Senior Operational Controls Analyst

Westfield; London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job description

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Job Description

The main purpose of this role is to support the Head of Operational Controls, the Quality Assurance & Controls Manager and the wider QA&C team to ensure that underwriting controls and operational processes are embedded and effectively monitored, allowing for best practice across Syndicate 1200, and driving forward change and improvement to continually enhance the effectiveness of controls, processes and procedures across the business. Ensuring a well-defined operational control framework is in place ultimately aids sound business decisions and ensures that regulatory risk is minimised.

Key Accountabilities

1. Act as a senior operational SME, business partner and point of contact for underwriting teams across Syndicate 1200, and supporting other key functions including Claims & Finance.
2. Work with underwriting teams to ensure Westfield Specialty minimum control standards are met and reported on as required.
3. Take ownership of the day-to-day running and oversight of Westfield's Lloyd's Europe operating model, supporting Lloyd's Europe underwriters and the wider teams with understanding and adherence to regulatory and process requirements.
4. Drive forward continuous process improvement and develop solutions for weaknesses identified in operational processes. Provide insight, analysis and challenge to the teams on their adherence to and use of controls and processes.
5. Provide operational expertise and support to functional and business-wide project work and change initiatives, progressing operational and control priorities and assisting with planning, development and implementation.
6. Support the Head of Operational Controls with operationalising business requirements across all functional and regulatory areas of Syndicate 1200.
7. Own and regularly update control documentation and all supporting key materials for all control areas and processes owned.

Role Requirements

1. Work with underwriting teams across Syndicate 1200 to deliver best in class operational support ensuring processes and practices are documented, meet requirements and that actions are in place to address known areas of weakness.
2. Provide help and support to the UW Controls Analysts and their areas of responsibility, and work with the QA&C Manager and Head of Operational Controls to deliver on process improvements, change initiatives and the provision of insight, analysis and challenge to the UW teams on their adherence to and use of UW controls and processes.
3. Produce required Underwriting, Committee and Board reporting.
4. In conjunction with the QA&C Manager and Head of Operational Controls, agree specific areas of focus reviews and produce recommendations which ultimately improve the overall control framework.

Skills & Competencies Required

1. Excellent communication skills - both oral and written, being able to write clear, precise and well organised documents, reports and Committee/Board papers.
2. Strong presentational and advanced PowerPoint skills, alongside a keen eye for how to turn data into information and present it to senior stakeholders.
3. Experience in and strong ability to provide critical thinking, detailed analysis, insight and robust challenge to the status quo, existing processes and UW teams, and the capability to turn this into meaningful action and change.
4. Relationship building - establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with internal and external parties, particularly in-person and with all underwriting teams.
5. Exceptional organisational skills - being able to prioritise tasks, manage time and workload, work independently and as part of a team, deliver on deadlines and demonstrate drive and diligence.
6. Comfortable working on BAU work as well as project work, balancing both and being able to provide challenge, ideas and creative expertise in developing solutions as part of change initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience

1. CII qualifications preferable although not essential.
2. At least 5 years of insurance industry experience.
3. Knowledge of the Lloyd's Market preferable.
4. Experience of underwriting and operational control environment essential.
5. Experience and understanding of Lloyd's Europe preferable.

Westfield Specialty International Culture

Our culture is centred around three core values: Excellence, focused on high performance, agility and embracing change; Ambition, where inquisitiveness, challenge and a bold approach is encouraged; and Collaboration, delivering shared goals through collective expertise, diversity of thought and transparency. All three are underpinned by Reward & Recognition, where people are supported & respected, and success is celebrated.

About Us

Founded in 1848, Westfield is a global leader in property and casualty insurance, delivering superior risk insights and innovative solutions to customers through a diverse portfolio of insurance products. Westfield underwrites commercial, personal, surety, and specialty lines of coverage through a network of leading independent agents and brokers in the United States and specialty products through Lloyd's of London Syndicate 1200. As a mutual insurance company with more than 3,000 employees, Westfield has revenues in excess of $4 billion and more than $10 billion in assets.