Are you looking for a role where you can combine analytical thinking with commercial impact?
At Markel, you'll work at the heart of the business, partnering with underwriting, actuarial, finance and portfolio teams to identify opportunities, optimise performance, and help make confident, data-driven decisions across Markel International.
As we continue to grow, we are looking for an Underwriting Risk Analyst to join our Underwriting Strategy & Performance (USP) team. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the centre of underwriting decision-making, helping shape risk appetite, identify emerging exposures, and support profitable portfolio growth across Markel International.
The opportunity:
The Underwriting Performance team sits within the Underwriting Strategy & Performance department, reporting to the Chief Underwriting Officer, International. We help Markel International achieve safe and profitable underwriting by supporting portfolio optimisation, building strategic partnerships, and providing clear, forward-looking insight.
We link underwriting, actuarial, finance and other specialist functions. Our role is to help colleagues understand portfolio performance, identify risks and opportunities, and turn analysis into practical decisions. We combine constructive challenge with a strong understanding of the commercial pressures facing the business.
Our approach is based on partnership. We aim to be accessible, clear and solution focused. We use data to inform decisions, communicate proactively, and maintain underwriting discipline without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
This is a broad role, with a remit across Markel International. You will work closely with the Head of Underwriting Performance and other members of the team, contributing flexibly across portfolio analysis, business planning, management reporting and strategic initiatives. The precise balance of work will evolve with team and business priorities.
What you'll be doing:
Shape Markel International's cycle management strategy
•Perform market cycle analyses, supporting underwriting strategy and responses to emerging issues
•Contribute to Markel International's cycle management approach, leading on portfolio optimisation approach
Support planning and performance activity
•Support portfolio reviews, forecasts, business planning and assessments of underwriting performance
•Test key assumptions, prepare clear senior-management materials and maintain oversight of agreed actions and emerging issues, including assessments of new underwriting initiatives
Generate useful insight
•Analyse underwriting and portfolio performance, identifying the principal drivers, trends, risks and opportunities
•Combine information from different sources into clear conclusions, implications and practical options, including from independent underwriting reviews (IURs)
•Produce well-evidenced, technically sound work
Partner with the business
•Build constructive relationships across underwriting, portfolio analytics, actuarial, finance, exposure management and other functions
•Understand stakeholders' objectives and portfolios, working collaboratively while offering commercially aware challenge
Contribute across USP priorities
•Deliver defined work across strategic projects, ad hoc analysis and changing business priorities
•Take ownership from question to output, communicating risks early and improving the work process
Our must-haves:
We seek someone with the analytical foundations and curiosity to develop into a trusted underwriting performance partner.
Experience and knowledge
•Proven experience in insurance, reinsurance, underwriting, actuarial, finance, consulting or analytics
•Experience analysing business or portfolio performance, with an understanding of insurance economics; London Market knowledge is beneficial
Analytical and communication skills
•Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
•Clear written and verbal communication
•Data visualisation or analytical-tool experience is advantageous
Approach and behaviours
•Curiosity about underwriting performance and a proactive approach to investigating issues and proposing options
•A collaborative style that builds trust
•Commercial judgement, balancing analytical rigour with relevant and workable outcomes
•Accountability: you take ownership, communicate openly and follow through on commitments
•Adaptability: you are comfortable working across varied priorities in a role whose scope will develop over time
•Constructive confidence: you are willing to test assumptions and challenge appropriately, while remaining open to alternative views
Who we are:
Markel Group (NYSE – MKL) a Fortune 500 company with over 60 offices in 20+ countries, is a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, specialist advisory, and investment operations around the world.
What's in it for you?
•A great starting salary plus annual bonus & strong benefits package
•25 days paid holiday plus Bank Holidays, with the opportunity to buy/sell extra leave
•Fantastic company pension scheme, private medical and dental cover, life assurance, travel insurance cover, income protection, season ticket loan as well as other great benefits on offer
•There are countless opportunities to learn new skills and develop in your career and we can provide the support needed to do just that
Markel is also happy to consider candidates who are looking for flexible working patterns.
