Emma McBrearty

Name: Emma McBrearty
Age: 26
Role: Small business operations manager
Company: Allianz Cornhill
Degree / University: Accountancy, University of Glasgow

Why did you choose the insurance industry?

I was keen to work in the financial sector and I was attracted to the underwriting scheme with Allianz Cornhill; the underwriter role was appealing as it combined technical skill with the ability to trade with customers.

The main benefit of this industry is the diversity of opportunities and types of roles available. Insurance companies now sell a broad spectrum of products through many distribution channels and they're seeking individuals with wide-ranging abilities.

After joining the underwriting scheme and cultivating a solid grounding in that core underwriting skill, I've been able to benefit from those opportunities. Being appointed recently into a management role is definitely the biggest highlight of my career to date.

What have you done in your career so far?

I graduated in 2000 and went on to complete a retail graduate management training programme. Then I worked as department manager for a year before deciding to move to the financial sector.

I joined Allianz Cornhill in 2002 and spent two years on the underwriting graduate scheme, building up solid foundation knowledge of underwriting and trading commercial insurance via intermediaries. I then spent a year as team leader of the small business team at our Glasgow branch, transacting insurance for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

After six months seconded to an IT project at the company's head office, I was appointed to my new role - as small business operations manager for Allianz Cornhill Commercial. Broadly, the role is to define, implement and monitor the operational strategy for trading commercial insurance for our small-business products.

What do you do in a typical working day?

I started my new role only weeks ago, so it's difficult to describe what a typical day will be like. So far I've been busy gathering information, spending time talking to colleagues who work in the small business arena, both at our head office and visiting the various teams who trade small business through intermediaries at our regional offices. My early goal is to build a picture of the existing structures, processes and procedures.

The operations area - which I'm responsible for - is focused on trading commercial insurance products for the SME market. The role entails regular contact with our regional offices and with other head office functions like account underwriting teams, statistics and IT. When I previously worked at a regional office I was involved in underwriting for SMEs and larger commercial risks traded via intermediaries, so I had daily interaction with brokers.

What training have you received?

My training under the graduate scheme was designed to build and develop core underwriting skills. I received regular one-to-one training with experienced underwriters, dealing with real cases, both quoting for new business and servicing existing business.

This 'hands on' training was supported by paper-based technical modules devised and run by The Allianz Cornhill Underwriting Academy, which runs CII accredited courses. These aim to develop the market-leading underwriting skills necessary to keep our people at the forefront of the industry.

I've also attended 'soft skills' courses in appraisal skills, trading and presentation skills. I took part in a Leadership Discovery event, which is part of the company's drive to cultivate and develop leadership skills throughout the organisation.

I completed the Advanced Diploma with The Chartered Insurance Institute and was awarded the associateship 18 months ago. Gaining the ACII was definitely a highlight for me. After being awarded my degree, I felt it was important to complete a professional qualification that would give me a deep understanding of the industry I was working in.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

So far my new role looks set to be busy, challenging and exciting. At the moment I'm enjoying the chance to spend time with individuals from various areas of the business, learning our operations for trading small business.