Senior Portfolio Manager Underwriting Management Agency (UMA)

Introduction

Legacy Underwriting Managers, an established Underwriting Management Agency (UMA) with a strong focus on underwriting, broker partnerships and technology-driven insurance solutions, is seeking an experienced Portfolio Manager to take ownership of a Personal and Commercial Lines portfolio.

This is a commercially focused role for an insurance professional who understands that successful portfolio management goes beyond technical underwriting. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving profitability, sustainable growth and retention , while maintaining strong underwriting discipline and broker relationships.

Working within a dynamic UMA environment, the Portfolio Manager will operate across underwriting, portfolio performance, insurer liaison, administration and broker engagement , ensuring the portfolio delivers against both business and client expectations.

Duties & Responsibilities

Portfolio & Financial Management

• Take full ownership of portfolio performance, profitability, growth and retention.

• Monitor key portfolio metrics including GWP, loss ratios, retention and Cost of Risk (COR) .

• Analyse performance trends and implement corrective strategies where required.

• Prepare and present accurate management reports, insights and recommendations.

• Monitor claims trends and their impact on portfolio profitability.

• Oversee financial controls, including claims accounts and reconciliations.

Underwriting Oversight

• Guide and support underwriting decisions within delegated authority.

• Ensure adherence to underwriting standards, pricing models and risk selection criteria.

• Maintain oversight of policy accuracy, endorsements and renewals.

• Ensure underwriting decisions support sustainable portfolio performance.

Operational Management

• Drive operational efficiency and identify opportunities for process improvement.

• Work closely with underwriting, administration and other internal stakeholders.

• Oversee renewals, endorsements and policy lifecycle accuracy.

• Monitor claims turnaround times and operational performance.

• Identify and implement relevant system and process improvements.

Broker & Insurer Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with brokers and insurer partners.

• Drive new business growth through proactive broker engagement and market development.

• Support retention through proactive engagement and service delivery.

• Maintain structured, consistent and commercially focused broker engagement.

• Actively manage cancellations and unpaid premium follow-ups to support retention.

Strategic Contribution

• Develop and execute portfolio-specific business plans.

• Identify opportunities to improve growth, profitability and portfolio performance.

• Contribute to broader business strategy and performance objectives.

• Provide input into reinsurance, recoveries and salvage considerations where applicable.

Risk, Compliance & Governance

• Ensure adherence to applicable regulatory, compliance and governance requirements.

• Maintain effective risk controls, including Ombud-related matters.

• Ensure high standards of accuracy, governance and risk management across the portfolio.

Desired Experience & Qualification

Qualifications

• NQF Level 5 qualification (minimum requirement) in Short-Term Insurance

• Relevant tertiary qualification (e.g. BCom, Finance, Insurance, or Risk Management) – advantageous

• Professional designations (e.g. industry-related certifications) – beneficial

Regulatory Requirements

• FAIS compliant (mandatory)

• RE5 (Representative Exam) – mandatory

• RE1 (Key Individuals) – advantageous

• Appropriate DOFA and class of business authorisation for:

• Short-Term Insurance: Personal Lines

• Short-Term Insurance: Commercial Lines

Experience Required

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in short-term insurance (personal and/or commercial lines)

• Proven experience in portfolio or account management within an underwriting or insurance environment

• Strong exposure to:

• Underwriting and risk assessment

• Claims trends and loss ratio analysis

• Pricing and risk selection

• Broker or client-facing engagement

Technical Knowledge

• Strong understanding of:

• Underwriting principles and policy structures

• Portfolio performance metrics (GWP, loss ratio, retention)

• Claims and profitability analysis

• Regulatory and compliance requirements within the insurance industry

• Working knowledge of insurance systems and reporting tools

Key Competencies

• Commercial & Strategic Thinking – ability to grow and optimise a portfolio

• Analytical Ability – interpret data and translate into actionable insights

• Relationship Management – strong broker and insurer engagement skills

• Negotiation Skills – pricing, renewals, and broker agreements

• Attention to Detail & Compliance – high level of accuracy and governance

• Leadership – ability to guide and influence internal teams

• Results-Driven Mindset – focused on delivering measurable outcomes

Personal Attributes

• Self-starter with high levels of accountability

• Ability to perform under pressure in a high-performance environment, must be able to pivot and be open to long hours and thinking on your feet.

• High integrity in decision-making

• Strong communication skills (Afrikaans and English advantageous)

Interested?

Closing date for applications is 30 September 2026 .

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not received feedback within one (1) week of application, please consider your application unsuccessful.

We thank you for your interest in the position.