Motor Underwriting Analyst

Job Title: Motor Underwriting Analyst

Department Underwriting & Reinsurance

 Reporting To Head of Underwriting

Role Purpose

The Motor Pricing & Portfolio Actuary is responsible for driving pricing excellence, portfolio profitability, actuarial analytics, and underwriting discipline across the Motor and Retail P&C portfolios.

The role serves as the organization's strategic actuarial and risk management for Motor business, P&C retails business combining advanced pricing techniques, portfolio diagnostics, profitability management, reserving oversight, and strategic business insights to support sustainable growth and improved shareholder returns. The candidate will provide independent actuarial intelligence to management by identifying emerging risks, recommending pricing and underwriting actions, challenging reserve assumptions, optimizing portfolio mix, and supporting data-driven decision making across the business.

Key Responsibilities

1. Motor Pricing & Rate Adequacy

Lead periodic Motor tariff and pricing adequacy reviews.

Develop and maintain risk-based pricing frameworks.

Design and enhance pricing models using actuarial and statistical methodologies.

Recommend pricing actions based on profitability, competitive positioning, and market dynamics.

Monitor pricing effectiveness and post-implementation performance.

Establish discount governance frameworks and underwriting controls.

Support implementation and refinement of GLM and predictive pricing models.

Evaluate the impact of inflation, repair costs, spare parts costs, claim severity trends, and regulatory changes on pricing adequacy.

Assess profitability by Customer segment, Vehicle type, Geography, Distribution channel, sum insured / IDV bands, Driver’s bands,

Identify underperforming segments and recommend corrective actions.

2. Portfolio Diagnostics & Performance Management

Develop and maintain advanced portfolio dashboards and management information systems.

Monitor: Loss Ratio, Combined Ratio, Frequency, Severity, Retention, Renewal & new business rates, Rate change adequacy, Portfolio mix, Channel profitability

Conduct deep-dive portfolio reviews at: Product level, Segment level, Geographic level, Distribution level, Customer level

Identify early warning indicators and emerging adverse trends.

Perform: Cohort analysis, Vintage analysis, Loss development monitoring, Profit leakage analysis

Benchmark company performance against market and competitors.

Strategic Interventions such as Pricing changes, Product redesign, Channel optimization, Underwriting rule enhancements, Portfolio rebalancing initiatives

3. Actuarial Modelling & Predictive Analytics

Develop predictive models to improve risk selection and pricing accuracy.

Utilize GLM, machine learning, and advanced statistical techniques where appropriate.

Analyze customer behavior and retention patterns.

Build actuarial tools for Pricing simulations, Scenario testing, Business forecasting, Sensitivity analysis

Evaluate new rating factors and data sources including telematics and behavioral data.

4. Reserving Oversight & Actuarial Controls

Independently review and challenge reserve assumptions applied by the Appointed Actuary.

Analyze IBNR, IBNER, PDR, Large loss loadings, Catastrophe reserves

Perform reserve adequacy studies and back-testing exercises.

Conduct claims development analyses and triangulations.

Ensure portfolio trends are reflected in actuarial reserving assumptions.

Support governance discussions relating to reserve adequacy and capital implications.

5. Product Development & Innovation

Support development of new Motor and Retail insurance products.

Conduct product profitability assessments.

Review pricing implications of product enhancements and policy changes.

Evaluate emerging insurance opportunities and niche customer segments.

Assist in development of digital and telematics-driven insurance solutions.

6. Management Information & Board Reporting

Develop actuarial insights for CEO, Head of Underwriting, CFO, Executive Committee, Underwriting Committees

Translate complex actuarial findings into business-friendly recommendations.

Prepare dashboard highlighting Portfolio performance, Pricing adequacy, Reserve adequacy, Profitability drivers, Strategic risks, Corrective action plans

7. Systems, Data & Analytics Enablement

Work closely with IT and Digital teams to improve data quality and data architecture.

Define actuarial data requirements and governance standards.

Lead portfolio MIS automation initiatives.

Develop actuarial dashboards and pricing tools.

Enhance availability and reliability of underwriting and claims data.

Support implementation of business intelligence and analytics solutions.

8. Cross-Functional Business Partnership

Partner with Underwriting, Claims, Finance, Reinsurance, Distribution, Risk Management, and Product teams.

Provide actuarial insights supporting strategic decision-making.

Influence underwriting and distribution strategies using data-driven recommendations.

Support major account reviews and profitability assessments.

Become the trusted actuarial advisor to Motor business leadership.

Desired Candidate Profile

Requirements:

Educational Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Actuarial science, Mathematics, Economics, Engineering, Data Science or related quantitative discipline.

Experience Requirements 5+ years of actuarial experience in General Insurance especially 4+ years in Motor pricing, reserving, or portfolio analytics. Experience in pricing model development and portfolio profitability management. Strong understanding of Motor insurance business dynamics.

Preferred Work Experience in GCC / MENA market experience, Exposure to retail Motor and Personal Lines portfolios.

Skills:

Technical Skills: GLM Pricing Models, Predictive Analytics, Reserving Techniques, Claims Development Analysis, Portfolio Optimization, Statistical Modelling, Scenario Testing

Systems & Tools: Advanced Excel, SQL, Power BI, Python etc

Behavioral: Strategic thinker, Analytical & investigative mindset, apply strong professional judgement, Results driven with strong ownership mentality, Collaborative leadership style, Decent business acumen.