Head of Underwriting
Tide
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: London • 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Visit company websiteJob Level
Lead
About the role
- Report directly to the CEO of Tide Insurance Services and be a key member of Insurance Services Leadership team
- Build and lead the underwriting workstream across all SME insurance products, developing best-in-class practices from the ground up
- Set underwriting frameworks, assess risk appetite and define product pricing strategies; work closely with the second line of defence and insurance partners
- Drive productivity, effectiveness, and top-tier service delivery in a competitive and fast-evolving market
- Establish and lead initiatives to create a customer-centric underwriting and claims experience with high automation and leverage of technology
- Engage, maintain, develop and grow relationships with insurer partners and capacity providers
- Ensure regulatory compliance, internal controls, and risk governance are embedded in underwriting practices and processes
- Identify and implement process improvements and transformation initiatives to elevate service quality and operational efficiency
- Define and manage delivery of underwriting-related projects, including stakeholder management, resource planning, and risk mitigation
- Act as a key point of accountability for reporting progress and risk performance
- Build strong cross-functional partnerships with Product, Sales, Claims, and Risk teams to ensure underwriting strategy supports business goals
- Scale Tide’s underwriting presence in the UK, India and EU markets
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in the insurance industry, with strong exposure to SME commercial lines underwriting
- Proven success in building or scaling underwriting and delivering against strategic priorities in high-growth or transforming environments
- Strong hands-on underwriting expertise, with a deep understanding of risk frameworks, pricing, claims considerations, and compliance standards
- Solid understanding of insurance services, operations, and regulatory frameworks, ideally with experience navigating compliance within the UK's regulatory environment
- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to distill complex issues into actionable insights and make sound decisions quickly
- Proven ability to work cross-functionally and influence a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including regulators and senior leadership
- Highly organized and capable of managing competing priorities and teams under pressure, with a track record of delivering results on tight timelines
- Strong motivation and resilience, with a leadership style that inspires teams and drives accountability in dynamic and challenging settings
Benefits
- A competitive salary
- Share options
- Flexible working options
- 25 days holiday with the option buy extra days
- 3 days paid volunteering or L&D time off per year
- Sabbatical leave
- We invest in your development with Personal L&D budget
- Group Life Insurance, Vitality Health and Dental Insurance
- Access to a global mental wellbeing platform
- Enhanced family-friendly leave
- Salary Sacrifice benefits like nursery scheme
- Work from home budget
- Team socials - virtual and physical events
- Spacious brand-new office by Old Street station with an all-day snacks bar
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
underwritingrisk assessmentpricing strategiesregulatory complianceprocess improvementproject managementanalytical skillsproblem-solvinginsurance operationsSME commercial lines
Soft skills
leadershipcross-functional collaborationstakeholder managementorganizational skillsresiliencemotivationaccountabilitycommunicationdecision-makingtime management