Reinsurance Claims Specialist

Job Description

Position Summary

The Reinsurance Claims Specialist is responsible for the handling and administration of a portfolio of reinsurance claims, with a primary focus on casualty and motor reinsurance business. The role will involve day-to-day claims handling from notification to resolution, including review of coverage, assessment of liability and damages, reserving, monitoring loss development, and maintaining strong relationships with brokers, ceding companies, underwriters, and internal stakeholders.

The successful candidate will work closely with Claims, Underwriting, Actuarial, and Finance teams to support effective claims management, portfolio insight, and client service. In addition to casualty and motor reinsurance claims, exposure to other lines of business would be advantageous. The role requires strong technical claims expertise, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate clearly and credibly with both internal and external stakeholders.

Location and Travel

Location: Zurich or London, depending on the successful candidate’s profile.

Travel: Required, as needed for client visits, broker meetings, internal meetings, and industry events

Reporting Line

Reports to: To be confirmed based on location.

Direct reports: None

Key Responsibilities

Claims Handling and Portfolio Management

·         Handle assigned reinsurance claims from first notification through to resolution, ensuring timely and accurate processing in accordance with company procedures and controls.

·         Assess loss exposures, including review and interpretation of policy and reinsurance contract coverage, liability, damages, and reserve adequacy across the assigned portfolio.

·         Manage a portfolio primarily consisting of casualty and motor reinsurance claims, with the flexibility to assist with other lines of business where required.

·         Monitor loss developments and ensure that significant issues, trends, and exposures are identified and escalated appropriately.

·         Maintain accurate and complete claim file documentation, diary management, and supporting documents records.

Technical Analysis and Reserving

·         Establish and maintain timely and accurate loss reserves and contribute to reserve review discussions where appropriate.

·         Evaluate the quality, completeness, and reliability of claims information provided by cedants, brokers, experts, counsel, and other stakeholders.

·         Interpret contract terms and conditions relevant to each claim, including coverage structure, retentions, attachment points, limits, exclusions, aggregates, and other relevant provisions.

·         Support analysis of loss trends and claims development to assist management, actuarial, finance, and underwriting colleagues.

Stakeholder Engagement and Client Service

·         Build and maintain effective working relationships with brokers, cedants, underwriters, actuaries, finance teams, and other internal and external business partners.

·         Attend claims meetings with current and prospective cedants and brokers, as required.

·         Provide clear and concise verbal and written communication on claims strategy, claim developments, reserve changes, and areas of concern.

·         Deliver a high standard of service and build credibility with brokers and cedants as a trusted partner in the claims handling process.

• If required, represent Sompo Re at market events, and, where appropriate, in professional associations.

Collaboration and Business Support

·         Work closely with underwriting teams to provide feedback on claims activity, contract wording issues, and emerging trends affecting the portfolio.

·         Assist with the  preparation and interpretation of data, management information, and reporting related to claims development and portfolio performance.

·         Support colleagues on cross-functional initiatives, projects, audits, and process improvement activities as required.

·         Contribute to a collaborative team environment and provide support to other claims colleagues where needed.

Compliance, Governance and Process Discipline

·         Ensure all assigned claims are handled in compliance with internal procedures, regulatory requirements, and applicable claims handling standards.

·         Maintain awareness of relevant market practices and jurisdictional considerations relevant to casualty and motor reinsurance claims.

·         Ensure appropriate escalation of complex, high-value, contentious, or reputationally sensitive matters.

·         Support accurate claims reporting and audit readiness through disciplined file management and documentation standards.

Skills, Experience and Qualifications

·         3–7 years’ relevant claims experience, ideally gained in insurance or reinsurance claims handling.

·         Experience in casualty reinsurance claims handling is preferred.

·         Good understanding of insurance and reinsurance contract terms and conditions, including different reinsurance structures and their application to claims.

·         Ability to assess liability, damages, exposure, and reserve adequacy using incomplete or evolving information.

·         Strong analytical capability and sound judgment in reviewing claims data and claim-related documentation.

·         Strong written and spoken English skills are essential. An additional European language, such as German, French, Spanish, or Italian, would be a real asset.

·         Relevant professional qualifications, or progress towards them, would be advantageous but are not essential.

·         Strong digital literacy and confidence using business software and new technologies; familiarity with claims platforms and market systems would be advantageous.

Core Competencies

·         Analytical, diligent, and detail-oriented approach to claims assessment and file management.

·         Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively and work in a structured and organized manner.

·         Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build credibility with internal and external stakeholders.

·         Customer-oriented, with the ability to balance technical accuracy and business objectives.

·         Collaborative team player with a proactive and flexible approach.

·         Resilient and dependable, with the ability to manage competing demands and work under pressure where required.