Ethos Specialty – Claims Examiner, Transactional Liability
Ethos Specialty’s Transactional Liability team offers multiple solutions including Representations and Warranties (R&W) and Tax insurance.
This is an opportunity to join Ethos Specialty Transactional Liability business.
Ethos Specialty is a leading Managing General Underwriter (MGU) that provides specialized underwriting services on behalf of high-quality carrier and syndicate partners. Ethos has developed one of the market’s premier transactional liability platforms and serves private equity sponsors, strategic buyers, brokers, law firms and other participants in the M&A ecosystem via its market-leading Representations & Warranties (RWI) and Tax insurance products.
As the Transactional Liability business continues to expand, Ethos is investing in the development of a best-in-class claims function. This role will play a critical part in managing complex claims, supporting carrier partners, enhancing claims handling procedures and helping to build and oversee the transactional liability claims platform. This role offers direct exposure to the C-suite and the chance to grow alongside a dynamic, collaborative, and high-performing team.
This is a unique opportunity for a highly motivated, entrepreneurial-minded individual to play a pivotal role in a fast-growing company. Ethos is backed by Bishop Street Underwriters, an $800m+ PE backed MGA platform.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES:
The Vice President, Claims position will be responsible for the management of highly complex Transactional Liability claims, including primary and excess buyer and seller side Representations & Warranties and Tax claims.
In addition to overseeing all aspects of claim handling, including coverage analysis, investigation management, settlement strategy, etc., the role will serve as a key point of contact among insureds, brokers, outside counsel, carrier partners, tax advisors, forensic accountants and other experts. The position will also play a significant role in the continued development and enhancement of Ethos’s claims handling processes and delegated claims authority framework.
Such responsibilities include all aspects of claim file management, including:
- Managing a portfolio of highly complex Transactional Liability claims from inception through final disposition.
- Reviewing and analyzing policy coverage, transaction documentation, disclosure materials, diligence reports, tax memoranda and other relevant materials
- Conducting and directing claim investigations and developing appropriate strategies for claim resolution
- Assessing liability, damages, loss calculations and coverage issues
- Preparing and issuing coverage correspondence, including reservation of rights letters, information requests, coverage position letters and settlement communications
- Serving as a primary claims contact for insureds, brokers, carrier partners and external advisors including reinsurance partners.
- Maintaining regular communication with insureds regarding coverage, liability, damages and other key issues, as well as carrier partners regarding claim developments, reserve recommendations and settlement strategy
- Partnering with distribution and broking teams to set claims-process expectations and support renewal and new-business conversations on claims service
- Assisting with the development and implementation of claims handling procedures, workflows and best practices, including retaining and managing outside counsel and other advisors
- Building and maintaining a panel of approved coverage counsel, forensic accountants, and industry-specific experts across relevant sectors and geographies
- Supporting the ongoing development of delegated claims authority capabilities and claims governance processes
- Building and maintaining claims data infrastructure — loss triangles, frequency/severity trends by industry vertical, and policy form/endorsement performance — to support underwriting and portfolio management
- Preparing large loss reports, watchlist summaries, reserve analyses and quarterly claims presentations
- Partnering with underwriting teams to identify claim trends, recurring loss drivers and emerging risks
- Providing structured feedback to underwriting and product teams on policy wording, exclusions, and endorsements based on claims experience
- Maintaining subject matter expertise regarding transactional liability insurance, M&A disputes, tax disputes and relevant legal developments
- Ensuring claims handling practices comply with applicable state and jurisdictional claims-handling regulations, including unfair claims practices requirements
- As the claims function scales, building and leading a claims team, including hiring, training, and delegated authority oversight
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:
Required:
- Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
- Strong understanding of mergers and acquisitions, transaction documentation and transactional liability insurance products
- Ability to comprehend financial statements, appraisals, tax memoranda and opinions, tax diligence reports and other relevant legal documents
- Minimum of 5-7 years experience in Transactional Liability insurance claims or claims examiner or related litigation in a law firm setting
Preferred:
- MGA/MGU experience a plus
- Experience managing outside counsel and expert advisors
- Familiarity with reserve management, claims reporting and delegated authority environments
ESTIMATED TRAVEL PERCENTAGE: 10 – 15%
LOCATION: New York City metropolitan area, but other locations will be considered
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-time/Permanent
EDUCATION PREFERRED: Juris Doctorate (J.D.) preferred