Manager - SME Pricing

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly analytical and strategic Manager - SME Pricing to lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of pricing and underwriting strategies for our Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) portfolio. This role is pivotal in driving profitability, operational efficiency, and competitive positioning while ensuring alignment with market dynamics and regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will possess a strong blend of quantitative expertise, financial acumen, and collaborative leadership to optimize pricing models, enhance underwriting guidelines, and support new product development initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

SME Pricing and Underwriting

The Manager - SME Pricing will execute strategic pricing initiatives and conduct in-depth rate analysis to ensure the portfolio remains profitable and sustainable. Responsibilities include:

• Monitoring pricing adequacy and loss trends to identify opportunities for improvement and risk mitigation.
• Enhancing underwriting guidelines through rigorous audits and quality assurance reviews to maintain portfolio health and compliance.
• Continuously refining and maintaining pricing models and tools to align with evolving market demands, regulatory requirements, and technological advancements.
• Engaging with the Sales team to discuss, negotiate, and explain quotations and technical results, ensuring clarity and alignment on final pricing decisions.

Performance Monitoring and Analysis

To drive data-informed decision-making, the role involves tracking and analyzing key performance metrics across the SME portfolio, including:

• Premium growth, loss ratios, retention rates, and new business conversion across various distribution channels.
• Conducting variance analyses to pinpoint performance gaps and communicate actionable insights to stakeholders.
• Analyzing customer behavior and market trends to proactively adjust pricing and underwriting strategies, ensuring responsiveness to changing conditions.

New Product Development

The Manager - SME Pricing will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to design and price innovative SME products. Responsibilities include:

• Establishing risk controls and contribution margin goals to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of new products.
• Leveraging market insights and data analytics to inform product development and pricing strategies.

Documentation and Compliance

Ensuring robust documentation and adherence to operational standards is critical. This includes:

• Drafting and regularly updating pricing frameworks, underwriting guidelines, and operational procedures.
• Maintaining accurate records and documentation across commercial finance to support compliance and audit readiness.

Automation and Digitization

The role plays a key part in transforming manual processes into efficient digital solutions. Responsibilities include:

• Collaborating on the implementation of technology solutions such as pricing engines, workflow automation, and data visualization tools.
• Supporting the testing, deployment, and user training for new digital tools to enhance accessibility, efficiency, and accuracy.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Leadership

This position requires strong collaboration with key stakeholders across the organization, including:

• Working closely with Sales, Finance, and IT teams to align on pricing and underwriting initiatives.
• Fostering knowledge sharing within the pricing team to build collective expertise and drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications and Skills

Candidates for this role should possess the following qualifications and competencies:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mathematics, Actuarial Science, Finance, Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• Strong quantitative analysis skills with the ability to interpret complex data and derive actionable insights.
• Familiarity with accounting principles and exposure to financial services markets, particularly in the SME sector.
• Proficiency in data visualization tools to effectively communicate findings and trends to stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with a focus on results and innovation.