VP, Program Underwriting Audit & Quality Assurance Leader

Job Description:

Key Responsibilities
1. Audit Program Design & Methodology
– Design and own the end-to-end PUA-QA program architecture: audit universe, risk-based prioritization model, annual audit calendar, and a rolling multi-year schedule aligned to the 120-day program renewal cycle and to MST’s riskappetite framework.
– Build the PUA-QA Audit Framework: a standardized, field-ready instrument covering the five core audit domains —Delegated Authority Compliance, Underwriting Risk Selection & Documentation, Pricing Compliance, Policy Forms & Endorsement Compliance, and Escalation & Referral Adherence — with line-level testing procedures, evidence requirements, and exception documentation protocols for each domain.
– Develop and maintain the scoring methodology: a weighted, domain-level scoring framework that produces a composite audit rating, flags systemic deficiencies, and drives differentiated corrective action — ranging from management letters to formal remediation plans, authority restriction, or escalation to the CUO, Chief Risk Officer, and Chief Program Officer.
– Establish file-selection protocols: statistically defensible sampling methods for routine audits and 100% review criteria for novel, large, or complex accounts and programs identified as outside norms by the PUMA, Pricing Actuary, or POMs..
2. Lines of Defense Framework & Governance Integration
– Position and operate PUA-QA explicitly as MST’s second line of defense for delegated underwriting risk: distinct from the
MGA’s own quality controls (first line), and from MSIG/MS&AD Internal Audit and external audits (third line). Maintain clear boundary documentation and information-sharing protocols with each line.
– Integrate audit scope and findings with the full MST authority hierarchy: Binding Authority Agreement / Program Authority Agreement, program-specific UW Rules & Guidelines, MST Underwriting Guidelines and LOAs, and the MS&AD Home Office Underwriting Handbook.
– Ensure PUA-QA is designed to be traceable to and consistent with the pre-binding Due Diligence workflow, creating a
continuous risk control loop from program onboarding through ongoing operations.
– Produce a quarterly PUA-QA Dashboard reporting audit results, open findings, remediation status, and portfolio-level trends to the CUO, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Program Officer, Head of Program Underwriting, and Head of Program Operations. Present findings and recommendations at senior leadership and board-level risk committee meetings as required.
3. Audit Execution – On-Site and Virtual
– Lead or supervise all PUA-QA audits — both on-site and virtual — coordinating with PUMAs, POMs, Program Directors, and MGA/MGU management teams throughout the audit lifecycle: scoping, fieldwork, findings review, exit conference, and final report issuance.
– Set audit frequency standards: a minimum annual cycle for all active programs; semi-annual for programs exceeding $25M GWP or on active remediation plans; and triggered reviews in response to material loss development, authority breach, reinsurance Special Acceptances, or escalations flagged by PUMAs or Program Directors.
– Produce audit reports with scored domain findings, root-cause analysis, corrective action plans with defined owners and deadlines, and management response tracking. Maintain an audit findings register and monitor open items to closure.
– Manage the relationship with MGA/MGU audit contacts constructively and professionally, preserving the partnership dynamic while maintaining the independence and objectivity required of an effective second-line control function.
4. Resource Planning & Vendor / Contractor Strategy
– Build and present to leadership a multi-year PUA-QA resource plan: internal headcount model, skill requirements by audit type and line of business, and a phased hiring roadmap calibrated to the audit schedule and program universe.
– Identify, evaluate, and engage third-party audit vendors and independent contractors to supplement internal capacity — with particular urgency around bridging the high-priority audit commitments in Q4 2026 and Q1 2027. Establish vendor qualification standards, scope-of-work templates, and quality review protocols for all external audit work product.
– Manage the PUA-QA operating budget: vendor contracts, travel, technology, and tools. Report budget utilization and capacity coverage quarterly to the CUO.
5. Alignment with the Annual Program Renewal Process
– Synchronize the PUA-QA audit cadence with the 120-day annual Program Renewal process: ensure that audit findings, scoring results, and open corrective action items are available and factored into renewal decisions, authority adjustments, and BAA/PAA renegotiations.
– Provide the Head of Program Underwriting, Program Directors, and PUMAs with a structured pre-renewal audit summary for each program: compliance history, scoring trend, outstanding findings, and a risk-tiered recommendation (continue / remediate / restrict / exit) to inform renewal deliberations.
– Collaborate with Program Operations (Amy Hartwell) to ensure PUA-QA findings are reflected in MGA performance scorecards, stewardship agendas, and the annual program governance calendar.
6. Technology, AI Innovation & Continuous Improvement
