Job Description:
Underwriter - Title
London, UK
In world of real estate transactions and portfolio management, deal professionals need every tool at their disposal in order to manage risks arising from their property portfolios and manage land transactions as quickly and efficiently as possible. With the use of title insurance solutions now being commonplace, now more than ever the parties involved need to be confident that they have a credible, experienced and service-oriented insurance partner.
AXA XL provides title insurance for risks associated with acquisitions, investments, disposals and other commercial transactions involving real estate assets. Our offering encompasses a suite of products, each of which can be used in different ways to facilitate a transaction (primarily title, legal indemnity, and fundamental warranty insurance).
AXA XL provides a full suite of Transactional Liability Products to a broad range of corporate and financial institution clients, across a variety of sectors and jurisdictions through our combined M&A and Title Team. We use our network of underwriters (based across London, Paris and New York) to underwrite transactions globally. In London, our Title underwriters work as part of a combined transactional risk group with our experienced M&A team, which allows us also to provide hybrid Title and fundamental warranty coverage alongside our M&A products.
This is a regulated role under the Central Bank of Ireland’s Fitness and Probity regime.
Our combined Title and M&A practice has a great opportunity for an underwriter to join their successful team and support the expansion of the Title practice.
You will play a critical role within the team, where you will focus on assessing, quoting and underwriting potential risks, processing deal documentation, managing workflow, establishing strong relationships internally and externally and acting as the critical interface between the broker/clients and AXA XL. You are expected to generate profitable premium and develop broker and client relationships, as we continue to build our underwriting capability.
What will your essential responsibilities include?
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Managing deal workflow (including triage of enquiries) and the underwriting process across ongoing active transactions.
- Processing and negotiating documentation, including NDAs and non-release letters, and liaising with our colleagues in AXA XL’s legal and compliance teams where required.
- Drafting and submitting custom-tailored quotes for proposed policies and following up with brokers to win new business.
- Reviewing and analysing relevant searches, due diligence reports and disclosure documentation in order to assess submissions and identify deal risks.
- Interacting with and supporting other team members on day-to-day business issues and throughout the underwriting process, including performing detailed analysis of issues raised on underwriting calls and in due diligence reports.
- Negotiating and drafting insurance policy terms and language specifically addressing the risk and issues in each case.
- Collaborating with and helping to instruct and supervise external legal counsel hired to represent AXA XL.
- Developing and cultivating relationships with title and M&A insurance brokers, lawyers, private equity firms, deal principals and internal AXA XL colleagues.
- Contribution towards the running of the accounts, including monitoring and managing status/progress of accounts implementation from quote processing to policy issuance, premium collection and policy maintenance (certificates, endorsements etc.)
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Working with our colleagues in AXA XL’s claims team to deal with policy notifications and claims.
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Assisting in the management of DUAs and renewals.
You will report to the Underwriting Manager for Title.
We’re looking for someone who has these abilities and skills:
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Significant experience of title or real estate insurance (either as a broker/underwriter or from a client or advisor perspective).
- Qualified lawyer with real estate experience (desirable).
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In depth knowledge of real estate and title-related legal matters.
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Extensive business development skills.
- Experience underwriting, procuring, broking or negotiating title or legal indemnity risks
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Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Excellent negotiating skills and comfort working with complex legal documents.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively within a team environment is essential.
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Organised, reliable and able to work in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines and timetable pressures.
- 2.1 degree (or similar) in law, accounting, economics or business required.
- Ability to develop and understand business processes, strategy and planning
Inclusion
AXA XL is committed to equal employment opportunity and will consider applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity and origins, marital status, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic. At AXA XL, we know that an inclusive culture and enables business growth and is critical to our success. That’s why we have made a strategic commitment to attract, develop, advance and retain the most inclusive workforce possible, and create a culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and reach their highest potential. It’s about helping one another — and our business — to move forward and succeed.
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Five Business Resource Groups focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and origins, disability and inclusion with 20 Chapters around the globe.
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Robust support for Flexible Working Arrangements
- Enhanced family-friendly leave benefits
- Named to the Diversity Best Practices Index
- Signatory to the UK Women in Finance Charter
Learn more at axaxl.com/about-us/inclusion-and-diversity. AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Total Rewards
AXA XL’s Reward program is designed to take care of what matters most to you, covering the full picture of your health, wellbeing, lifestyle and financial security. It provides competitive compensation and personalized, inclusive benefits that evolve as you do.
We’re committed to rewarding your contribution for the long term, so you can be your best self today and look forward to the future with confidence.
Sustainability
At AXA XL, Sustainability is integral to our business strategy. In an ever-changing world, AXA XL protects what matters most for our clients and communities. We know that sustainability is at the root of a more resilient future. Our 2023-26 Sustainability strategy, called “Roots of resilience”, focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations.
Our Pillars:
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Valuing nature: How we impact nature affects how nature impacts us. Resilient ecosystems - the foundation of a sustainable planet and society – are essential to our future. We’re committed to protecting and restoring nature – from mangrove forests to the bees in our backyard – by increasing biodiversity awareness and inspiring clients and colleagues to put nature at the heart of their plans.
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Addressing climate change: The effects of a changing climate are far-reaching and significant. Unpredictable weather, increasing temperatures, and rising sea levels cause both social inequalities and environmental disruption. We're building a net zero strategy, developing insurance products and services, and mobilizing to advance thought leadership and investment in societal-led solutions.
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Integrating ESG: All companies have a role to play in building a more resilient future. Incorporating ESG considerations into our internal processes and practices builds resilience from the roots of our business. We’re training our colleagues, engaging our external partners, and evolving our sustainability governance and reporting.
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AXA Hearts in Action: We have established volunteering and charitable giving programs to help colleagues support causes that matter most to them, known as AXA XL’s “Hearts in Action” programs. These include our Matching Gifts program, Volunteering Leave, and our annual volunteering day – the Global Day of Giving.
For more information, please see axaxl.com/sustainability.
AXA XL, the P&C and specialty risk division of AXA, is known for solving complex risks. For mid-sized companies, multinationals and even some inspirational individuals we don’t just provide re/insurance, we reinvent it.
How? By combining a comprehensive and efficient capital platform, data-driven insights, leading technology, and the best talent in an agile and inclusive workspace, empowered to deliver top client service across all our lines of business property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty.
With an innovative and flexible approach to risk solutions, we partner with those who move the world forward.
Learn more at axaxl.com
