Underwriting Governance Manager

About us

Avencia Consulting are recruiting on behalf of a well know Insurer based in the City who have a newly created role for an Underwriting Governance Manager to join their London office!

This is an excellent opportunity for a Governance, Risk or Compliance professional to work closely with senior leadership on building out a new underwriting governance framework and a wider team.

The role

The Underwriting Governance Manager is responsible for ensuring that underwriting across the MGA’s operates within a disciplined, well-controlled framework. Leading a small team, you will provide oversight and challenge to underwriters while embedding effective internal controls that support the business’s commercial ambitions, satisfy capacity provider requirements, and meet regulatory standards. The role demands both hands-on delivery and the ability to influence, working closely with senior underwriters and other control functions in a collaborative, fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment.

Key accountabilities

Governance & Oversight

• Develop, implement, maintain and oversee the underwriting governance frameworks for each of the MGA’s.
• Ensure that all underwriting authorities are reviewed on an annual basis.
• Develop, implement and coordinate the risk appetite and allocation process across all capacity providers, ensuring that an accurate record of the current agreed risk appetite of all capacity providers, and verifying that all risks are underwritten in line with the risk appetite of the capacity provider
• Provide oversight and challenge of the quarterly EPI review process
• Conduct file reviews, thematic audits, and quality assurance activities across all lines of business, providing actionable feedback.
• Support the Head of UW Governance, the COO and the CEOs/CUOs of each of the cells in aligning the business plans of the MGA’s with governance requirements and the risk appetites of capacity providers.

Internal Controls

• Design and maintain underwriting-related internal controls within the Pine Walk cells, ensuring effective monitoring and assurance across delegated authority and binder arrangements.
• Partner with Actuarial, Operations, Finance, Compliance, and Risk to ensure controls are aligned across the business and embedded into operational processes and systems.
• Contribute to the Internal Controls Framework and ensure underwriting governance is integrated into the wider risk and control environment.

Monitoring & Reporting

• Produce insightful MI and governance reporting for senior management.
• Design and embed process improvements to enhance data quality for Underwriting Governance and Excellence, resolving any operational report issues.
• Escalate issues, breaches, and emerging risks promptly, offering pragmatic recommendations and tracking resolution.
• Maintain oversight of action plans arising from governance reviews, audits, or internal control assessments.

Policy & Training

• Develop, implement and maintain underwriting policies, procedures, and guidelines to reflect evolving business models, the requirements of our capacity providers, and market best practice.
• Deliver targeted training and workshops for underwriting teams to embed governance expectations and improve underwriting discipline.
• Contribute to the development of underwriting system controls and digital tools.

Team Leadership

• Manage, coach, and assist in the development of a small team, setting clear objectives and fostering accountability.
• Encourage knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
• Balance task oversight with hands-on involvement in high-priority governance reviews and control projects.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a trusted partner to underwriting teams, helping them navigate governance requirements without stifling innovation or commercial execution.
• Build strong relationships with our partners, including our capacity providers, Lloyd’s, and regulators, representing in governance discussions and audits.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders.

Skills & experience

• ACII (or significant progress towards) preferred.
• Strong knowledge of specialty insurance classes and delegated authority arrangements.
• Minimum of 10-15 years’ experience in underwriting governance, delegated authority oversight, quality assurance or internal control within the Lloyd’s or London Market.
• Excellent organisational skills with proven ability to manage a high volume of disparate tasks and projects.
• Ability to balance governance and commercial priorities in a dynamic, entrepreneurial MGA environment.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills across underwriters, capacity providers and other departments within TFP, together with strong interpersonal skills in order to work effectively and professionally with diverse groups at all levels across the business.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to manage difficult conversations.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into clear insights and recommendations, then implementing action to resolve these issues within tight deadlines.
• Track record of managing and developing people in a governance, risk, or control function.
• Demonstrable experience of working in fast paced environments with the ability to problem solve and react quickly to changing priorities.