Senior Underwriter, Excess Casualty - Central

Senior Underwriter, Excess Casualty

This is an opportunity to join Ascot Group - one of the world's preeminent specialty risk underwriting organizations.

Designed as a modern-era company operating through an ecosystem of interconnected global operating platforms, we're bound by a common mission and purpose. Our greatest strength is a talented team who flourishes in a collaborative, inclusive, and entrepreneurial culture, steeped in underwriting excellence, integrity, and a passion to find a better way, The Ascot Way.

The Ascot Way guides our people and our organization. Our underwriting platforms collaborate to find creative ways to deploy our capital in a true cross-product and cross-platform approach. These platforms work as one, deploying our capital creatively through our Client Centric, Risk Centric and Technology Centric strategies.

Built to be resilient, Ascot offers clients leading financial security while delivering bespoke products and world class service both pre- and post-claims. Ascot exists to solve our clients' brightest tomorrow, through agility, collaboration, resilience, and discipline.

Ascot is embedding artificial intelligence (AI) and automation across the organization to enhance decision making, efficiency, and quality of outcomes. In this role, you will be expected to work confidently alongside AI enabled tools, apply sound judgment when interpreting insights, and adapt as technology continues to evolve. We value curiosity, critical thinking, and a willingness to embrace change as part of how we work.

Position Overview:

Ascot's Excess Casualty Business Unit is expanding, and we are seeking a Senior Underwriter, Excess Casualty, to join the Excess Casualty National Accounts team to support their assigned region. As Senior Underwriter, you will be responsible for generating new business and overseeing a portfolio of renewable business while operating within your assigned authority. The successful candidate will analyze data, evaluate potential liabilities, and cultivate strong relationships with brokers and clients throughout the region.

Responsibilities:

• Own the profitability, growth, and retention of an assigned Excess Casualty portfolio by executing disciplined risk selection and underwriting strategies aligned with the business unit's objectives.
• Evaluate, structure, price, negotiate, and bind complex accounts, balancing customer needs with risk appetite and long-term profitability.
• Monitor premium, exposure, loss activity, expenses, and claims trends at the account and portfolio levels; take timely corrective action when performance falls outside expectations.
• Exercise sound independent judgment within delegated underwriting authority and promptly refer risks that fall outside established guidelines or authority.
• Build collaborative relationships with underwriting peers, leaders, and cross-functional partners to identify cross-selling opportunities, support product development, and improve operational effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain strong broker and client relationships, effectively communicating Ascot's value proposition and generating profitable new business opportunities.
• Apply underwriting guidelines consistently and uphold underwriting integrity, prioritizing sustainable profitability over top-line growth.
• Provide practical, constructive feedback to regional and home-office leadership to improve processes, increase efficiency, and enhance the broker and client experience.
• Use internal and third-party data, analytics, and AI-enabled tools to strengthen risk assessment, improve underwriting productivity, and support informed decision-making.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Demonstrate The Ascot Way in daily interactions by fostering collaboration, inclusion, colleague development, engagement, and individual accountability.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• At least three years of underwriting experience in the property and casualty insurance industry; Excess Casualty underwriting experience is strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of Excess Casualty products, underwriting practices, and applicable insurance regulations; established retail broker relationships are preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to assess complex risks, interpret financial and loss information, and apply strong technical, analytical, quantitative, and critical-thinking skills.
• Strong negotiation, relationship-management, and influencing skills, with the ability to navigate challenging discussions with brokers, agents, clients, and internal stakeholders.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate underwriting decisions clearly and credibly.
• Highly organized and able to manage a portfolio, prioritize competing demands, meet deadlines, and work effectively with limited supervision.
• Collaborative, solution-oriented, and self-motivated, with the adaptability to succeed in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to work effectively with data, analytics, and AI-enabled underwriting tools.
• ASLI, CPCU, ARM, or another relevant professional designation is preferred but not required.
• Ability to travel approximately 1015%.

***This position may be filled at a different level, depending on experience***

Compensation

Actual base pay could vary and may be above or below the listed range based on factors including but not limited to experience, subject matter expertise, and skills. The base pay is just one component of Ascot's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual cash bonus and other forms of discretionary compensation awarded by the Company.

The annualized base pay range for this role is: $115,000 - $140,000.

Company Benefits

The Company provides a competitive benefits package that includes the following (eligibility requirements apply):

Health and Welfare Benefits: Medical (including prescription coverage), Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Commuter Account, Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, AD&D, Work/Life Resources (including Employee Assistance Program), and more.

Leave Benefits: Paid holidays, annual Paid Time Off (includes paid state /local paid leave where required), Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability, Other leaves (e.g., Bereavement, FMLA, Adoption, Maternity, Military, Primary & Non-Primary Caregiver)

Retirement Benefits: Contributory Savings Plan (401k)

Job Info

• Job Identification 1075
• Posting Date 10/09/2026, 05:01 PM
• Job Schedule Full time
• Locations Chicago