Contract Surety Bonds Underwriting Manager - Pacific Northwest

Be Here. Be Great. Working for a leader in the insurance industry means opportunity for you. Great American Insurance Group's member companies are subsidiaries of American Financial Group. We combine a "small company" culture where your ideas will be heard with "big company" expertise to help you succeed. With over 30 specialty and property and casualty operations, there are always opportunities here to learn and grow.

At Great American, we value diversity and recognize the benefits gained when people from different cultures, backgrounds and experiences work collaboratively to achieve business results. We are intentionally focused on fostering an inclusive culture and know valuing diversity is an essential leadership quality. Our goal is to create a workplace where all employees feel included, empowered and enabled to perform at their best.

• Great American's Bond Division has been underwriting surety and fidelity bonds for over 90 years. Great American is known for expert underwriting, solid financial strength, market leadership and creative solutions to all bonding needs. With a highly diverse product line, Great American is one of the top surety companies in the United States. This job will be focused in the Pacific Northwest territory and will be able to work remotely.

  Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

  • Has responsibility for low to moderately complex risk selection/rejection, pricing, retention, growth, and profitability within scope of authority and per divisional objectives.
    • Uses independent judgment and initiative to support business goals.
    • Maintains a high level of customer service.
    • Receives and analyzes submissions and determines terms to offer (policy limits, credit limits, deductibles, coverage options and conditions, work programs, etc.).
    • Prices business in accordance with company guidelines.
    • May conduct investigations of new and existing accounts through business owners (banks, owners, creditors, debtors, architects, engineers, criminal record checks, on-site visits, etc.).
    • Assesses risk quality and compliance within company guidelines.
    • Orders and analyzes miscellaneous business reports needed in the rating and underwriting processes, including credit checks, bank agreements, financial statements, and underwriting surveys.
    • Makes recommendations on risks over authority.
    • Enters, maintains and monitors accounts using underwriting, analysis, and desktop systems.
    • Prepares effective internal and external communications on underwriting issues.
  • Develops and maintains effective business relationships with internal and external customers/coworkers in order to attract and retain profitable business.
  • Visits producers and principals in order to retain existing accounts, build and maintain business relationships, and develop new opportunities in support of divisional objectives.
    • Interprets, explains, and markets products and services.
    • Visits producers/insureds in order to retain existing accounts, survey exposures, build and maintain business relationships, and develop new opportunities in support of divisional objectives.
  • Applies underwriting rules and guidelines, rating manual rules, and insurance laws and regulations. 
  • May provide guidance and assistance to lower level associates.
  • May have responsibility for performance and coaching of staff and may have a participatory role in decisions regarding talent selection, development, and performance management for direct reports.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

  Job Requirements

  • Education: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience.  Master's in Business Administration (MBA) preferred but not required.
  • Field of Study: Finance, Accounting or a related discipline
  • Experience: Generally looking for 6+ years of related experience.  Progression toward certification in area of expertise preferred; appropriate certifications could include Associate in Surety and Fidelity Bonding (AFSB), Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and/or Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU).

• Additional Job Description

  Scope of Job: Typically manages 2 or more reports. Implements policies, procedures, and strategies under the direction of management.  Relies on experience and judgment to accomplish goals.

Business Unit:

Bond

Salary Range:

$175,000.00 -$225,000.00

Benefits:

The wage range for this job is based on role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay takes into account a variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skills, education, training, licensure and certifications, experience of the candidate, the role's scope, complexity, and other business and organizational needs. In addition to the base compensation, we offer a competitive Total Rewards package, which includes but is not limited to medical, dental, vision, paid time off, and 401(k) plan for full-time and part-time employees who are eligible for benefits.

Your recruiter may be able to tell you more about our total rewards offerings and the specific wage range for the relevant location(s) during the hiring process.