia

Key Competencies

    * Team player with excellent interpersonal and communications skills
    * Negotiation and strong presentation skills
    * Report writing
    * Fluency in written and spoken English, working knowledge of French is an added advantage
    * He/she will either be based in Nairobi at ATI’s head office or one of the field offices.

Salary Range

US$ 60,000 - 70,000 per annum (net of taxes) plus benefits. This is negotiable depending upon professional qualifications, family situation and experience of the candidate.

Besides the tax exempt basic salary, the position comes with diplomatic immunities and privileges as well as other benefits provided by similar organisations.

How to Apply:

    * Submit an application letter, curriculum vitae, details of your current remuneration package and three references to recruitment@ati-aca.org
    * Candidates must fill out ATI's Personal History Form. Click here http://www.ati-aca.org/siteadmin/editor/file/Personal%20History%20Form.XLS
    * The closing date for application is 14 February, 2013 at midnight GMT+3

Only candidates meeting the minimum requirements included in the detailed job-description and submitting applications in compliance with point 1 - 3 above will be considered.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ATI reserves the right not to make any appointment to the above vacancies, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.