Job title: Senior Commercial Account Handler
Salary: £Competitive, dependent on experience
Location: London City
PURPOSE OF ROLE
An independent, family-run broking house that has looked after theatres, producers, dance companies and commercial clients since 1936 is looking for a Senior Commercial Account Handler. The firm has built its reputation by putting people before process, and this role sits at the heart of that.
You will own a portfolio of entertainment and commercial risks, turning specialist knowledge into cover that works, whether that is on opening night or at the next board meeting. Your relationships are what keep a small, independent firm competitive against the super-brokers: decisions are made in hours rather than weeks, and you deal directly with underwriters who still pick up the phone. It is genuine specialist work, with West End producers, amateur societies, dance schools and commercial landlords all in one book.
RESPONSIBILITIES
· Retaining at least 95% of your assigned commercial and entertainment accounts each year through proactive mid-term reviews and personal service.
· Placing new and renewal business with leading insurers, with 90% of quotes issued within two working days of a complete brief.
· Growing your book by 10% annually by cross-selling property, liability and specialist entertainment covers to existing clients.
· Resolving 80% of claims queries at first contact and keeping clients informed through to settlement.
· Identifying and documenting coverage gaps on every major theatrical or commercial account within 30 days of renewal, then presenting practical solutions.
· Mentoring one junior handler so that they can independently service a small book within six months.
· Meeting FCA and Treating Customers Fairly standards across all client dealings and file records.
DAY-TO-DAY
· Reporting to the Directors from a small London office, working alongside a tight-knit team of brokers with decades of theatre and commercial experience.
· Speaking directly with producers, landlords and event organisers to extract full risk information and turn it into accurate market presentations.
· Negotiating terms and placing risks with a long-standing insurer panel.
· Handling mid-term adjustments and endorsements under your own modest discretionary authority.
· Running renewals end to end, from information gathering and pre-renewal review through to presenting terms and confirming cover.
· Reacting to the things that come up in the entertainment world at short notice, a change of venue, an added performance date, a new production entirely.
· Working with full access to the client files, insurer relationships and tools of a 90-year-old independent firm, without layers of bureaucracy in the way.
EXPERIENCE
· A proven track record of placing and servicing commercial and/or entertainment risks
· CII Diploma or an equivalent qualification.
· Current, practical knowledge of EL, PL, property and specialist theatrical covers would be advantageous
· Experience handling accounts without a support team behind you, ideally gained in an independent or smaller brokerage.
· A working understanding of FCA requirements and Treating Customers Fairly in a broking environment.
SKILLS
· Strong questioning skills, the ability to get complete risk information out of producers, landlords and event organisers and turn it into an accurate presentation.
· Calm, precise written and spoken English that clients trust when a claim or a last-minute change of venue lands.
· Commercial awareness, with an eye for cross-sell opportunities and coverage gaps.
· Confidence negotiating directly with underwriters.
· A genuinely client-first approach that suits a firm where clients still know your name.
· The patience and generosity to bring on a less experienced colleague.
· Self-sufficiency and good organisation, you will be trusted to manage your own portfolio.
If you have the relevant experience or know someone that does, please contact Glenn Youens on 07458162848 or email glenn@lawesgroup.co.uk