Description
Major purpose:
- The role of the Senior Client Account Manager is to manage and coordinate all client activities including interaction with the carriers and the First Niagara consulting team internally.
- This individual must maintain a comprehensive understanding of insurance carriers and the products they offer across all lines of Employee Benefits and alternative funding methodologies. In addition to developing a strong relationship with the client, responsibilities include a thorough understanding of the complete process of marketing, analysing, presenting alternatives to the client, and implementing benefit plans. Professionalism, problem-solving, creativity, adaptability, analytical skills, and the ability to effectively communicate with clients, carriers and other team members are just some of the minimum expectations of the skills required.
- This individual is also expected to assist management in mentoring, training and education of account managers.
Goal:
- To meet and exceed external and internal client expectations in all areas. Through professional knowledge, be responsible for developing and implementing insurance programs to meet our clients' needs. Manage client expectations during the renewal process; understand and promote agency initiatives; to contribute to and enhance the agency's reputation in all actions.
Major functions:
- Assumes overall responsibility of service relationship with client on an ongoing basis understanding their coverages and timing requirements (benefit levels, carriers, renewal timing, funding arrangements, etc.).
- Effectively communicates with clients, consulting team members, and carriers to address all client issues, providing necessary research, problem solving, and resolution support.
- Coordinates with all client team members (manager, producer, consultant) for consistent customer service.
- Responsible for client's renewal program and managing the pre-renewal and renewal process (review for accuracy, identify possible adjustments, request alternatives, requests for proposals/marketing, analysing results, negotiating with carriers, providing comparisons, summarize recommendations, implementation).
- Conducts employee education and open enrollment meetings.
- Monitors and informs client on compliance requirements, government filing requirements, federal and state legislation, etc. Keeps abreast of client industry changes.
- Negotiates with carriers on renewals and quotes, understanding the underwriting process.
- Plays a key role in retention of accounts and identifying additional solutions for clients.
- Visit clients independently, or in conjunction with other members of the client's service team, as needed to maintain knowledge of the client's operations, and establish a working relationship. Provides client with meeting minutes summarizing discussions and decisions.
- Responsible for managing client service agreements and meeting agreed upon deadlines and deliverables.
- Knowledgeable of all FNBC service offerings as well as referring current and prospective clients to appropriate divisions for other products or service solutions.
- Executes or assists in the execution of client strategic plans.
- Train other team members on employee benefit programs, procedures and technology.
- Must adhere to pertinent laws, regulations, First Niagara's Compliance Policy and external compliance requirements.
Education/Experience/Licenses etc.:
- College education or at least ten years of equivalent insurance experience.
- Life, Health and Casualty licensed or commitment to complete within 3 months. Commitment to continuing education courses.
- Knowledge of insurance products, services and usages.
- Knowledge of insurance carrier rating procedures and methodologies, alternative funding methods, and insurance carrier industry operations to effectively manage, maintain, and provide solutions to assigned clients and prospects.
- Effective communication skills both written and verbal.
- Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers, and to accurately perform simple calculations involving decimals and fractions.
- Proficiency in Microsoft office products (excel, word, Powerpoint)
- Ability to utilize computer and understand functionality. Consistently increasing knowledge of available technology and amending work patterns to maximize efficiency.
- Knowledge and ability to perform technical tasks to expedite client service.
- High degree of self-discipline and motivation.
- Possess skills of persuasion and negotiation.
- Satisfactory completion of agency testing requirements.
- Must maintain a valid driver's license, or have transportation available when needed to be able to leave for calls, meetings and/or visits.