Head of Specialty/Casualty - London or Leeds

Posted: 24 June 2026

Job description

We are very pleased to be working with this very reputable and professional MGA who is seeking an experienced Liability Underwriter the lead their speciality division.

With offices based in the city of London office and Leeds office, you could be based in either location with a hybrid working arrangement.

Our client has grown significantly over the last few years and has robust plans to develop further.

The current Head of Speciality is looking to retire in the not-too-distant future, and there would therefore be a full hand over and succession plan upon joining.

The Opportunity

Devise, develop and implement the company’s Specialty Underwriting strategy and contribute to Underwriting delivery capability across the business. Lead the development of the associated policies, procedures and technical capability across all business lines to ensure there is effective management and oversight of all insurance risks and adherence to regulatory responsibilities.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Devise, develop, implement and monitor our Underwriting strategy and vision across specified lines of business and Underwriting teams. Own and manage profitability across the lines of business. 
• Own, review and manage company’s Underwriting risk appetite strategy ensuring alignment to both Board/Solvency Risk Appetite and wider underwriting risk appetite. Direct, champion and cascade to Underwriting teams to ensure the strategy provides the operational underwriting appetite framework in which Underwriting decisions are taken.
• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of Underwriting policies, procedures and controls to ensure compliance with technical standards, legislation, regulation and industry codes and ensure this aligns to business strategy, corporate risk appetite and sales objectives, taking account of future risk potential and external developments.
• Provide expert knowledge to underwriting teams to enable the effective management of insurance risk for all lines of business, including the assessment of risk accumulations, to support the delivery of long-term business objectives.
• Provide expert knowledge to the Business in terms of future threats and opportunities created through the changes in the external industry and Insurance Risk environment to inform our overall Underwriting, Pricing and Product approach.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external professional and industry bodies including potential external partners and capacity providers as well as internal departments.
• Deliver short term / one-off projects and activities as required
• Be a key internal and external advocate and voice for Avid within Specialty
• Lead, manage, motivate and develop direct reports so that they know what is expected, are able to maximise their contribution to business objectives and realise their potential).

Experience & Knowledge

• Broad liability underwriting experience and technical expertise across various trades/sectors.
• Some property experience would be preferable
• Experience of being accountable for the Underwriting Strategy (risk selection/account performance/underwriting rules/ risk acceptance criteria) of a General Insurance product
• A broad understanding of and a deep interest in the specific LOB / Segment
• Experience of leading teams (line and/or project teams)
• Relevant General Insurance experience in Personal or Commercial lines (comprising pricing, underwriting or product functions)

They would also consider candidates wishing to make the next step up, so if you have a pro-active approach and willingness to succeed this could be the ideal career move.

They are offering a very attractive base salary (from £80K to well into six figures), and are therefore willing to pay accordingly, plus some excellent staff benefits.

If you would like to find out more regarding this opportunity, please contact Andy Baker on 07834 596414/0113 4931720, or email andy@cryerbaker.co.uk