Regional Manager

The role holder will be required to formulate strategies for a seamless end to end service model for the KwaZulu Natal Region, through ownership of all capabilities, aligned to maintaining the interface between the Sales and Underwriting operations, as well as the implementation of business development tools and frameworks including monitoring processes to ensure a world class sales capability in order to achieve the target growth and profitability objectives for the Region. This involves leading a team of specialists to execute a world class sales capability, product & business development implementation, as well as budgeting and management of an effective and efficient operation.

Key Accountabilities
- Oversee that new and existing UMA portfolios are analysed and evaluated effectively within delegated authority limits to achieve agreed levels of underwriting performance.
- Progress the sales and underwriting strategy and business plan for the Region that will establish the business unit as a centre of excellence for sales and underwriting execution.
- Ensure that all monthly processes and production of management reports for each UMA are completed and well managed.
- Deliver a targeted underwriting profit coupled to targeted growth across the portfolio and managing the regional expense ratio and spend.
- Optimisation of sales and underwriting related activities across the Region by building a robust sales and underwriting strategy and executing on it,
- Manage and measure all activities through deploying best of breed practices coupled to learning and development of staff.
- Driving the development of new broker relationships and the management of existing broker relationships across the country
- Implementation of effective and efficient business processes to deliver a better customer service and reduce expenses within the business unit.
- Influence current and future sales and underwriting strategies.
- Drive the culture to optimise performance
- Track and manage expenses, regional as well as individual costs per staff member, i.e. cellphones, fuel etc
- Ensure alignment between marketing initiatives through prioritisation of sales initiatives.
- Influence the decisions around the development of sales channels by participating in decisions around new and current channels
- Report on variances for the utilisation and establishment of sales and underwriting performance measurements to the appropriate leadership structures
- Cultivate a customer centric culture through continuous communication of a customer service strategy to ensure customer orientation and focus across the Region
- Conduct in-depth investigations, where recurring issues are identified that relate to the sales or underwriting performance to ensure that corrective and preventative measures are put in place.
- Ensure sales and underwriting planning is linked to optimal customer experience.
- Set, optimise and align governance framework to ensure alignment to strategy and optimal customer experience.
- Monitor effectiveness of current sales initiatives and make recommendations to future programmes.
- Monitor effectiveness of sales campaigns to ensure optimal execution and instruct that reparative actions be taken where required.
- Meet or improve on the targeted loss ratio.
- Establish stakeholder needs and expectations in order to develop effective stakeholder engagement plans.
- Update the leadership and staff on a monthly basis and provide operational input on the regional performance.
- Meet with brokers on a regular basis.

Qualification & Experience
- B-degree in Commerce, Sciences, Business Administration, or Finance / equivalent
- Graduate calibre with 10 years+ short term insurance industry experience
- Proven experience in leading and managing teams
- Previous experience in senior management role
- Proven experience with brokerages, and a strong market profile a distinct advantage
- FAIS compliant
- KI/RE1
- RE 5 Product

Knowledge Required
- Sound understanding and knowledge of South African Insurance/re-insurance market and global markets.
- Sound knowledge of statutory and legislative requirements.
- Good technical knowledge and understanding of sales and underwriting principles.
- Sound knowledge of New Co South Africa and its business strategy and objectives.

Technical Skills
- Proven track record of successful delivery.
- Good financial and budgeting skills to control and track sales performance and expenses.
- Superior communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
- Ability to present and communicate confidently at all levels of the organisation.
- Ability to work outside conventional boundaries, to challenge and promote.
- Strong networking skills.
- Comfortable working across internal organisational boundaries.
- Sound business and financial acumen.
- Project Management

Leadership Skills
- Team building, coaching and leadership
- Talent management
- Planning & Organising
- Interpersonal Skills
- Strategic thinking