Senior Life Underwriter

About the Role

As a leading UK life and pensions mutual insurer with a proud history dating back to 1843, we exist to help people live financially confident lives – protecting their income while they work and maximising it when they stop. Today, over one million members and customers trust us to look after their futures, families and finances. Joining us means becoming part of a team that puts our members, customers and advisers at the heart of everything we do. We’re committed to creating an inclusive culture where colleagues can thrive.

We are proud to have built a workplace where our colleagues feel welcomed, respected, supported and valued – reflected in our recognition as one of the Financial Times UK’s Best Employers in 2025 and 2026. We celebrate individuality and believe our differences make us stronger, so bring your true self and help shape the future of LV=.

We are excited to announce a wonderful opportunity for an underwriting professional to join LV= as a Senior Life Underwriter. Within this unique, crucial role, you’ll efficiently underwrite new business applications for life, critical illness and income protection insurance on appropriate terms, based on risk factors presented in applications.

You will make fair and balanced decisions using relevant evidence, and by gathering further information for additional clarity where required.

The role is based at our Exeter office, however we are comfortable with accepting applications from candidates who live in other areas of the UK – we will be more than happy to discuss how this works.

About You

Our ideal candidate will…

• Be an experienced underwriting professional, with a strong understanding of life and income protection products.
• Demonstrate strong proof-reading skills, with a keen eye for detail.
• Be a knowledgeable and efficient decision-maker, with a passion for delivering excellent customer experiences.
• Showcase strong administration and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workload effectively.
• Maintain an awareness of the wider market and competitors’ products.
• Be adept at using Microsoft Office programmes such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Consistently demonstrate excellent communication skills, with the ability to deliver information in a clear, concise manner, and with patience and empathy.
• Comfortably manage workload independently, while also supporting colleagues and the wider team with achieving mutual goals.

  Key Responsibilities

• Assessing new business applications and making underwriting decisions within risk appetite and the underwriting philosophy.
• Providing fair, balanced decisions using appropriate evidence, in an efficient, customer-focused manner.
• Providing clear and robust justification of decisions where required, and referring cases to third parties, including CMO and re-assurers accurately.
• Building and maintaining strong working relationships with colleagues, customers and intermediaries.
• Contributing ideas for continuous improvement of operational processes, and aiding the resourcing of the department, thus enabling KPI’s to be met.
• Suggesting ideas to improve the overall customer journey.
• Obtaining ongoing CPD by self-education, attending training seminars, industry events and providing feedback to colleagues and business areas as required.
• Providing coaching, support and feedback to other members of the team where required, including quality checking, in a positive manner.
• Supporting on projects and testing where needed, to assist with business change plans.
• Partaking in the investigation of underwriting rules development/claims industry best practice, including analysis of MI where required.
• Acting as a strong representative on projects, including product initiatives and service improvements to drive the business forward.

  Rewards & Benefits

  This role is a Band B in the LV= salary structure.

  Please note all salary sacrifice benefits are subject to National Minimum Wage requirements i.e. you are unable to select any benefits that would reduce your base pay below the minimum wage threshold.

  At LV= Life and Pensions, you’ll go above and beyond to do the right thing for our customers.

  We’ll reward your hard work with an attractive, competitive salary and benefits package, which includes:

• 26 days' holiday – increasing after two years of service to 28 days
• The opportunity to buy or sell up to five days of holiday
• An annual bonus scheme based on company and personal performance
• Flexible benefits, including a cycle to work scheme, personal accident insurance, critical illness cover, private medical insurance, and dental insurance
• Competitive pension scheme - LV= Life and Pensions will double-match the amount you pay, up to 14% (subject to National Minimum Wage requirements)
• Group Life Assurance of four times your basic pay to your dependents (you’ll have the option to increase this to 8 x cover)
• Group Income Protection, if you enroll into the pension scheme and reach 5 years of service
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) service for support when you need it
• Virtual GP service
• Shared parental leave
• Up to 20% discount on our life products for you and your immediate family.

We’re proud of our inclusive culture at LV= and, as an equal-opportunity employer, we continually work to remove unconscious bias from our recruitment process. We value our colleagues for what they bring to our team regardless of any protected status or characteristics they may have. Talk to us about flexible working as part of your application; if it’s right for you, our members and customers, and our business, then we’ll do everything we can to make it happen.

We’re also open to conversations about flexible working as part of your application - if it’s right for our customers, our business and for you, then we’ll do everything we can to make it happen. Please note that we are unable to offer Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship for this role. Therefore, you must ensure that you are eligible to work in the UK without our sponsorship in order for your application to be considered. Go on, bring your true self to LV=.