Insurance Underwriter Career guide

The main role of an underwriter is to analyze. They take into account numerous factors, which they synthesize in order to assess the actual risks involved, without exaggerating or minimizing the dangers.

This professional therefore has several tasks, including:

• Listening carefully to customers and analysing their needs;
• Assessing and anticipating the risks of a contract;
• Determining and indicating the level of risk accepted by the insurance company;
• Defining the specific terms and conditions of contracts based on each customer’s profile;
• Setting the amount of premiums to be paid by the insured;
• Monitoring each signed contract;
• Calling on experts in case of doubt about the assessment of a risk (claims expert, health expert, etc.).

Employed by an insurance company, underwriters generally specialize in a specific sector: 

• personal insurance (health, life and accident insurance), 
• property insurance (motor, home and valuables insurance), or 
• business insurance (civil liability, property damage, industrial risks, transport, etc.).

The clients whose files they handle may be individuals or businesses.

Underwriters spend most of their time working in an office, although they are sometimes required to travel to meet with clients.

The natural career progression for an underwriter is to become a specialist. Over the years, they can specialize in a specific sector: civil liability, large companies, international risks, etc.
If they wish, they can also move into the field of reinsurance.

The experience accumulated by a senior underwriter enables them to become a risk manager. They are then responsible for assessing the vulnerability and financial risks incurred by the organisation for which they work.

Underwriters can move into the position of internal auditor within an insurance organisation. Their role is to audit the procedures put in place to ensure compliance and detect any potential risks.

Finally, their skills in both finance and risk management enable them to become a sales inspector. The latter is responsible for the commercial management of the company: commercial strategy, deployment, team coordination, monitoring and improvement.