Underwriting Assistant: Credit Risk Insurance

About DUAL

Working across 21 countries, DUAL has built a reputation as a specialist underwriting group and the market of choice for insurance intermediaries around the world. That’s how we have become one of the world’s largest international underwriting agencies (or MGAs) with US$3.4bn GWP.

DUAL is part of Howden, a leading global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Founded in 1994, it provides insurance, reinsurance and underwriting services to clients ranging from private individuals to the largest multinational companies. The Group operates in 57 countries, employs over 24,000 people and manages premiums totalling US$50bn on behalf of its clients.

The role

This entry-level role supports the full underwriting lifecycle, from new-business triage and preliminary research through quotation, binding, policy administration and portfolio monitoring. The portfolio is highly transactional, so each opportunity may involve different countries, counterparties, industries, financing structures and policy periods.

The successful candidate will combine dependable administration with intellectual curiosity, numerical confidence, sound judgement and a solid work ethic. Responsibilities will increase with demonstrated knowledge and capability, providing a strong foundation for progression in specialist underwriting. This is a London office-based role and successful candidates will be expected to attend the office full-time.

Key responsibilities

Underwriting and transaction support

• •Support Underwriters through assessment, quotation, binding and post-bind management of transactions.
• •Receive, record and organise submissions; check completeness and obtain missing financial, commercial, contractual or policy information.
• •Prepare underwriting files, transaction summaries, indications, quotations and endorsements; track subjectivities, conditions and approvals and support general administrative needs of the team as needed
• •Maintain clear underwriting records and support pre-bind controls, peer review and the team’s four-eyes approach.

Research and preliminary analysis

• •Research companies, banks, sovereigns, public agencies, countries and sectors using appropriate internal and external sources.
• •Collect and organise financial statements, credit ratings, market information and transaction documents; prepare concise factual summaries.
• •Undertake preliminary financial, commercial, country and political-risk analysis under guidance, including transaction structure, payment obligations, security and recovery routes.
• •Monitor developments that may affect insured transactions and distinguish verified facts, third-party opinion and matters requiring further investigation.

Data, systems and exposure management

• •Maintain accurate risk, premium, policy and exposure data, including amendments, endorsements, cancellations and other changes.
• •Monitor exposure by insured, obligor/group, country, industry, transaction type and policy period; support authority and aggregate controls.
• •Prepare and reconcile bordereaux, pipeline, conversion, premium and management information; identify and resolve data inconsistencies.
• •Produce accurate Excel analysis and reports for Underwriters, management and capacity providers.

Policy, broker and portfolio support

• •Prepare, check and file policy documentation; compare final documents with approved terms and process endorsements accurately.
• •Maintain complete electronic files, monitor outstanding documents and premium information, and liaise with Operations and Finance on processing or reconciliation issues.
• •Communicate promptly and professionally with brokers; assist with live submissions, enquiries, meetings, agendas and follow-up notes.
• •Monitor counterparties, countries, sectors and transactions; maintain watchlists, support portfolio reviews and escalate adverse information, approaching deadlines or potential breaches.

Governance and controls

• •Operate within underwriting authorities, guidelines, delegated authority requirements and internal policies.
• •Complete required sanctions, financial crime, regulatory and compliance checks, escalating matches, conflicts, discrepancies and exceptions promptly.
• •Support quality assurance, audit and management reporting; protect confidential and commercially sensitive information.
• •Contribute to process improvement, data quality and an open control culture in which potential mistakes are raised early.

Candidate profile

ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• •Intellectual curiosity and an active interest in international business and current affairs.
• •Strong numeracy, accuracy and attention to detail.
• •Ability to organise multiple live transactions and prioritise effectively under pressure.
• •Clear, concise written and verbal communication.
• •Confidence to ask questions, obtain missing information, raise errors and take ownership.
• •Collaborative style and genuine motivation to build a specialist insurance career.

• •Good Excel skills, including formulas, sorting, filtering and structured datasets; competent in Word, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• •Strong written English and ability to handle detailed financial, contractual and transactional information.
• •Strong academic record or equivalent evidence of capability; a degree is preferred although no specific subject is required.
• •Insurance or financial-services experience is useful but not required. Additional language skills may be advantageous.

Personal attributes

Intellectually curious: asks why a transaction is being insured and what could change its outcome. Highly organised: keeps control of a substantial and changing workload. Numerate and accurate: handles premiums, limits, currencies, tenors and exposure data carefully. Commercially aware: understands the context in which banks, traders, corporates and public bodies operate. Proactive and resilient: takes ownership and adapts calmly as priorities change. Articulate and team-oriented: shares information clearly and contributes to collective underwriting decisions.

Development and progression

Structured on-the-job development will cover Credit & Political Risk Insurance, the London Market underwriting lifecycle, financial and credit analysis, country and political risk, policy structures and wordings, pricing, exposure management, governance, sanctions, broker engagement and portfolio monitoring. The candidate will be encouraged to work towards relevant Chartered Insurance Institute qualifications.

As capability develops, the role may expand into initial submission triage, preliminary risk analysis, greater broker and client participation and increased ownership of selected transactions, supporting progression towards Assistant Underwriter or another specialist role. Progression will depend on demonstrated capability, judgement, control awareness and business needs.

Measures of success

• •Accurate underwriting, policy and exposure data, with complete and well-maintained files.
• •Effective control of outstanding information, subjectivities and deadlines.
• •Prompt, professional broker and colleague communication, and reliable portfolio reporting.
• •Growing technical understanding, sound prioritisation and early escalation of discrepancies or control issues.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define.

Of course, we offer a competitive range of rewards and benefits to support you, but we know you expect all that.

What you might not expect is a job where everyone has a voice, where volunteering in the community is part of the day job, and where everyone is encouraged to play a part towards our sustainability goals. We want people who want to make a difference - not just in the workplace, but in the industry and in the wider community.

Our culture: people first

Our core values dictate how we live and work. We’re a group with independence and people at its heart – and a home for talent with a unique culture: the big