Job Description

Join AXA Commercial and be part of an award-winning team! As the 2024 Insurance Award's Commercial Lines Insurer of the Year, we're proud to be industry recognised for our ongoing commitment to supporting our broker partners and customers. As part of our 2024 growth plans across London Real Estate, we're looking for a Lead Trading Underwriter to join our team.

Reporting into the Underwriting Manager, you'll drive profitable growth, particularly through Mid-Market and corporate clients, in the real estate segment by underwriting risks within agreed authority levels to maximise income whilst developing key relationships with a panel of brokers in line with company objectives.

At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team, and our customers. You'll work at least 60% of your week away from home, either at our office in London, visiting clients or attending industry events.

What you'll be doing:

• Ensure trading teams underwrite new and existing business profitably, accurately, consistently and in line with established underwriting practices.


• Proactively lead the development of strong trading relationships with panel of brokers, taking full ownership for the generation of profitable business from nominated panel.


• Develop a robust pipeline of appropriate new business opportunities and ensure that long-term pipeline is realised by ensuring broker and client engagement.


• Lead meetings, presentations and tender responses with brokers and end customers to portray AXA's capabilities and secure new business opportunities.


• Coach, train and develop Senior Underwriters to continually improve their technical and trading capability from a New and Existing business perspective.


• Act as the referral point for Senior Underwriters within your team, providing technical and trading input to improve the quality of decisions within their empowerment.


• Actively manage and review underwriting standards and licences within the team ensuring effective management and deployment of empowerment.


• Effectively promote and deploy AXA's strategy, product range, propositions, and key differentiators to leverage commercial opportunities., We acknowledge and appreciate the exceptional efforts of our people in protecting what matters most to our customers. In exchange we offer a series of core and supporting benefits designed to empower our people to thrive both professionally and personally., We believe in hiring people who possess the appropriate skills and values that align with our vision. Our selection process is fair and equitable, ensuring that all candidates have an equal opportunity to join us. We are dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion, and we actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we take pride in treating our employees and potential hires with respect and without discrimination based on any Protected Characteristics., AXA UK are recognised as a Disability Confident Leader. We actively encourage applications from people who face barriers in the workplace due to a disability or long-term health condition. We participate in the Disability Confident 'Offer of Interview' scheme. This means a fair and proportionate number of candidates with long-term health conditions or disabilities who meet the essential criteria of a job, will be offered an interview.


• You'll need to show you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job advert or job description


• You don't need to share the details of your long term health condition or disability for your application to be considered under this scheme


As part of your application, you'll be asked if you would like to 'opt in'. To ensure ease of access, every job advert lists a responsible Talent Acquisition contact, who'll be able to connect you with our Accessibility Concierge if you require any support.

Screening & Conduct

As a regulated financial services company, all successful candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks. Additionally, adherence to the Prudential Regulation Authority's (PRA) Insurance Conduct Standards and the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) Conduct Rules will be required., This depends on the location of the role, and what works best for you and the interviewer. We'll give you all the information you need to prepare for whichever format's used for your interview.

I'm struggling to connect to my online interview, what should I do?

Don't worry, we know these things happen. Get in touch with the person who arranged your interview, or the Talent Acquisition contact. One of the team will be able to help get the interview started or re-arrange it for a different time.

How do I get feedback on my interview?

Whenever possible, we'll call and provide feedback by phone. Sometimes, we'll need to provide feedback by email.

How can I prepare for my interview?

We'll send a candidate preparation pack before the interview to help you prepare.


• London Market underwriting experience is essential e.g. slip based business, bespoke wordings, international and captives.


• Excellent negotiation and sales skills


• Experience of large case and portfolio management in the real estate sector, including client exposure


• Knowledge of key London Market real estate stakeholders is preferred.


• Established networking and relationship building skills.


• Sound knowledge of legislative and regulatory requirements for insurance


• High level of communication and negotiation skills with the ability to build positive relationships both internally and externally.


• Ability to succeed in a target driven environment and identify and convert business opportunities.


• Evidence of monthly management of intermediary performance using available MI/business tools


• Ability to adjust strategy where necessary to ensure achievement of financial KPIs against plan.


• CII qualification desirable


As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom.

This position has been defined as an Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) role under the IDD regime which means that in addition to pre-employment screening checks, the successful candidate will be subject to background screening every 4 years with an annual declaration in interim years.

AXA Commercial protects businesses, from multinationals to micro start-ups, giving them the confidence to thrive. We're currently making our biggest ever investment to develop the expertise and skills we need to be the best. We're a vibrant community where everyone is supported to learn, develop, and take ownership of their work., At AXA we have a culture of trust, respect and care, where everyone belongs. We have an ambition to become one of the most inspiring companies to work for, as such we're committed to supporting employee needs, providing meaningful career development, and celebrating differences. We all have a role to play in ensuring a working environment in which everyone, regardless of who they are, can reach their true potential., At AXA we're committed to offering a fair and inclusive experience to all candidates. You're encouraged to report, in good faith, any concerns of behaviour or processes believed to be inappropriate, unethical, or illegal.

Should you wish to report any concerns, you can do this through by sending an email to speak-up@axa.com, AXA's dedicated hotline. This service is managed by an independent investigation team. Please note that this email address is not for dealing with job or application related queries.
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At AXA UK, we're appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. You can expect to receive:

• Competitive annual salary


• Annual company & performance-based bonus


• Contributory pension scheme (up to 12% employer contributions)


• Life Assurance (up to 10 x annual salary)


• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays


• Private Medical Cover


• Opportunity to buy up to 5 extra days leave or sell up to 5 days leave


• AXA employee discounts


• Gym benefits, When will I hear back from you after my interview?


We aim to provide feedback as soon as the interview process allows. The time period will vary depending on the role.

How do I discuss the package I've been offered for a role?

You can discuss the package with your Talent Acquisition contact at offer stage.

Yay! I've got the role, what's next?

We'll carry out a number of background checks before you start. This is known as 'screening'.

Do you do any background checks?

Yes. All financial services companies, including AXA, are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Being part of a regulated industry means we must check the background of all applicants before we confirm a job offer.

Pre-employment screening is not just regulatory, it also gives us the confidence that our people are the right fit to protect what matters to customers, colleagues, and our business.

• Who is screened? Everyone, from first-jobbers to senior directors! Often, the higher up the career ladder you are, the more stringent the screening becomes.


• What is screened? Identity and address; qualifications; employment history; credit check; criminal record; directorships.


If you think anything may affect these checks, please tell us.

What benefits or perks do you offer?

At AXA, we appreciate the people who work for us and regularly review our rewards package to reflect that. The advert for the role you're interested in will detail what you can expect to receive, but you can see an overview of our benefits and perks on our Why Join Us page.

Does AXA offer car allowance or a company car?

This depends on the grade, role, and eligibility of the employee. Check the benefits listed on the ad for the role you're interested in or confirm with your recruitment contact.