Underwriting Associate Manager (Commercial Middle Market)

As an Underwriting Associate Manager at CNA, your primary responsibilities will include managing a team of Underwriting Associates across various geographies and lines of business. You will guide their work in executing the underwriting lifecycle, ensure compliance with underwriting policies and standards, and drive improvement in underwriting quality. Additionally, you'll be involved in training, coaching, and developing staff while collaborating with stakeholders to enhance operational efficiency.

To qualify for the Underwriting Associate Manager position at CNA, candidates should possess significant experience in underwriting, ideally in commercial middle market insurance. Strong leadership and management skills are essential, as you'll be overseeing a team. A solid understanding of underwriting principles, along with excellent analytical and communication skills, is crucial for success in this role.

CNA is highly committed to the professional development of its employees, including Underwriting Associate Managers. The company offers comprehensive training programs, mentorship opportunities, and resources for continuing education. You will also have opportunities to engage in industry groups and develop valuable business acumen to better support your team's growth and effectiveness.

Career progression for an Underwriting Associate Manager at CNA can lead to more senior management roles within underwriting or operations. Successful managers can transition to positions such as Underwriting Director or Regional Manager, where they can have a greater impact on company strategy and operations, shaping the future of underwriting practices within the organization.

The work culture for an Underwriting Associate Manager at CNA is collaborative and supportive, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and individual contributions. The company values employee engagement, continuously seeking to improve both the work environment and staff morale. With a focus on mutual respect and recognition, you’ll find a community that genuinely cares about your success and well-being.

During your response, showcase specific examples of how you have successfully managed underwriting processes in the past. Highlight key metrics of success, such as retention rates, profitability, or efficiency improvements you implemented. Mention your leadership style and how you foster collaboration within your team.

When answering, discuss your philosophy on employee development, focusing on onboarding, continuous learning, and providing constructive feedback. Provide examples of training programs you've implemented and the positive outcomes they produced in terms of team performance or engagement.

Discuss your process for effectively communicating policy changes to your team. Emphasize your approach to ensuring compliance while maintaining morale. Examples of past experiences where you navigated policy changes successfully can enhance your answer.

Offer insights into your systematic approach for enhancing underwriting quality, such as regular file reviews and continuous feedback loops. Discuss how you measure improvements and adjust strategies based on data-driven insights.

Share specific tools and techniques you use to facilitate collaboration across different locations, such as virtual meetings, collaborative platforms, and regular communication check-ins. Highlight the importance of inclusivity and team cohesion.

This is your opportunity to demonstrate your decision-making skills. Describe the situation, the challenges you faced, the options you considered, and the outcome of your decision, focusing on how it aligned with company goals and improved underwriting results.

Explain your methods for staying informed about the latest trends and regulatory changes. Highlight your commitment to professional development and involvement in relevant industry groups or continuing education courses.

Discuss specific metrics that you find valuable, such as retention rates, hit ratios, or turnaround times. Emphasize the importance of aligning team performance with organizational goals and how you provide feedback based on these metrics.

Detail your communication philosophy and how it fosters transparency and trust within your team. Use examples of successful changes or projects that benefited from open channels of communication.

Articulate your motivations for wanting to join CNA specifically. Highlight the company's values, culture, or opportunities for growth, and how they align with your career aspirations and interests in underwriting.