Insurance account manager
Insurance account managers maintain relationships with existing clients, handle complex policies and identify opportunities to develop new business.
Also known as: Insurance relationship manager, insurance sales executive, account handler
- Starter salary£30,000 a year
- Experienced£75,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 42 a week
What you'll do
As an insurance account manager, you could:
- build strong working relationships with clients, brokers and risk managers
- handle multiple business accounts
- advise clients on policy options and recommend adjustments to meet changing needs
- pitch for new business and promote new insurance products
- monitor team sales performance
- develop marketing strategies
- keep accurate client records
- make sure that the business meets all financial industry rules
Working environment
You could work in an office, at a client's business or from home.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- the ability to sell products and services
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of financial services
- the ability to use your initiative
- excellent written communication skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- maths knowledge
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a insurance account manager
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
You can take a degree before applying for a place on an insurance company's graduate training scheme.
Useful subjects include:
- business studies
- finance
- law
- surveying
- construction
- marketing
It can help to get some relevant work experience whilst you're studying, for example through an internship or placement.
Your university careers service will be able to help you with this.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
Apprenticeship
You can apply to do an apprenticeship with an insurance company, such as:
- Insurance Professional Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
- Senior Insurance Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
These can take between 2 and 3 years to complete and combine workplace learning and study.
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'll need experience in the insurance industry to do this job, for example as an underwriter, broker or loss adjuster. You would then move into account management through training and promotion.
Whilst working, you'll be encouraged to take qualifications, like those offered by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) .
These include:
- Certificate in Insurance
- Diploma in Insurance
- Advanced Diploma in Insurance
Career path and progression
With experience and a good track record, you could become a senior account manager, supervising other managers and planning company strategy.
You could also use your skills from this role in related areas, for example marketing, legal compliance, other financial services and business development.
Career tips
You can work as an account manager across several insurance sectors, or choose to specialise in certain ones, for instance:
- property
- marine
- motor
- business liability
- cyber
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the Chartered Insurance Institute for professional development opportunities and to build up your contacts in the industry.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleInsurance broker
- Job roleFinancial adviser
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- Job roleInsurance claims handler
- Job roleBusiness development manager
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0