What a commercial insurance account manager does
A commercial insurance account manager services a book of business clients for a brokerage. They gather renewal information, prepare submissions to insurers, compare quotes, explain coverage changes and handle mid-term requests such as certificates of insurance, added locations or new vehicles. Accounts can include property, general liability, auto fleets, cyber, professional liability and directors and officers coverage, often for contractors, manufacturers, retailers and professional firms.
Account managers usually work alongside producers, who bring in new clients, and their service is what keeps those clients at renewal. Because they advise clients and place coverage, account managers at Ontario brokerages need a RIBO licence. Finch screens for licence level, industries handled, submission quality and the organization needed to manage many renewals at once without letting deadlines or coverage gaps slip.
Typical responsibilities
- Manage renewals for an assigned commercial book, starting well ahead of expiry
- Prepare complete submissions and market accounts to insurers
- Review quotes, policy wordings and endorsements for gaps and errors
- Issue certificates of insurance and process mid-term changes
- Explain coverage options and recommendations to business clients in writing
- Support producers on new business proposals and client meetings
Qualifications and credentials
- A RIBO licence, with unrestricted status often required for independent account handling
- Commercial lines experience at a brokerage or as a commercial underwriter
- CAIB, CIP or Canadian Risk Management designations completed or in progress
- Knowledge of commercial property, liability, fleet and specialty coverage
- Strong organization and experience with broker management systems
Who hires a commercial insurance account manager
- Independent brokerages with commercial departments
- Large national and multinational brokerages
- Specialty brokerages focused on industries such as construction or transportation
Where we recruit commercial insurance account manager candidates
We fill commercial insurance account manager roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- RIBO licence level and status, confirmed before you meet them
- Size and complexity of the commercial book handled and industries covered
- Submission and renewal workflow, including how they track deadlines
- Coverage knowledge, tested through scenario questions
- Eligibility to work in Canada and fit with your office or hybrid setup
Interview questions to ask
- A contractor client needs a certificate of insurance for a project by tomorrow, and their policy may not meet the contract requirements. What do you do?
- How do you plan your renewal pipeline across a large book?
- Tell me about a coverage gap you found at renewal and how you explained it to the client.