Underwriting Supervisor – Small Commercial Insurance at Bankers Financial Corp – St Petersburg, Florida

Founded in 1976, Bankers Insurance Group has grown from a small local company to a diverse corporation known for its innovative insurance products and superior customer service. Bankers Insurance offers a variety of property and casualty products and services. Among the company’s products are business owners, builder’s risk, personal and commercial flood, as well as specialized coverages. Insurance and financial services remain at the core of our business, and we're proud of our more than 45+ year track record of expertise and service. We recognize the changes taking place in our domestic and global economy, as well as our society. We strive to respond to those changes with a spirit of understanding, growth, innovation, and entrepreneurship, developing new products, services, and partnerships.

Our Core Values Include

Collaboration: working together is critical to achieving organizational goals.

Innovation: growth happens when we can absorb and implement new ideas that provide unique solutions and superior customer service.

Performance: we believe in providing our employees with the tools and support they need to grow, succeed, and make an impact.

Social Responsibility: we place charity and volunteer work at the core of our organization.

Trust: we build and maintain trust with our employees and clients by embodying integrity, transparency, and ‘doing the right thing.’

Company Value Statements

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties, all employees are expected to demonstrate the following:

• Acting with the highest level of honesty, trust, character, and transparency.
• Making a unified effort to achieve the goals of the organization; embracing accountability for exceptional performance every day.
• Commitment to excellence in reaching our full potential as individuals and as an organization, surpassing the ordinary and the expectations of our stakeholders.
• Approaching every challenge with creative energy, discovering unique solutions to maximize success; focusing on creating and delivering compelling customer value.
• Belief in the power of a diverse workforce and in creating a positive impact on both the environment and our community.

Job Summary:
The Underwriting Supervisor for Small Commercial Insurance is responsible for overseeing and managing a team of underwriters, ensuring the profitability, growth, and quality of the small commercial insurance portfolio and reports to the Small Commercial Underwriting Manager. This role includes providing leadership, mentoring, and technical guidance to underwriters, ensuring adherence to company underwriting guidelines, and fostering strong relationships with agents, brokers, and internal stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have 5–7 years of underwriting experience in small commercial insurance and possess strong leadership and decision-making skills to support the team's success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Team Management:
  • Lead, coach, and manage a team of small commercial underwriters, providing direction, feedback, and mentoring to enhance underwriting skills and performance.
  • Ensure team adherence to underwriting guidelines, procedures, and service standards, maintaining a high level of underwriting quality and accuracy.
  • Set and monitor performance goals for the team, conducting regular performance reviews and implementing development plans as necessary.
  • Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture, promoting open communication and continuous improvement.
• Underwriting Oversight:
  • Review and approve larger or more complex accounts under the team's purview, ensuring appropriate risk assessment, pricing, and coverage.
  • Ensure underwriting decisions align with the company’s risk appetite and profitability goals, making adjustments to guidelines or risk selection processes as necessary.
  • Provide technical support and expertise to underwriters on complex risks, coverage questions, or exceptions to standard guidelines.
  • Monitor underwriting authority limits within the team, ensuring appropriate delegation of authority and compliance with company policies.
• Portfolio Management:
  • Manage the performance of the small commercial insurance portfolio, analyzing key metrics such as loss ratios, new business production, and retention rates to ensure profitability and growth.
  • Collaborate with product management, actuarial, and claims teams to evaluate product performance and make recommendations for pricing adjustments, underwriting guideline changes, or new product offerings.
  • Provide insights on market trends, competitive positioning, and emerging risks to help guide product and portfolio strategies.
• Agent & Broker Relationship Management:
  • Develop and maintain strong relationships with agents, brokers, and distribution partners, ensuring clear communication of underwriting guidelines and service expectations.
• Provide guidance and support to the team in managing agent and broker relationships, helping resolve escalated issues or complex negotiations.
• Participate in agent and broker meetings to promote the company’s small commercial offerings, gather feedback, and discuss opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Training & Development:
  • Lead ongoing training initiatives for underwriters, ensuring they remain knowledgeable about company products, underwriting best practices, and market conditions.
  • Identify skill gaps or areas for development within the team, providing appropriate training or mentorship to address those needs.
  • Stay up-to-date on industry developments, regulatory changes, and emerging risks, sharing insights with the team to support continuous learning.
• Compliance & Risk Management:
  • Ensure all underwriting activities comply with relevant state and federal regulations, as well as company policies and procedures.
  • Monitor for potential exposures to underwriting errors, mispricing, or non-compliance with guidelines, taking corrective action as necessary.
  • Participate in audits and reviews to ensure underwriting practices meet internal and external compliance requirements.

Qualifications:

• Education & Experience:
  • Bachelor’s degree in business, insurance, risk management, or a related field.
  • Minimum of 5–7 years of experience in underwriting small commercial insurance, with a proven track record of managing a profitable book of business.
  • Previous experience in a supervisory or leadership role within underwriting is preferred.
• Skills & Competencies:
  • Strong understanding of small commercial insurance products, coverages, and underwriting principles, including BOP, general liability, hired/non-owned commercial auto, and commercial umbrella.
  • Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to coach and mentor underwriters and support their professional growth.
  • Strong decision-making skills, with the ability to assess complex risks and make sound underwriting judgments.
  • Proficiency in analyzing underwriting performance metrics and identifying trends or areas for improvement.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with agents, brokers, and internal stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Certifications:
  • CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter), ARM (Associate in Risk Management), AU (Associate in Commercial Underwriting), or equivalent professional designation (preferred).

Work Environment:

• Ability to work in a hybrid setting, with some travel required for industry events, client meetings, and on-site visits to construction projects or key broker partners.

The preceding position description has been designed to indicate the general nature of the work performed; the level of knowledge and skills typically required; and the usual working conditions of this position. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive, complete, or exclusive list of the duties of the position. Additional and different duties may be assigned from time to time. We are an E-Verify company.