A day in the life of an Claims Adjuster

Current Position:

Marine Claims Adjuster

Biography:

Isabella Virvilis joined Amlin in September 2008 from Markel Syndicate 3000. In her previous job she was employed as a trainee claims adjuster but progressed to handle her own claims from first advice right through to settlement. Since joining Amlin she has progressed in her role and now has responsibility for the Marine Hull & War claims area. Isabella started working in the Lloyd’s market in 2001 and has been growing professionally in her ability as well as managing to build vital relationships with her counterparts.

This year she has been elected to head up the Lloyd’s Marine U35s Committee. The aim of the Marine U35s group is to promote education and interest in all aspects of marine insurance; to educate members of the marine insurance market and to facilitate interaction and debate between members of the market.

Isabella has achieved her Certificate in Insurance and now working towards the gaining of ACII qualification.

Over the last 8 years Isabella has attended various training courses in the UK, building her knowledge of the international Marine book.

Skills required to be a Claims Adjuster:

• Skilled negotiator and team player essential.
• Strong decision making skills.
• Should be able to work to targets and deadlines, often in a pressurised environment.
• Strong communicator with good interpersonal skills and the confidence to influence and negotiate at a high level with senior colleagues, clients and co.  insurers / service providers.
• Represent Amlin at external meetings.
• Build client relationships.
• Working with underwriters, brokers and third party agents. Working within own autonomy, delivering to targets as well as building and enhancing market relationships and profile.
• IT skills are important with a working knowledge of Word and Excel, as well as the ability to produce reports.
• Involvement in departmental strategies and developments.
• Mentor and develop less senior members of the team.

A typical day in the Claims department:

Time	Description
8.30am – 9.00am	Reviewing overnight emails, updating various claim systems and preparing for daily meetings.
9.00am – 10.00am	Meeting with Underwriters to go through various claims issues. Sit through risk review where we discuss all risks placed during the previous week. We look at claim trends; discuss business trips, marketing and the growing of the business.
10.00am – 10.30am	Meeting with Head of Hull Claims at a large broking firm to discuss various claims and action going forward. Client needs and commercial decisions will be thought about.
10.30am – 1.00pm	Open session, seeing Brokers with various paper/electronic files. Handling claims at every stage from first advice right through to settlement.
1pm – 2.30pm	Client lunch discussing new and existing business.
2.30pm – 3.30pm	Attend market meeting to discuss large profile claim to the Lloyd’s Market. Strategy going forward addressed along with the guidance of appointed Solicitors and following Lloyd’s Market.
3.30pm – 4.00pm	Peer review session with Marine Manager to discuss high profile claims
4.00pm – 4.30.pm	Reviewing various reports received from 3rd party experts i.e. solicitors, surveyors as well as clients, brokers etc.
4.30pm – 5.00pm	Meeting with underwriters to discuss upcoming client visit. Trip will incorporate: claim development, current claims trends and issues, develop and maintain relationships. Meet with placing as well as producing brokers.
5.00pm – 5.30pm	Meeting with Group Legal to discuss claims which may lead to litigation. Taking advice from Group Legal is vital for the handling. Advice sought on appropriate course of action going forward.
5.30pm – 6.00pm	Administration functions: Writing up meeting notes, scanning various claims documents onto systems and incorporating claims onto our tracker system.