Area Manager

Job Introduction

About Woodgate & Clark

Woodgate & Clark has been providing a loss adjusting service to the UK insurance market for over 40 years and is one of the UK’s leading loss adjusters, providing complete claims solutions to insurance providers operating in commercial, domestic, marine, and motor. The Company excels at the handling of specialist and non-standard claims. We are currently just under 400 team members across the UK and since 2015, Woodgate & Clark has been part of the Van Ameyde Group, Europe’s market leader in international claims management. Van Ameyde operates across more than 30 territories through 46 operating companies, with more than 1500 team members.

To complement our adjusting services, we also have our own dedicated building repair network, Quadrassist, and provide specialist loss adjusting services in entertainment, events, and advertising through Spotlite Claims.

The Role

As an Area Manager you will be supporting the delivery of a market leading claims service through effective operational service management across an area adjusting team. This will involve a commitment to meet and exceed client service standards. The role will support continuous improvement, drive efficiencies across the team and facilitate client engagement. May at times be required to manage a small caseload of claims, as volumes dictate.

The Person

• Driven, with ability to work on own initiative and work to given targets.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• A positive attitude and a proactive approach to solving problems.
• Able to prioritise and co-ordinate a variety of actions concurrently.
• Ability to exercise discretion. 
• Resilience 
• Act ethically and with integrity

Responsibilities 

The responsibilities of the role include (though are not limited to): 

• Support Property Operations Director to drive a high-performance culture in which direct reports meet and exceed client service agreements. 
• In conjunction with Property Operations Director, ensure delivery of fee income across the team.
• Apply commercial mindset to performance identifying cost saving opportunities and driving service efficiencies.
• Resource and capacity management including holidays authorisation, WIP management etc.
• Understand and drive team and individual performance through analysis of performance data, technical input from internal stakeholders and regular feedback which includes formal appraisals.
• Build engaged and motivated teams through regular team meetings and business updates.
• Forge strong internal relationships with key internal stakeholders to support technical requirements and client’s needs.
• Assist development of relationships with existing and new clients.
• Ensure regulatory requirements are adhered to personally and across the team. 
• Ability to manage own caseload of claims having regard to service management responsibilities.
• Investigate and manage material damage and business interruption claims including conducting site visits, preparing case management plans in accordance with client requirements and broker expectation.
• Prepare reports and comment in detail on all aspects of the claim, to include policy analysis, quantum (including business interruption), recovery and any future actions.
• Instruct and control claim related experts such as: lawyers, forensic scientists, Surveyors etc. 
• Communicate regularly with all interested parties, calculate, and approve interim payments - as required, prepare interim reports and appropriate related communication.
• Calculate and agree settlement of claims and prepare final reports.

Skills and Experience (E: essential, D: desirable)

• Adjusting/ Insurance experience (E).
• Excellent customer service, organisational & planning skills (E). 
• Strong stakeholder management, report writing and communication skills (E).
• Commercial awareness (E).
• Customer focus (E).
• Communication and stakeholder management (E).
• People management (E).
• Problem solving (E).
• Planning and organisational skills (E).

Education and Qualifications (E: essential, D: desirable)

• ACILA, or ACII or other relevant professional qualification or experience (D).