Account Specialist - Commercial Lines

Supports commercial lines (CL) operational and underwriting processes within guidelines by handling a variety of complex transactions and policy changes that support the review and acceptance/decline of new or renewal CL business. On behalf of underwriters and sales producers, serves as a primary contact for customers, sales producers, and/or agents. Compiles and/or shares policy and coverage information for assigned lines of business and customers. Ensures proper documentation and records management according to regulatory and Sentry standards and acts as a resource to less experienced members of the team and other Sentry business units.

What You'll Do

As Account Specialist, you will:

As an Account Specialist with Sentry, you’ll serve as a relationship builder to connect with customers and account managers or agents to develop positive relationships.  You’ll be responsible for the overall service experience and retention of business within assigned accounts or regions.  In addition, you’ll: 

• Serve as primary point of contact and resource for designated producer(s), customers, and/or agents within the territory.  Act as a relationship builder by using a combination of soft skills to connect with producers, customers, agents, and team to form positive relationships. Assist sales producer or agent in maximizing his/her selling time by servicing existing book, assisting with cross-selling activities to meet account completion goals, or working with placement agency (Parker Stevens Agency or Hortica Brokerage) to insure risks that are unacceptable to Sentry. Provide significant business impact through identifying opportunities, making detailed decisions, and understanding risks and consequences of business decisions.
• Serve as primary point of contact and owner of all service related items, such as incoming customer calls, emails, and faxes regarding service needs, changes, questions, and problems. Proactively monitor service needs and other requests to ensure completion, including quotes, renewals, policy changes, urgent recommendations, billing, audit, and other service items.  Provide necessary service and refers to sales producer(s) or agents when necessary. Be knowledgeable of, and keep current on, procedures and policies, as well as appropriate state requirements. Work independently with excellent time management, organization, quality decision making, and communication.
• Independently manage small commercial books of business based on defined scope within the assigned territories. You’ll be primarily responsible for overall experience and retention of this book of business, along with pursuing additional sale opportunities. Creates new and renewal applications to these smaller businesses.
• Responsible for maintaining product and procedural knowledge of commercial lines. Effectively review and explain coverages to customers. Understand Sentry’s appetite for risk and is well- versed in commercial insurance, Sentry product offerings, and excess markets available to us. Responsible for understanding quality of risks and applying sound underwriting principles within defined authority.
• Act as a relationship builder and liaison between sales producer, underwriting, other internal departments, and/or customers or agents in gathering of underwriting requirements and customer documents/signatures. Monitor status of outstanding quotes, renewals, and policy changes. Take ownership of the service team and overall service experience of the territories supported. Answer inquiries promptly and maintains frequent contact with customers, agents and/or producers.

What it Takes

• Associate Degree or equivalent work experience.
• 2+ years of related work experience.
• Property & Casualty License required; if not currently licensed, must obtain within 120 days of hire
• Prior Commercial Lines insurance experience desired with knowledge of Commercial Lines products and/or underwriting guidelines
• Ability to interpret and apply commercial insurance concepts and underwriting guidelines for majority of positions
• Ability to travel on a limited basis to attend team meetings and/or to meet prospects or current customers
• Strong PC skills and ability to quickly learn a variety of software applications
• Composure, strong customer service skills and ability to build and maintain relationships is key
• Presentation and selling skills are required
• Ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced work environment and work independently with little direction.

What You'll Receive

At Sentry, your total rewards go beyond competitive compensation. Below are some benefits and perks that you’ll receive.

• Sentry is happy to offer flexibility through a scheduled Hybrid work model. Mond