Claims Handler
Permanent
Bristol
up to £30K plus excellent benefits package
Our client, an award-winning legal firm based in central Bristol has a fantastic new opportunity to join a growing team that handles claims made against professionals on an outsourced basis. The team handles claims on behalf of leading insurers, acting under delegated authority levels for pre-litigated matters from first notification of loss to resolution. This includes running a caseload which requires you to review and investigate cover, assist insured professionals respond to claims and report to Insurers where necessary.
The team provides significant value to the wider law firm as an internal client through the provision of referral instructions to act as panel solicitors and is an important aspect of the firm’s insurance business and future strategy.
The desire is to build the team and proactively expand the scope of its fixed fee work across claims handling schemes and books of defendant PI work, by obtaining new business and contracts, whilst also consolidating and strengthening the relationships with our existing clients.
Working with the Head of Claims and other team members, you will be responsible for a technical and efficient delivery of service. Collectively, you will be responsible for building and shaping the team for the future, embedding principles of lean and efficient working, and establishing the culture, values and behaviours that make for an attractive and varied legal career.
Day to day duties are likely to include:
- Review insurance policy terms, identify, investigate and report potential issues to insurers.
- Assist Insured’s to respond appropriately to complaints and claims, investigating externally where appropriate and consider at an early stage the merits and value of claims.
- Negotiate settlement of claims within the delegated authority. Working efficiently, commercially and equitably in line with delegated authority.
- Understand the internal SLA’s and KPI’s of the team and ensure adherence to these standards.
- Understand Insurer requirements and comply with Insurer SLA’s and KPI’s.
- Responsible for the proactive management of a caseload to avoid unnecessary litigation and ensure effective resolution.
- Responsible for maintaining and ensuring the completeness, accuracy, quality and integrity of data on the electronic case management system for their caseload.
- Supporting monthly and ad hoc reporting to Insurer clients.
- Provide excellent customer service at all times, contributing to being a market leading claims function.
- Ensure a consistent approach to client claims and implementing Insurers’ reserving policies, so that claims are dealt with fairly and costs are properly controlled, supported by the use of the most appropriate approved external suppliers.
- Identify trends and escalate risk information to the Head of Claims and insurers where appropriate, to help manage the profitability of the work portfolio.
- Seek continuous self-development and keep up to date with changes in the profession, ensuring you are able to provide market leading solutions.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with intermediaries, customers and suppliers to ensure defined service levels are met and exceeded.
- Ensure that quality assurance standards are achieved and procedures followed to agreed standard.
Position requirements:
Essential:
- Law degree or working towards ACII, CILEX or equivalent legal qualification; alternatively significant experience in claims with technical knowledge and expertise.
- Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing, and an understanding of how to provide excellent customer service
- Strong decision-making skills
- Ability to plan and organise
- Customer focussed and target driven
- Comprehensive understanding of relevant legislative and legal framework
- Hardworking, enthusiastic and motivated
- Ability to adapt to shifting priorities and adapt plans accordingly, consistently producing high quality work even when under tight timescales
- Organised and efficient, able to work on own initiative and as part of a team
- Ability to deal with difficult or demanding situations and clients
- Good knowledge and confident use of Microsoft office (including Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook) and ideally previous experience of working with a case management system.
Desirable:
- LLB Law, GDL, ACII, CILEX or equivalent legal qualifications
- Comprehensive technical claims knowledge and experience
- A good working knowledge of law firm operations and pressures; understanding the need for efficient, timely, cost-effective support
- Comprehensive understanding of relevant legislative and legal framework
- Demonstrable experience of relationship management (internal and external)
This role is offered with a competitive salary depending on experience and with fantastic benefits such as: 25 days of annual leave with the option to apply annually to flex by either buying or selling some of your entitlement (pro-rated for part-time employees),Interest-free season ticket loan (following completion of probationary period), Death-in-service, Group personal pension (via salary sacrifice), Income protection, Discretionary bonuses, Private medical insurance (personal), Confidential employee assistance programme, Health screenings, Gym flex to name but a few.
Whilst we would love to respond to every single applicant applying to our roles, we are unable to reply to everyone due to the high number of CVs we receive on a daily basis. Please be aware that if you haven’t been contacted within 10 working days then unfortunately you have not been successful this time around.
