Appraiser/Total Loss Adjuster (Finance)

Penn National Insurance has a great opportunity for an Appraiser to join our team! 

• Must be Pennsylvania licensed appraiser. 
• Must have current adjuster license or be willing to obtain it. 
• This is a remote position. Only candidates from the following states will be considered: Alabama, Delaware, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin.

 

This position is responsible for investigating, evaluating, and resolving automobile-Inland Marine damage claims in a timely manner in order to achieve a fair settlement within legal statutes, policy provisions and Company guidelines while restoring the vehicles to their pre-damaged condition.

 

COMPETENCIES AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE APPRAISER

 

Business Acumen

• Performs basic claims handling duties on assigned Total Loss and automobile damage claims in a timely manner to include:
  • verifying coverage concerning the insured vehicle involved in the claim and policy provisions in order to identify the claim's insurability.
  • making appropriate contacts and negotiating with policyholders inclusive of issuing physical damage payment to appropriate parties.
  • taking responsibility for handling and resolving policy holder problems or requests pertaining to auto or inland marine claims.
• Prepares and documents accurate vehicle/equipment damage appraisals, actual cash, and replacement values according to insurance department regulations, best practices, and technical resource guide information.
• May be required to assist Material Damage Specialist or CSO as required in catastrophe situations.

 

Negotiation

• Achieves a fair settlement in disposition of claims in order to pay the appropriate amount of legal liability while satisfying the demands of insureds and legal professionals.
• Uses appropriate, tactful, and complete communications in order to ease negotiations, project a positive corporate and personal image, and develop rapport.

 

Results Oriented

• Reviews appraisal reports and communicates with policyholders and repair shops.
• Properly identifies and pursues salvage and subrogation opportunities when available to recover the amount of payment.

 

Time & Priority Management

• Prepares claim file documentation accurately and completely to justify all actions taken and provide a good audit trail.
• Completes actions in a timely basis to satisfy the company, insureds, and claimants that effective effort is being made toward claim settlement.

 

Decision Making

• Completes appraisals of damaged vehicles, to include at the vehicle inspections.
• Establishes the physical damage claim value of assigned losses.
• Utilizes technical expertise and information gathering to accurately determine physical claim value of claims using company recognized resources, estimating, and evaluation software.
• Provides claims personnel with expert advice on vehicle repair, parts costs, garage expertise, and opinion on whether specific damage is related to a particular accident.
• Performs various projects requested or assigned by the Material Damage Specialist.

 

CORPORATE CORE COMPETENCIES OF THE APPRAISER

 

Effectively Communicates and Connects

• Communicates and negotiates effectively with peers regarding work outcomes.
• Influences by making a strong case, bringing other people on the team to understand the presented viewpoint.
• Provides feedback and is clear when disagreeing with an approach; offers suggestions for improvement.
• Attentively listens and asks clarifying questions and paraphrases to enhance understanding.
• Builds and nurtures positive relationships within the workplace.

 

Customer Focused

• Identifies explicit and implied customer needs.
• Asks probing questions to fully understand business requirements.
• Develops positive relationships with customers by meeting their needs as well as incorporating their feedback.
• Responds quickly and acts with high quality solutions that address needs and improve overall customer experience.
• Owns resolution of customer experience outcome.

 

Talent Development Mindset

• Discusses technical and professional development with peers to gain suggestions for further development.
• Actively seeks and acts on opportunities to recognize peers for high performance.
• Stays alert to identify learning opportunities for self.

 

Demonstrates Adaptability

• Contributes to progressive thinking within the team by posing questions that challenge traditional methods or processes.
• Proposes ideas and suggests new approaches to tackling own work tasks and issues in a better way to drive organization success.
• Participates in and actively support change initiatives, and provide ideas to promote their success.
• Recognizes and manages an ambiguous work environment.
• Demonstrates flexibility in generating alternative solutions and recommendations.

 

Demonstrates Accountability

• Applies judgment in making decisions about own work and takes responsibility for actions.
• Demonstrates reliability by producing steady work results and delivering on commitments to team members on time.
• Takes responsibility for regularly seeking and applying feedback and actively learning from errors and setbacks.
• Understands the mission of the organization.

 

SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS FOR THE APPRAISER

• The Auto Appraiser reports to the Material Damage Specialist
• The Auto Appraiser has direct contact and interacts with all levels of personnel within the Claims Service Office
• Occasionally interacts with underwriting personnel regarding claim issues
• May occasionally interact with agents
• Has direct contact with policyholders/claimants, third parties, and vendors

 

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE APPRAISER

 

Education/Credentials

• High School diploma, or equivalent, required
• Must possess a valid Appraiser's license
• Ability to obtain an Adjusters license in multiple states
• I-CAR professional designation and/or course work preferred
• IIA Certificate in General Insurance and Associate in Claims courses desired

 

Experience

• Minimum of 2-years of automobile appraisal estimating experience, preferably with an insurance carrier

OR 

• Minimum of 2-years of property claims handling experience or experience working in a body shop 

 

Technical/Professional Knowledge

• Effective communication skills, both oral and written
• Effective inter-personal skills
• Effective organization skills, with the ability to work independently
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to deal with conflict and resolve issues promptly and fairly
• Must be detail oriented, as assigned work requires significant attention to detail
• Personal Computer skills, with an emphasis on Microsoft products
• Must be knowledgeable of auto estimating technology/systems
• Requires knowledge of collision repair techniques, as well as knowledge of automotive mechanics, paint, body, and frames
• Ability to work within a team-oriented, fast-paced, customer-focused environment
• Must have excellent skills in estimating material damage
• Must possess basic math skills
• Must remain current on jurisdictional laws and regulations; communicate compliance requirements to other claim staff as appropriate.
• Commitment to continuous education pertinent to position's duties and responsibilities, in order to achieve and maintain appropriate technical expertise, certifications and required licenses through successful completion of industry classes and training
• Basic understanding of tort and state laws applicable to assigned claims
• Basic understanding of the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act, insurance policy coverages and provisions, and applicable medical, legal, automotive, and construction terminology

 

JOB REQUIREMENTS (as required by ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act)

• This position is primarily a sedentary position that requires occasional standing and walking throughout the office environment.
• Must be able to see and effectively use a computer monitor.
• Must be able to operate a computer, keyboard and applicable printers and other general office equipment.
• Must be able to access and enter information accurately using automated systems.
• Must be able to hear and communicate via the telephone and/or monitoring devices to both internal and external clients.
• Must be able to present information to individuals and groups.
• Must be able to interpret and apply concepts that may or may not be based upon established guidelines.
• Must be able to maintain acceptable attendance and adhere to scheduled work hours.
• Must have a valid driver's license and be able to operate a motor vehicle.
• Must be able to travel with overnight stays if required.

 

Only candidates from the following states will be considered: Alabama, Delaware, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin.