VP. Claims- Casualty and Professional Lines

The VP, Claims – Casualty & Professional Lines role is based in New York City, NY and reports to the Head of Argo Insurance in Hamilton, Bermuda.  Regular travel to Bermuda will be required.  This position oversees and handles all excess casualty and professional lines insurance claims emanating from policies written by Argo Insurance in Bermuda.  The successful candidate will be responsible for the effective management of a team of three claims adjusters (one in the UK and two in Bermuda) to ensure department goals are met.  This includes providing training, mentoring, and technical oversight of the employees, hiring and retaining qualified staff, ensuring employee performance objectives and metrics are in place and being met, conducting quality assurance audits and providing feedback, and managing expenditures to budget/plan.

Additional Key Responsibilities include:

• Providing support to the underwriting team, actuaries and senior management, including advising on claims developments, trends and market issues and attending client meetings and market events to assist with business acquisition and developing the book;

• Ensuring full compliance with all stipulated global and local operating protocols, procedures and policies, service standards and regulatory compliance;

• Being a positive role model and proactively seeking to identify and implement continuous improvements to streamline the claims processes, procedures and systems to drive efficiency whilst promoting best practices;

• Working closely with claims adjusters/outside counsel to put cost-effective and appropriate litigation management strategies in place that will lead to the best overall outcome.

Key Requirements, Skills and Competencies:

• A minimum 10 years’ experience adjudicating direct excess casualty & professional lines claims with limited direction and a proven ability to negotiate, problem solve and make decisions with sound and reasoned judgment.  Prior experience effectively managing claims adjusters preferred.

• J.D. from an accredited law school.

• Specialization across multiple jurisdictions but with a very strong focus on the US;

• In-depth knowledge and experience of assessing coverage under the Bermuda form as well as London and US excess forms with the ability to analyze complex coverage issues and challenge legal advice;

• Ability to build strong relationships with brokers and other insurance market participants in and outside the Bermuda market in large risk claims adjusting;

• Ability to understand and apply regulatory and legal requirements in the claims context;

• Ability to participate in industry conferences and committees;

• Effectively communicating with legal counsel and active participation in Mediation/Arbitration.

• Must work independently and demonstrate the ability to exercise sound judgment.

• Ability to travel approximately 25% of the time, usually to Bermuda

About Working in Claims at Argo Group

• Argo Group does not treat our claims or our claims professionals as a commodity. The work we offer is challenging, diverse, and impactful.

• Our Adjusters and Managers are empowered to exercise their independent discretion and, within broad limits and authority, be creative in developing solutions and treat each case as the unique situation it is. 

• We have a very flat organizational structure, enabling our employees have more interaction with our senior management team, especially when it relates to reviewing large losses. 

• Our entire claims team works in a collaborative nature to expeditiously resolve claims.  We offer a work environment that inspires innovation and is open to employee suggestions. We even offer rewards for creative and innovative ideas. 

• We believe in building an inclusive and diverse team, and we strive to make our office a welcoming space for everyone. We encourage talented people from all backgrounds to apply.

We are committed to:

• Demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit:
  • Get the job done in a non-bureaucratic, resourceful manner.
  • Create a culture of accountability ensuring the delivery of world-class products and services.
• Do the right thing:
  • Act with integrity always.
  • Adhere to the commitments set forth in the Argo Group Environmental, Social and Governance program.
• Collaborate:
  • Create an open and transparent environment in which diverse experience, skill sets, and individuals can team together to drive optimal outcomes.
  • Encourage and include unique perspectives at all times.
• Respect each other:
  • Create an environment that promotes dialogue, mutual support and cooperation between and among all, where people are fun to be around, proud of what they do, and willing to achieve beyond normal expectations.