Senior Underwriter, Transactional Surety

Position Summary

The Transactional Commercial Surety Underwriter is responsible for underwriting, pricing, and managing a portfolio of transactional surety business across a broad range of bond types nationwide. This role partners closely with agents and brokers to drive new business growth, maintain profitability, and deliver exceptional service standards in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

Key Responsibilities
Underwriting & Risk Assessment

- Evaluate and underwrite transactional commercial surety submissions, including but not limited to motor vehicle dealer (MVD), license & permit, subdivision, court, contract-related transactional, mortgage broker, and specialty bonds.

- Analyze financial statements, credit reports, and supporting documentation to assess risk and determine appropriate terms, conditions, and pricing.

- Apply underwriting authority to approve, decline, or modify submissions in alignment with company guidelines and risk appetite.

- Ensure compliance with internal underwriting standards, regulatory requirements, and state-specific bond obligations.

Production & Portfolio Management

- Manage a high volume of transactional submissions while maintaining strong turnaround times and service levels.

- Monitor and manage a book of business to ensure profitability, retention, and appropriate risk diversification.

- Identify opportunities for cross-selling and account expansion within existing agency relationships.

Agent/Broker Relationship Management

- Build and maintain strong relationships with agency partners to drive submission flow and grow market share.

- Communicate underwriting decisions effectively, including providing clear rationale and alternative solutions when appropriate.

- Negotiate terms, pricing, and commission structures to remain competitive while maintaining underwriting discipline.

- Act as a market-facing representative to support agency growth and retention initiatives.

Business Development

- Support new business development efforts by identifying target agencies and producers within the transactional surety space.

- Participate in agency visits, industry events, and networking opportunities to strengthen relationships and increase brand presence.

- Collaborate with leadership to execute strategic growth initiatives within the transactional surety segment.

Operational Excellence

- Maintain accurate documentation and records within underwriting systems.

- Ensure timely issuance of bonds, endorsements, renewals, and cancellations.

- Partner with internal teams (claims, legal, compliance, operations) as needed to support business objectives.

Qualifications & Experience

- 2+ years of experience in commercial surety underwriting, with a focus on transactional business required

- Established relationships within the surety agency/broker community required

- Proven experience underwriting a broad range of bond types (e.g., MVD, subdivision, license & permit, court, contractor-related transactional, specialty bonds)

- Strong understanding of credit analysis, risk assessment, and financial statement review

- Demonstrated ability to manage high submission volume while maintaining underwriting discipline

- Experience negotiating terms, pricing, and commissions in a competitive marketplace

- Knowledge of state-specific bonding requirements and regulatory environment preferred

Skills & Competencies

- Strong analytical and decision-making skills

- Excellent communication and negotiation abilities

- Relationship-driven, with a strong customer-service orientation

- Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment

- High attention to detail and organizational skills

- Results-oriented mindset with a focus on growth and profitability

Compensation & Benefits

The applicable base salary for this opportunity is $100,000 - $125,000. The base pay offered will be determined by factors such as experience, skills, training, location, certifications, educat