Published:Sunday | July 5, 2015

Sunday Automotives continues its series on career options within the automotive industry with a look at the training and responsibilities of persons involved in insurance.

A willingness to learn the basics, which may include working at the lowest rung of the ladder, is essential to enjoying the fruits at the top in the insurance industry. Claims manager at British Caribbean Insurance Company Limited (BCIC) Claudia Roye believes those with lofty ambitions should start at the lowest level within the field.

“I would say start at the bottom. You need to know the basics. Even if you come in with a first degree or second degree or whatever qualifications you come in with, you must be prepared to learn the very very basics, which may even mean going to the Insurance College,” she said.

Roye has spent more than 30 years in insurance. In her current role, she is responsible for the efficient management of all the claims reported to the company.

Her fascination with insurance began when she stumbled upon the company. “I just wanted to know how it worked and what it was all about. I just passed by this place (BCIC) and I sent in an application. The next thing I know was that I was called,” said Roye, who obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Library Science from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona.

Eventually, Roye realised that those in senior positions within the company had obtained insurance qualifications and this propelled her to do further studies.

“I saw that persons in senior positions were persons qualified in insurance. That qualification in insurance was the Associate of the Chartered Institute, based in England. We were able to do the examinations here. The Insurance College facilitated it and BCIC facilitated those who wanted to do it,” she said.

experiences

Roye, according to the BCIC website, is the first Jamaican to become a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute. She is also a member of the Insurance Association of Jamaica Claims, its underwriting subcommittee, and also serves on its arbitration panel.

Recounting her experiences in the insurance business, Roye said that the most rewarding aspect of the job is customer satisfaction.

“I must say that seeing a satisfied customer, at the end of the day, is rewarding. Persons have this idea that all insurance companies do is take your money, and then when it’s time to pay, they find every reason not to pay or to delay the payment,” she said.

The most challenging aspect of her job, Roye notes, is “for persons to understand the principle of insurance and how it is that a claim is settled – the basic principle of how that happens and how your settlement is worked out”.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/auto/20150705/foundation-critical-insurance-career