Head Underwriting at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Key Accountabilities

Underwriting Strategy & Risk Appetite


Define, own, and regularly review Absa Life's underwriting philosophy and risk appetite
Ensure underwriting strategy aligns with business growth objectives, and reinsurance strategy
Lead responses to emerging risks (e.g. medical, behavioural, economic, and distribution‑driven risks)
Provide underwriting input into new product development and pricing changes


Technical Governance & Decision Authority


Act as the final technical referral point for complex, high‑risk, or non‑standard cases
Set and maintain underwriting rules, loadings, exclusions, limits, and authority levels
Ensure consistent application of underwriting decisions across teams, channels, and products
Chair or contribute to underwriting committees, technical forums, and governance structures


Portfolio Performance & Analytics


Partner with Actuarial and Reinsurance to monitor experience and take corrective action
Ensure data‑driven underwriting decisions using analytics, experience studies, and MI


Regulatory, Compliance & Risk Management


Ensure underwriting practices meet Treating Customers Fairly (TCF), POPIA, and internal governance standards
Support internal and external audits from an underwriting perspective
Ensure underwriting decisions are defensible, documented, and aligned to policy terms


Reinsurance & External Stakeholder Engagement


Serve as the primary underwriting interface with reinsurers


Lead reinsurance discussions on:


Risk appetite
Facultative cases
Treaty structures and changes
Represent underwriting in regulator, reinsurer, and senior stakeholder engagements


Leadership & Capability Building


Provide technical and strategic leadership to underwriting management and teams
Build a strong underwriting talent pipeline and succession plan
Champion continuous learning, technical development, and future‑fit underwriting skills
Foster a culture of sound judgment, accountability, and customer‑centric decision‑making


Reporting Line


Reports to Head of Claims, Underwriting and Group Schemes


Required Experience & Qualifications

Experience


10+ years underwriting experience within life insurance
Significant experience in senior underwriting leadership


Proven exposure to:


Retail and/or Group Life underwriting
Reinsurance engagement
Experience investigations
Operating model optimisation


Qualifications


Relevant degree
Relevant insurance, actuarial, or risk‑related qualification
Strong understanding of South African regulatory environment