Head of Financial Lines Claims

Head of Financial Lines Claims

Requirements

• 7-10+ years of claims management experience in Claims Leadership of the specific lines of business
• Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and management skills
• A public profile and reputation for leadership and technical excellence
• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate at all organizational levels, both internally and externally
• Analytical and data proficiency to drive results, make decisions and drive outcomes
• Understanding of and ability to balance both the immediate claim issues as well as the broader portfolio impact and customer service impact of coverage disputes and issues
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to deal effectively with people with conflicting expectations, differing opinions, and multiple viewpoints
• Demonstrated ability and experience handling claims involving a wide variety of loss scenarios, including non-weather CAT event exposures/portfolio exposures, as well as reporting and presenting about same to senior management
• In-depth knowledge of claims, litigation, arbitration, and trial processes as well as excellent analytical, investigative, and negotiating skills
• Law Degree and admission in good standing to one of the fifty state bars or educational equivalent is a plus

Responsibilities

• Direct supervision and management of claims including the investigation, analysis and evaluation of coverage liability and damages, within best practices
• Provide all aggregate reporting on behalf of the North America Financial Lines Claims portfolio including in collaboration with the Global Markets Claims team
• Close collaboration with the Specialty Complex Claims team for matters involving coverage disputes, including litigation and arbitration initiated by Axis issuing companies and when Axis issuing companies are parties to such litigation
• Issue spotting and evaluating when to request use of outside coverage counsel and escalating same to the Specialty Complex Claims team for final approval
• Formulating claims management strategies, assigning, directing, and managing outside defense counsel
• Providing guidance to the claims teams including strategic direction for the life of the claim
• Managing costs, including use of coverage counsel and litigation costs as well as collaborating and working with the Axis Claims Litigation & Vendor Management team ensuring cost management and the development and enhancement of the Financial Lines panel
• Collaborating across disciplines and business units, including: the general counsel team which oversees errors and omissions issues arising from claims handling
• Identifying, liability and coverage trends and issues with both individual and portfolio impact and formulating the processes and strategies for managing such claims as well as ensuring accurate and consistent claims management across impacted underwriting segments and lines of business
• Supporting underwriting inquiries and information requests regarding policy construction and drafting, reporting claim trends, data analysis, and risk assessments
• Actively coaching and mentoring direct reports, providing regular feedback, and developing employees for broader roles and responsibilities that support professional growth and development and working collaboratively with HR Business partner support and guidance
• Recruit, hire and retain top talent and develop appropriate succession plans
• Build and maintain key relationships with internal stakeholders (e.g., peers, Underwriting, Actuarial, various executive management leaders) and external stakeholders (e.g., brokers, insureds, attorneys, auditors, reinsurers, and vendors)
• Extensive communication with senior executives, brokers, reinsurers, actuaries, insureds, and auditors (both external and internal)
• Demonstrate the Axis behaviors that support and align with Axis values: People, Decisiveness, Excellence and Stronger Together

Preferred Qualifications

• Law Degree and admission in good standing to one of the fifty state bars or educational equivalent is a plus