Allied World Assurance Reviews

Pros

While most of my friends were working till 2am I worked from 9 to 5. I learned everything that they did about public equities. On most days my lunch was paid for and they had no problem if I needed to take a Friday off to head back home. Although I was only an intern AWAC gave me lots of responsibility and freedom to complete tasks as long as they were handed in on time. There is great camaraderie and a lot of young people to hang out with. Even the more senior staff seems young at heart and are very helpful with your career at AWAC or if you want to pursue something elsewhere.

Cons

Unlike my friends working at i-banks, I did not make a great salary. AWAC does not have a formal internship program like many other firms in NYC, so interns are hired on as temps and receive the equivalent of a temp salary. If you work hard and get along well with others like I did, they are more than willing to hire you as an intern again for higher pay.

Advice to Senior Management

While I was at AWAC I never heard any complaints about upper management. Although there was one topic that some disagreed with senior management on: a potential merger with another insurance company that eventually fell through.

Pros

Good health and retirement benefits. Good bonus compared to other insurance companies

Cons

Promotion is based on buddy-buddy relationship as mentioned in an earlier review rather than merit. Senior management is very mediocre and there are very few smart individuals in IT

Advice to Senior Management

1. Encourage Merit Based Promotions
2. Introduce 360 degree feedback to gauge performance of managers

Pros

Allied World employs great and talented people on the office floor & customer facing level, but unable to replicate such talent above this level.

Cons

Promotion runs on the buddy-buddy/personal relationship system rather than talent.
Senior Management need to communicate with grass root employees.
IT systems very outdated and a hinderance to technical underwriting.
Poor compenstation package,.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to your staff, they are a credit to your organisation and deserve good communication; this will only strengthen the company to go on to better things and profitability.

Pros

Great management and work culture

Cons

The IT department is small but growing in leaps anf bound

Advice to Senior Management

Continue with the good work!

Pros

Growing company that has lots of opportunity in the actuarial realm. Global offices. Competitive salaries. The company has a diverse platform of products which it could readily switch focus on as the property/casualty, primary/reinsurance markets each go through their respective hard and soft markets. Combined ratio is always in the lower end of the Class of 2001 (re) insurers.

Cons

Systems are going through transitions.

Advice to Senior Management

Good job.