Overview
Client Manager – Polokwane, South Africa
Client Manager
Are you a seasoned Commercial Insurance professional living in Polokwane? We are hiring!
Aon South Africa is hiring a Client Manager in the Commercial department, operating on a hybrid basis from our Polokwane office.
The Client Manager handles, nurtures, and preserves a portfolio of mid to large commercial clients. The position focuses on establishing strong, enduring relationships, comprehending each client’s risk profile and needs, and crafting appropriate insurance programmes. The Client Manager maintains excellent client satisfaction, retention, revenue growth, and profitability, while ensuring full adherence to regulatory requirements (including FAIS) and Aon internal policies.
Aon is in the business of better decisions
At Aon, we shape decisions for the better to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world.
As an organization, we are united through trust as one inclusive team, and we are passionate about helping our colleagues and clients succeed.
What the day will look like
Client Relationship Management
- Manage, cultivate, and steadily advance the routine engagement with an assigned portfolio of mid to large commercial clients.
- Act as the primary point of contact for all servicing, technical, and administrative queries.
- Build strong, trusted-advisor relationships with key client collaborators and decision makers.
- Coordinate and nurture daily client interactions to ensure excellent client experience.
Client Profiling, Risk & Needs Analysis
- Assemble and preserve a complete client profile for each account, which includes detailed risk and needs examinations.
- Regularly review client operations, exposures, and coverage to ensure insurance programmes remain appropriate and competitive.
- Identify gaps, emerging risks, and opportunities to improve client insurance arrangements.
Renewal Management
- Take responsibility for and manage the renewal process for the assigned portfolio.
- Work together with Client Service Advisors to prepare pre-renewal documentation, reports, and market submissions.
- Meet with clients (preferably in person) to understand changes in their business and discuss renewal strategy, coverage, and terms.
- Negotiate conditions, pricing, and frameworks with insurers/markets.
- Issue renewal notifications and documentation within agreed timelines.
- Prepare and issue cancellation letters where applicable and ensure orderly transitions.
Programme Design & Technical Delivery
- Develop and arrange insurance programmes tailored to each client’s risk profile, appetite, and financial objectives.
- Provide technical input and advice on coverage, wordings, limits, deductibles, and alternative programme structures.
- Coordinate with insurers/markets regarding complex placements, endorsements, and amendments.
- Craft tailored insurance solutions and present them clearly to clients.
Documentation, Reporting & Claims Support
- Produce and/or oversee accurate and timely client documentation, including policy documents, schedules, endorsements, and related correspondence.
- Manage claims statistics, bordereaux, and other management information.
- Prepare risk and renewal analyses, proposals, and client presentations.
- Ensure documentation is complete, accurate, compliant, and meets both client and regulatory standards.
- Assist with claims-related queries from the claims department and from clients, as required.
Commercial Performance & Client Outcomes
- Maintain and improve client satisfaction, loyalty, and retention across the portfolio.
- Attain revenue and profit objectives by creating well-structured programmes, handling fee and commission management suitably, and recognizing chances for cross-selling and up-selling.
- Lead or contribute to renewal and fee negotiations with clients and markets.
- Support the Strategic Account Manager or Business Manager on larger or more complex accounts as required.
Compliance, Governance & Record Keeping
- Ensure all interactions with clients are managed in a fully compliant way, following regulatory requirements (including FAIS) and Aon internal policies and procedures.
- Draft comprehensive minutes of meetings and maintain accurate file notes and system updates to support audit and regulatory reviews.
- Advance potential breaches, conflicts of interest, or client complaints promptly and appropriately.
New Business & Growth
- Generate new business through lead generation, networking, and other business development initiatives.
- Identify and develop new opportunities within the existing portfolio, including cross-selling and up-selling additional products and services.
- Assist in securing new clients within the mid to large commercial segment, including involvement in pitches, tenders, and presentations.
Team Collaboration & Leadership
- Manage the tasks of Client Service Advisors to ensure client service standards and SLAs are reliably fulfilled.
- Provide guidance, coaching, and support to less experienced team members on client, technical, and process matters.
- Collaborate with colleagues across departments to deliver integrated, high-quality solutions for clients.
- Be a great teammate and willing to assist the broader team as and when required.
Credit Control
- Assume responsibility for credit control within the assigned portfolio.
- Monitor premium payments and debtor positions, proactively resolving queries and arrears.
- Work with finance and other internal collaborators to ensure timely collection of premiums and fees.
Skills and experience that will lead to success
Experience
- Proven experience (minimum 3 years) in a commercial insurance client management, account management, or closely related role.
- Proven experience with mid to large commercial accounts and intricate insurance programmes.
- Experience in negotiating renewals, structuring programmes, and delivering client presentations.
Technical Skills
- Solid technical understanding of commercial insurance products, policy wordings, and market practices.
- Strong grasp of risk and needs assessment, coverage planning, and program placement.
- Strong digital skills, with advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel; familiarity with PowerPoint is preferred.
Competencies
- Strong relationship-building and collaborator management skills.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation abilities.
- High attention to detail and strong organisational skills.
- Commercial approach with a focus on client outcomes, revenue, and profitability.
- Significant attention on developing new business and spotting opportunities.
- Capability to perform well under pressure, handle various priorities, and meet deadlines.
- Collaborative, proactive, and committed to resolving challenges.
Qualifications
- A minimum of Grade 12 or equivalent.
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is preferable.
- Must hold registration as a representative with the FSCA in accordance with the FAIS Act.
- Must be registered as an associate with the IISA.
Knowledge
- Strong understanding of commercial insurance policy wordings.
- Extensive knowledge of the South African short-term insurance market.
- In-depth strategic knowledge of industry and business strategies and Aon’s goals.
- Strong digital literacy, with advanced skills in Microsoft Word and Excel.
Skills and Attributes
- Ability and confidence to articulate Aon’s proposition, how it differentiates Aon, and how it benefits clients.
- Advanced analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills and abilities.
- Well-developed verbal and written communication skills in English.
- Strong interpersonal and organisational skills.
- Ability to collaborate efficiently within groups.
How we support our colleagues
In addition to our comprehensive benefits package, we encourage an inclusive workforce. Plus, our agile environment allows you to manage your wellbeing and work/life balance, ensuring you can be your best self at Aon. Furthermore, all colleagues enjoy two “Global Wellbeing Days” each year, encouraging you to take time to focus on yourself. We offer a variety of working style solutions for our colleagues as well.
Our continuous learning culture inspires and equips you to learn, share and grow, helping you achieve your fullest potential. As a result, at Aon, you are more connected, more relevant, and more valued.
Aon values an innovative and inclusive workplace where all colleagues feel empowered to be their authentic selves. Aon is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
Aon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran, marital, domestic partner status, or other legally protected status.
We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and fostering an inclusive workplace. If you require accommodations during the application or interview process, please let us know. You can request accommodations by emailing us at ReasonableAccommodations@Aon.com or your recruiter. We will work with you to meet your needs and ensure a fair and equitable experience.
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IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
