Insurance account manager
Insurance account managers develop business accounts and increase sales of their company's insurance products.
Average annual salary (starting - experienced): £18,000 - £75,000
Typical hours (a week): 37 - 39
How to become an insurance account manager
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- training with a professional body
University
You could take a degree before applying to join a company's management training scheme. Most subjects are accepted but you may have an advantage if you study:
- business management
- financial services
- marketing
- maths
University (Entry requirements)
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
Apprenticeship
You may be able to get into this job by doing an insurance professional higher apprenticeship, or degree apprenticeship for senior insurance professionals.
Apprenticeship (Entry requirements)
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Work
You could start as an insurance technician, underwriter or junior account handler and work your way up.
Other routes
You could study for qualifications from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). The CII qualifications offer study units relevant to the insurance areas you specialise in, for example marine, commercial or general insurance. Examples of qualifications include:
- CII Level 3 Certificate in Insurance
- CII Diploma in Insurance
- CII Advanced Diploma in Insurance
More info
Professional and industry bodies You could join the Chartered Insurance Institute for professional development and training opportunities. Further information You can find out more about working in insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute and Discover Risk.
What it takes
Skills & Knowledge
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- the ability to sell products and services
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to use your initiative
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- persistence and determination
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
What you'll do
Day to day
Your day-to-day duties may include:
- building good working relationships with brokers and other agents
- being responsible for several business accounts
- promoting new insurance products, working to agreed sales targets
- setting up meetings to develop new business accounts
- managing business pitches
- working with insurance underwriters to adapt policies
- setting up claims handling teams and contact centre support for new policies
- monitoring agents’ sales performance
- developing marketing literature
- giving advice on existing products
- making sure that agents meet strict financial services industry rules
Working environment
You could work in an office or from home.
Career path and progression
Career path & progression
With experience and a good track record, you could be promoted into a senior sales or marketing role. You could also move into area management or senior management, supervising other managers and planning company strategies. You could also use your skills in other industries in sales, marketing or account handling.
