Technical Business Analyst – Underwriting Analytics

EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS) is a global data and artificial intelligence ("AI") company that offers services and solutions to reinvent client business models, drive better outcomes and unlock growth at speed. We harness the power of data, AI and deep industry knowledge to transform businesses, working with the world’s leading corporations in industries including insurance, healthcare, banking and financial services, media and retail, among others. EXL was founded in 1999 with the core values of innovation, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect.

Headquartered in New York, our team is over 63,000 strong, with more than 50 offices spanning six continents. For information, visit www.exlservice.com.

Role Title: Technical Business Analyst -  Insurance Data, Analytics & AI
BU/Segment: Analytics & AI Services - Insurance
Location: London, United Kingdom (4 days a week in the office - hybrid working) 
Employment Type: Permanent

Summary of the role:
We are looking for an onshore Technical Business Analyst to sit at the intersection of underwriting, data and AI on client engagements with UK insurers, translating underwriting problems into clear requirements, data designs and solutions that our delivery teams can build.

This is a hands-on, client-facing role. You will work directly with underwriters, underwriting managers and portfolio teams, get into the data yourself, and act as the onshore bridge to our offshore data science and engineering teams.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead workshops with underwriters, pricing and portfolio management to understand the underwriting lifecycle (submission intake, triage, risk assessment, referral, quote, bind and renewal)

• Document current- and target-state processes, business rules (appetite, referral authorities, rating rules), user stories and acceptance criteria

• Translate business needs into functional and non-functional requirements for analytics, ML and GenAI solutions

• Profile and analyse policy, quote, exposure, claims and third-party data using SQL and Python to test hypotheses and assess data quality

• Produce source-to-target mappings, data dictionaries and KPI definitions (e.g. GWP, loss ratio, rate change, quote and hit ratios, referral and STP rates)

• Define data product requirements and work with data engineers on pipelines and models, keeping scope to what each use case actually needs

• Shape underwriting use cases such as submission triage, risk scoring, pricing adequacy, portfolio monitoring, document extraction and underwriter copilots

• Own and refine the backlog with the client Product Owner, and take an active part in Agile ceremonies

• Define test scenarios, lead UAT with underwriters, and validate model outputs, rules and dashboards against business expectations

• Act as the onshore link to offshore teams: clarify requirements, review outputs and manage hand-offs across time zones

• Support adoption through training material, user guides and tracking of usage and outcome metrics

• Communicate findings, progress and risks clearly to client stakeholders and the engagement lead

• Contribute to discovery phases, proposals and reusable assets (requirement templates, underwriting data models, KPI libraries)

Qualifications and experience we consider essential:

• 5–8 years as a Business Analyst or Technical BA, with at least 3 years in underwriting, pricing or portfolio analytics within insurance

• Strong understanding of underwriting concepts and workflows in commercial, specialty or personal lines

• Hands-on technical skills across:

  • SQL (advanced) and Python for data profiling and analysis

  • BI and visualisation tools (Power BI or Tableau)

  • Cloud data platforms (Databricks, Snowflake, Azure, AWS or GCP)

  • Process mapping (BPMN / Visio), user stories and source-to-target mapping

• Experience on ML or AI projects, with a practical grasp of model inputs and outputs, explainability, evaluation and human-in-the-loop controls

• Experience working in Agile teams using Jira or Azure DevOps

• Confident communicator who can work equally well with underwriters and engineers

• Experience working with offshore delivery teams

Desirable:

• London Market, Lloyd’s or MGA experience, including delegated authority and bordereaux data

• Familiarity with underwriting and rating platforms (e.g. Guidewire, Duck Creek, Sapiens, Radar, Earnix)

• Experience with third-party enrichment data (e.g. Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, geospatial and catastrophe data)

• Relevant certifications (CII, IIBA CCBA / CBAP, BCS Business Analysis, Agile Product Owner)

• Degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering or a related field

As part of a leading global data and artificial intelligence ("AI") company, you can look forward to:

• A competitive salary with a generous bonus, private healthcare, critical illness life assurance at 4 x your annual salary, income protection insurance, and a rewarding pension.

• EXL provides everyday financial well-being solutions, such as cash back cards, in which you can earn cashback while enjoying discounts, promotions, and offers from top retailers. We also offer a Cycle Scheme where you can save money on bikes and cycling accessories.

• At EXL, we are committed to providing our employees with the tools and resources they need to succeed and excel in their careers. We offer a wide range of professional and personal development opportunities. We also support a range of learning initiatives that allow our employees to build on their existing skills and knowledge. From online courses to seminars and workshops, our employees can enhance their skills and stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies.

• As an Equal Opportunity Employer, EXL is committed to diversity. Our company does not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, age, or disability status.

• EXL employees are eligible to purchase stock as part of our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).

• At EXL, we offer a flexible hybrid working model that allows employees to live a balanced, healthy lifestyle while strengthening our culture of collaboration.

To be considered for this role, you must already be eligible to work in the United Kingdom.