– Select and implement the PUA-QA technology stack: audit management platform, workpaper repository, findings tracker, and reporting dashboard. Evaluate and recommend purpose-built insurtech and audit workflow tools that scale with the program universe.
– Lead the exploration and adoption of AI-assisted audit capabilities: natural language processing for underwriting file review and exception flagging, machine learning models for anomaly detection in pricing and authority compliance, and generative AI tools to accelerate workpaper preparation, findings summarization, and report drafting. MST encourages creativity and innovation in how the function is delivered — candidates with demonstrated AI tool experience in an audit or underwriting governance context are strongly preferred.
– Drive continuous improvement of the PUA-QA methodology: annual self-assessment against emerging best practices in underwriting audit, quality assurance, and second-line risk management; benchmarking against NAIC MGA Act requirements, AM Best MGA governance criteria, and CPCU/IIA audit standards where applicable.
7. Remote Monitoring Capability & AI-Enabled Data Strategy (Medium-Term Build, 12–36 Months)
– Partner with the Corporate CUO and Program Underwriting leadership to design and build a remote/continuous monitoring capability that supplements point-in-time on-site and virtual audits — enabling ongoing surveillance of MGA underwriting activity against the program's Underwriting Rules, referral criteria, and the delegated authorities set out in the Binding Authority Agreement (BAA).
– Define the target operating model for remote monitoring: automated exception triggers and thresholds, escalation workflows, and the interplay between continuous monitoring outputs and the traditional on-site/virtual audit cycle.
– Leverage AI and other technologies to prescribe the policy- and portfolio-level data required in the MGA's monthly Bordereaux (BDX) submissions to support the audit function, including data needed for price, rate, and exposure monitoring.
– Establish automated data validation protocols confirming that MGA pricing adheres to MST's actuarial-approved pricing models and filed rates for admitted programs, using BDX data to flag deviations for audit follow-up.
– Serve as the PUA-QA function's lead voice in cross-functional data and technology initiatives — with Corporate CUO, Program Underwriting, Actuarial, and IT/Data — to build the infrastructure, data standards, and analytics needed to move audit from a periodic, sample-based activity toward continuous, exception-based assurance.
Qualifications
– 10+ years of P&C underwriting, underwriting audit, or underwriting governance experience; minimum 5 years in a program carrier, MGA, or delegated authority environment. Direct experience conducting or leading MGA/delegated
authority audits is required.
– Demonstrated ability to build or materially transform a governance or audit function from the ground up — designing methodology, tools, and reporting infrastructure. Experience on both sides of the carrier–MGA relationship is strongly preferred.
– Broad multi-line P&C technical underwriting knowledge across commercial and/or personal lines; ability to evaluate underwriting file quality, pricing adequacy, authority compliance, and forms/endorsement correctness across diverse programs and classes of business.
– Working knowledge of lines of defense frameworks, risk and control self-assessment (RCSA) methodologies, and secondline governance best practices as applied in an insurance or financial services context.
– Strong analytical and quantitative skills; comfort with data and portfolio analytics tools to support file sampling, exception identification, and findings trending. Experience with AI or automation tools applied to audit, underwriting review, or document analysis is a meaningful differentiator.
– Experience defining data requirements for MGA/TPA bordereaux (BDX) reporting, and/or building remote, continuous, or automated monitoring/surveillance capabilities for delegated underwriting authority, is a strong plus.
– Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; proven ability to present audit findings and recommendations to
senior leadership and external partners with clarity, credibility, and appropriate diplomacy. Skilled at building trust with
MGA partners while maintaining second-line independence.
– Bachelor’s degree required. CPCU, AU, CIA, CISA, ARM, or equivalent designation a plus. Familiarity with IIA audit
standards, NAIC MGA Act requirements, and AM Best program governance criteria is valued.

Job Requirements/Qualifications:

Additional job description-Salary: The base range is $155 - 270k. Salary determination are based on various factors, including but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and location.

Additional Benefits:

• Healthcare and Retirement Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

• 401(k) with a generous employer match and profit-sharing contribution

• Wellness incentive program

• Life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance

• Flexible spending programs

• Short-term and long-term disability plans

Additional Benefit Programs

• Paid time off program

• Paid charitable leave

• Paid parental leave

• Tuition reimbursement program

• Personal insurance (auto/homeowners) discounts

It's an exciting time for our company and a great opportunity to join a financially sound and growing global insurance group!