Customer Service Specialist

<strong>AF Group (Lansing, Mich.) and its subsidiaries are a premier provider of innovative insurance solutions. Insurance policies may be issued by any of the following companies within AF Group: Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, Accident Fund National Insurance Company, Accident Fund General Insurance Company, United Wisconsin Insurance Company, Third Coast Insurance Company, or CompWest Insurance Company.</strong>

Lansing, USA

AF Group

<p class="p1"><strong>AF Group&rsquo;s focused and passionate team uses industry-leading best practices, analytics and resources to manage risk and minimize loss for our policyholders while strengthening businesses with our valued independent agent partners.</strong></p> <p class="p1"><strong>We strive to continuously increase the long-term value of our organization by outperforming our industry peers and fostering a culture of underwriting and claims excellence.</strong></p> https://www.afgroup.com/

keywords: summary,job description,work environment,evaluate,audit,claims,policy,assist,performance,other duties,education,experience,knowledge,skills,preferred

Non-Manager

Competitive Compensation and Benefits Package

Overview: <br />Primarily responsible for assisting Business Development Consultants (BDCs) in growing and maintaining a profitable book of business and assists agents with inquiries related to underwriting rules, procedures and regulations. Manages renewal book in accordance with the needs of the region they are aligned with. Mentors CSRs with complex agency/insured questions and policy information. Reviews policy structures to determine if changes need to be made to stay in compliance with bureau rules and regulations. Provides customer service to agencies and policyholders related to complex underwriting inquiries, policy, and audit information. Contacts include state rating bureaus, Business Development Consultants, Business Development Directors, Service Center Managers, Underwriting Technical Advisor, Service Center staff, Finance Department, Claims Department, agents and policyholders.<br /><br /> <p><strong>WORKING CONDITIONS:</strong></p> <p>Work is performed in an office setting with no unusual hazards.</p> <p><strong>REQUIRED TESTING:</strong>&nbsp;</p> <p>Intermediate Word, Advanced Excel, Intermediate Windows, Reading Comprehension, 40 wpm, Basic Access, Proofreading, Math, 10-key.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Note: CSS Written test to be taken post application</strong></p>
Responsibilities: <br /> <ul> <li>Calculates and determines renewal eligibility and insurability for policyholders. Develops appropriate pricing based on loss history, audit results, STI, PM scores, and hazard exposures. Approves or declines renewals for profitability and or/continuation of coverage using corporate underwriting guidelines within their Letter of Authority. Recommends declinations to the BDC.</li> <li>Evaluates group program renewals to incorporate proper placement of renewal accounts in or out of the program based on pricing needs, eligibility of the program, and loss history.</li> <li>Reprice renewals due to competition, market fluctuations, multi-state repricing, or to retain profitability using in-depth knowledge of each BDC&rsquo;s repricing needs. Evaluate by analyzing state rate reductions/increases to maintain profitability, add/remove schedule credit/debit, or move from one company tier to another.</li> <li>Approves endorsement requests received from the service center and agents. Reviews and evaluates inspection reports for policy changes requested from rating bureaus and/or state agencies. Provides endorsement quotes to agents when requested.</li> <li>Communicates with agency personnel on policy issues regarding reasons for non-renewals and cancellations.</li> <li>Provides ad hoc mod promulgations for BDCs and agents.</li> <li>Review AFXpress submissions for errors and to ensure they meet corporate underwriting guidelines.</li> <li>Assist BDCs in preparation for agency audits.</li> <li>Serves as backup to BDCs for phone and e-mail inquiries regarding new and renewal business while BDC is out of office, including documentation of records and briefing BDC on any pertinent issues when they return.</li> <li>Thoroughly assesses claim history of indemnity and medical claims. Composes a summary of details relating to complex claims to add to the underwriting file.</li> <li>Mentors Service Center employees.</li> <li>Trains and mentors working out of class staff as well as new employees on the duties of the job.</li> <li>Responds to basic and complex policy inquiries and provides customer service to agency staff.</li> <li>Evaluates and determines governing class code changes due to audit findings or bureau inspection reports to properly class the policyholder based on their business operations. Contact agency to notify them of the changes in pricing or add credit to help offset any increased price as appropriate. Work with agents to reallocate the payrolls if additional class codes are added to the policy.</li> <li>Investigates and determines appropriate response to Independent Bureaus, NCCI, internal and external audit inquiries.</li> <li>Provides technical support to agents with their online tools.</li> <li>Thorough knowledge of multistate and regional needs, including appetite and complexities of the market. Act as a subject matter expert for their assigned book of business.</li> <li>Compose written correspondence to internal staff, agents and policyholders.</li> <li>Coordinates problem resolution and responds to customer complaints, errors, and service issues.</li> <li>Makes appropriate decisions based on interpretation of policies and procedures.</li> <li>Corrects policy structures based on audit findings to stay in compliance with Accident Fund&rsquo;s and/or bureau rules and regulations.</li> <li>Foster agency relationships by timely responses to renewal pricing and policy inquiries.</li> <li>Act as a backup for the Large Account Coordinator as needed.</li> <li>Works with minimum supervision</li> </ul> <br /> <p>This description identifies the responsibilities typically associated with the performance of the job. The percentage of time in any responsibility may vary between positions. Other relevant essential functions may be required.</p>
Requirements: <br /> <p><strong>EDUCATION REQUIRED:<br /><br /></strong></p> <ul> <li>Bachelor&rsquo;s degree in insurance and/or a related field with progress towards or completion of Insurance Institute of America (IIA) or other insurance-related designation(s).</li> <li>Successful completion of business writing course required.</li> <li>Combinations of education and experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.</li> </ul> <br /> <p><strong>EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:<br /><br /></strong></p> <ul> <li>Two (2) years experience with Accident Fund Insurance Company of America as a Customer Service Representative, Billing Service Representative or equivalent Accident Fund experience that provides the necessary skills.</li> </ul> <p>OR</p> <ul> <li>Four years relevant experience servicing agencies and policyholders as it relates to rules, procedures and regulations, policy and audit information; reviewing, approving, and declining endorsement requests; maintaining compliance with bureau rules and regulations.</li> </ul> <p><br /><br /><strong>SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES (SKA) REQUIRED:<br /><br /></strong></p> <ul> <li>Ability to work effectively in a multi-functional multi-state business unit.</li> <li>Knowledge of state-specific underwriting and audit rules, procedures, and Workers&rsquo; Compensation classifications in multiple states.</li> <li>Basic understanding of the workers' compensation claims process as it relates to the underwriting process.</li> <li>Excellent verbal and written communication skills.</li> <li>Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to create and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with working partners.</li> <li>Excellent organizational skills, including ability to perform multiple tasks, and prioritize.</li> <li>Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet established deadlines.</li> <li>Knowledge of word processing with accurate input ability of 40 wpm.</li> <li>Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet software with the ability to use ten-key.</li> <li>Knowledge of computers.</li> <li>Basic knowledge of database software.</li> <li>Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.</li> <li>Knowledge of multi-line telephone system</li> <li>Ability to process transactions on core processing systems</li> <li>Ability to proofread documents for accuracy of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and format.</li> <li>Math skills with the ability to use a ten-key adding machine.</li> </ul> <br /> <p><strong>ADDITIONAL EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND/OR ABILITIES PREFERRED:&nbsp;<br /><br /></strong></p> <ul> <li>Thorough knowledge of state-specific underwriting and audit rules, procedures and Workers&rsquo; Compensation classifications in multiple states.</li> <li>Prefer completion of Certified Authority on Workers' Compensation (CAWC)</li> </ul>