CLASS UNDERWRITER: CYBER

LOCATION: LONDON

This career opportunity is available at Santam Syndicate 1918 for an Class Underwriter: Cyber who will be based in the UK & have right to work in the UK.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Class Underwriter: Cyber to lead and develop our cyber insurance portfolio within the Lloyd’s Insurance market. The successful candidate will be responsible for the growth, profitability, and technical integrity of the cyber book, working closely with brokers, clients, and internal stakeholders to drive innovation and underwriting excellence.

WHAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL IN THE ROLE?

Key Responsibilities:

Cyber Underwriting Leadership:

• Own and manage the cyber underwriting portfolio across SME, mid-market, and corporate risks.
• Underwrite new and renewal business in line with agreed underwriting authority and appetite.
• Develop and maintain cyber underwriting guidelines, pricing frameworks, and product strategies.
• Draft and agree the underwriting philosophy for cyber with the CUO/Active Underwriter.

Broker & Client Engagement:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with brokers, clients, reinsurers and distribution partners.
• Support the placement of complex and bespoke cyber risks, offering market insight and technical guidance.
• Represent the business at broker meetings, industry events, and cyber-specific forums.
• Travel where required to attend conferences and client meetings.

Product Development & Innovation:

• Collaborate with product, actuarial, claims and IT teams to evolve cyber insurance offerings.
• Develop standalone and packaged cyber solutions tailored to customer needs across various sectors.
• Monitor emerging cyber threats and regulatory changes to ensure product relevance and responsiveness.

Portfolio Management & Performance Monitoring:

• Analyse portfolio performance and underwriting metrics (e.g. loss ratios, rate changes, claims trends).
• Drive corrective action where required, including pricing adjustments and risk appetite refinement.
• Contribute to strategic planning, reinsurance discussions, and capital modelling inputs.

Governance & Risk Management:

• Ensure underwriting practices align with internal controls, compliance requirements, and regulatory standards (e.g. FCA, PRA).
• Support audits, conduct file reviews, and maintain documentation for underwriting decisions.
• Provide technical mentorship to junior underwriters or cyber underwriting assistants.
• Work with the CUO/Active Underwriter to decide and discuss the outwards reinsurance programme.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Relevant Degree
• 6-10 Years Experience
• Proven underwriting experience in Cyber insurance within the UK or international market.
• Strong knowledge of cyber risk landscape, threat vectors, and evolving exposures (e.g. ransomware, data breaches, BI losses).
• Ability to interpret complex technical risk information and translate it into underwriting decisions.
• Commercial awareness with a track record of delivering profitable portfolio growth.
• Confident communicator with strong broker relationships and market presence.
• Familiarity with cyber risk scoring tools, pricing models, and incident response frameworks.
• Professional qualifications such as ACII, or relevant technical certifications (e.g. CISSP) are an advantage.
• Experience working in a Lloyd’s, MGA cyber underwriting environment.
• Exposure to multinational cyber programmes or cross-border placements.
• Understanding of cyber risk management services and vendor ecosystems.
• Awareness of data privacy regulations (e.g. GDPR, DPA) and their insurance implications.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Delivering results and meeting customer expectation
• Strong personal reputation in the Lloyd’s market.
• Relating and networking
• Analyses
• Applying expertise and technology
• Achieving personal work goals and objectives
• Attention to detail
• Planning and organising skills
• Problem Solving
• Negotiating
• Business Acumen/Knowledge
• Business Analysis

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Drives results
• Deciding and initiating action
• Leading and supervising
• Collaborates
• Client focus
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Cultivates innovation
• Strategic decision making
• Analytical thinking
• Influencing/ gaining commitment
• Business acumen
• Coaching and development

WHO WE ARE:

Santam syndicate 1918 is a new wholly owned and capitalised entity of Santam Insurance, the largest insurance company in South Africa with a 107-year heritage. 1918 is strategically important in expanding and developing Santam’s international footprint, through access to the London market talent, distribution network and Lloyd’s global insurance and reinsurance licenses.

Our syndicate is a London managed and run business, with a strong, experienced leadership team, focused on underwriting discipline, whilst allowing our teams to feel empowered and accountable for their actions. We are building a collaborative team where underwriting, claims, actuarial and other functions work closely, to help achieve superior underwriting results

At Santam Group we are committed to transformation and embracing diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse workplace with the aim to create an inclusive workforce.