Head of Management Liability - Financial Institutions

This is your opportunity to join AXIS Capital - a trusted global provider of specialty lines insurance and reinsurance. We stand apart for our outstanding client service, intelligent risk taking and superior risk adjusted returns for our shareholders.

We also proudly maintain an entrepreneurial, disciplined and ethical corporate culture. As a member of AXIS, you join a team that is among the best in the industry.

At AXIS, we believe that we are only as strong as our people. We strive to create an inclusive and welcoming culture where employees of all backgrounds and from all walks of life feel comfortable and empowered to be themselves.

This means that we bring our whole selves to work.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, civil union status, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Accommodation is available upon request for candidates taking part in the selection process.

Job Description

AXIS is seeking a Head of Management Liability - Financial Institutions Claims to join our North America Claims team and will report to the Head of NA Professional Liability Claims.

As a direct report to the Head of NA Professional Liability Claims, the selected candidate will have the lead responsibility for Management Liability Claim for AXIS Insurance North America.

The selected candidate will work closely with colleagues across AXIS Insurance including North American Claims and International Claims as well as the Commercial Management Solutions (CMS) and Financial Institutions (FI) Business Units in order to develop and drive an industry leading claims offering and strategy.

This role will be responsible for leading and developing a sophisticated team of claims professionals that will be responsible for :

Handling and managing a wide variety of Management Liability Claims including Private Equity, Investment Advisors E&O and D&O, Insurance Company Professional Liability, Bankers Professional Liability, Transactional Liability & Contingent Risk.

Ensuring that the team engages in the investigation, analysis and evaluation of coverage liability and damages, within best practices

Providing technical advice, training and guidance to direct reports and TPA / Contractor adjusters including strategic direction

Recruiting, hiring and retaining top talent and develop appropriate succession plans

Reviewing management liability claims to determine nature of loss, coverage provided, and scope of claim and to guide strategic direction regarding settlement / disposition of claims

Developing and maintaining relationships with internal and external partners as their lead contact within the claims department for assigned claims and the claims of his / her direct reports.

Close collaboration with the Specialty Complex Claims team with regard to coverage disputes, including litigation and arbitration matters initiated by Axis issuing companies and when Axis issuing companies are parties to such litigation;

Collaborating across disciplines and business units, including : the general counsel team overseeing errors and omissions issues arising from claims handling

Escalating coverage issues and recommending outside coverage counsel assignments for approval, where warranted

Formulating claims and litigation strategies, assigning, directing, and managing outside counsel

Managing costs, including use of coverage counsel and litigation costs as well as collaborating and working with the Litigation Management and Vendor Management teams ensuring cost management and the development and enhancement of counsel panel

Fostering relationships and communicating extensively with senior executives, brokers, reinsurers, actuaries, underwriters, insureds, and auditors (both external and internal)

Supporting underwriting inquiries and information requests regarding policy construction and drafting, reporting claim trends, data analysis, and risk assessments

Maintaining documentation of key line of business statistics and metrics

Leading and participating in presentations and discussions with Underwriters and Insureds on large losses and claim trends

Leading and participating in claim audits, audit wrap up meetings, and formal result reporting

Develop and refine, in partnership with the CMS and FI Underwriting and North American Claim Operations, a best in class Panel for the middle market segments of CMS and FI Claims written on duty to defend forms connecting the "right" client with the "right" defense counsel.

• Partner with North American Claim Leadership to actively manage and review KPIs including new claim counts, closing ratios, staffing needs, ULAE and ALAE spend, MIA audit process, and performance issues when they arise.
• Partner with CMS and FI Underwriting & Professional Liability Actuarial on issues including claim metrics, claim trends, and risk assessments including quarterly reserving reviews.
• Participate in special projects and department initiatives.

Identifying, liability and coverage trends and issues with both individual and portfolio impact and formulating the processes and strategies for handling such claims as well as ensuring accurate and consistent claims management across impacted underwriting segments and lines of business.

Actively coaching and mentoring direct reports, providing regular feedback, and developing employees for broader roles and responsibilities that support professional growth and development and working collaboratively with HR Business partner support and guidance.

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications :

• Juris Doctorate
• Minimum of 10 years of experience handling or leading complex Management Liability claims and driving claims strategy
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team, interact with peers and others within AXIS Insurance, meet deadlines, and successfully perform in a changing and at times, challenging work environment
• High exposure / complex claim exposure evaluation skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage the "flow" associated with Management Liability claims and manage KPIs including Average Incurreds
• Excellent negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills.

KEY SKILLS & ABILITIES :

10+ years of Management Liability claims management experience as well as :

Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and management skills or experience practicing law as well as claims management (both directly managed and TPA managed claims)

Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate at all organizational levels, both internally and externally as well as the ability to identify and resolve complex, disputed claims

Analytical thinker that can drive results using all facets of the legal and claims processes

Understanding of and ability to balance both the immediate claim issues as well as the broader portfolio impact and customer service impact of coverage disputes and issues

Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to deal effectively with people with conflicting expectations, differing opinions, and multiple viewpoints

Demonstrated ability and experience handling management liability claims involving a wide variety of loss scenarios as well as reporting and presenting about same to senior management

In-depth knowledge of claims, litigation, arbitration, and trial processes as well as excellent analytical, investigative, and negotiating skills

Juris Doctorate required. Admitted to practice a plus.

Technical knowledge, skills, and training within the field to include :

Complex coverage analysis and experience required

D&O Coverage knowledge is required

Experience evaluating adequacy of reserves

Excellent presentation, writing and editing skills

Experience providing direction and authority to adjusters

Familiarity with KPI, Data, and Metrics

Valid adjuster licenses by state as required and add states to certifications as needed within 90 days of employment

Travel is associated with this role ( e.g., team management, court proceedings, mediations, and settlement)