For many people insurance is still associated with an agent going door to door offering to insure property — an image familiar from the Soviet film "Beware of the Car", in which Innokenty Smoktunovsky's character Yuri Detochkin worked as an agent of Gosstrakh, the state insurer. The modern insurance industry is much more complex: it employs mathematicians, lawyers, engineers, doctors, data analysts and sales professionals.

Sales and client service

Insurance agent

An agent acts on behalf and on the instructions of an insurance company: advises clients, helps them choose a programme and arranges contracts. Agents' activities are governed by Article 8 of Russian Federation Law No. 4015-1 "On the Organisation of Insurance Business in the Russian Federation". An agent can be an individual, a sole proprietor or an organisation — for example, a bank or a car dealership. Key qualities are the ability to explain terms in plain language, honesty and product knowledge.

Insurance broker

Unlike an agent, a broker acts in the client's interests: analyses risks, requests offers from several insurers and helps with claims settlement. Insurance brokers are insurance market participants operating under a Bank of Russia licence. The profession requires in-depth knowledge of the market and insurance rules.

Corporate account manager

Looks after large corporate clients: gathers risk information, prepares proposals for property, liability and employee insurance, and supports the contract throughout its term.

Risk assessment and pricing

Underwriter

Decides whether to accept a risk and on what terms: the rate, deductible, limits and exclusions. A property underwriter studies the fire safety of premises, a life underwriter reviews medical questionnaires, a cargo underwriter looks at routes and packaging. The job requires analytical thinking, knowledge of the client's industry and the ability to say "no".

Actuary

The insurance company's mathematician: calculates rates, assesses insurance reserves and models future claims. Actuarial activity is governed by Federal Law No. 293-FZ "On Actuarial Activity in the Russian Federation", and insurers are required to undergo an actuarial assessment. The profession demands a strong background in probability theory, statistics and financial mathematics.

Reinsurance specialist

Passes part of large risks to other insurers and reinsurers so that the company does not depend on a single large loss. How this works is explained in the reinsurance section.

Claims settlement

Claims handler

Receives notices of insured events, checks documents, calculates compensation and communicates with the client. How a client rates the insurance company largely depends on this person's work. We describe the process from the client's side in the "Insured Event" section.

Loss adjuster and surveyor

Independent experts. A surveyor inspects property or cargo before the contract is concluded or after an incident and records its condition. A loss adjuster investigates complex and large losses and determines the cause and amount of damage. They are usually engineers, valuers or marine specialists.

Accident commissioner

Goes to the scene of a road accident, helps the parties complete the paperwork and photographs the damage and the scene. Requires automotive experience and knowledge of accident reporting rules.

Lawyers, doctors and security specialists

  • Lawyers draft insurance rules and represent the company in court and before the financial ombudsman.
  • Medical experts work in voluntary health and life insurance: they approve treatment and assess medical questionnaires.
  • Anti-fraud specialists check suspicious claims.
  • Compliance and internal control staff ensure that Bank of Russia requirements are met.

Digital professions

Insurance is increasingly moving online: OSAGO motor policies, travel insurance and mortgage policies are bought in a few minutes. Insurers therefore need data analysts, developers, product managers and customer experience specialists. Data-driven models help assess risks more accurately and settle routine claims faster.

Valued skills

  • the ability to explain complex terms in simple words;
  • knowledge of legislation — the Russian Civil Code, Law No. 4015-1 and the laws on compulsory insurance;
  • analytical thinking and comfort with numbers;
  • honesty and accuracy: insurance is built on trust.

Insurance is an industry where you can grow from a consultant to head of a business line and where experience only becomes more valuable over the years. More about the types of insurance these specialists work with is in the types of insurance section.