Absa · Johannesburg, South AfricaPrepare for this interview
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Empowering Africa's tomorrow, together...one story at a time. With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group. Job Summary The Chief Underwriter is accountable for the end to end underwriting strategy, risk philosophy, governance, and technical consistency across Absa Life. The role ensures that underwriting decisions balance profitability, customer outcomes, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency, while enabling product innovation and sustainable growth. The Chief Underwriter acts as the ultimate technical authority for underwriting and provides strategic leadership across retail, group, and advised life products. Job Description Key Accountabilities 1. Underwriting Strategy & Risk Appetite Define, own, and regularly review Absa Life's underwriting philosophy and risk appetite Ensure underwriting strategy aligns with business growth objectives, and reinsurance strategy Lead responses to emerging risks (e.g. medical, behavioural, economic, and distribution‑driven risks) Provide underwriting input into new product development and pricing changes 2. Technical Governance & Decision Authority Act as the final technical referral point for complex, high‑risk, or non‑standard cases Set and maintain underwriting rules, loadings, exclusions, limits, and authority levels Ensure consistent application of underwriting decisions across teams, channels, and products Chair or contribute to underwriting committees, technical forums, and governance structures 3. Portfolio Performance & Analytics Partner with Actuarial and Reinsurance to monitor experience and take corrective action Ensure data‑driven underwriting decisions using analytics, experience studies, and MI 4. Regulatory, Compliance & Risk Management Ensure underwriting practices meet Treating Customers Fairly (TCF), POPIA, and internal governance standards Support internal and external audits from an underwriting perspective Ensure underwriting decisions are defensible, documented, and aligned to policy terms 5. Reinsurance & External Stakeholder Engagement Serve as the primary underwriting interface with reinsurers Lead reinsurance discussions on: Risk appetite Facultative cases Treaty structures and changes Represent underwriting in regulator, reinsurer, and senior stakeholder engagements 6. Leadership & Capability Building Provide technical and strategic leadership to underwriting management and teams Build a strong underwriting talent pipeline and succession plan Champion continuous learning, technical development, and future‑fit underwriting skills Foster a culture of sound judgment, accountability, and customer‑centric decision‑making Reporting Line Reports to Head of Claims, Underwriting and Group Schemes Required Experience & Qualifications
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