Insurance Loss Adjuster

Insurance loss adjusters help insurance companies and policyholders resolve complex or contested claims after an incident such as fire, flood, theft or accident. Visiting domestic properties or businesses, loss adjusters conduct thorough investigations, which include:

• surveying and assessing the cause and extent of a loss or damage
• interviewing clients, possibly liaising with police, solicitors, surveyors and forensic experts
• checking insurance policy conditions have been followed and that the policy will cover the loss
• coordinating clean-up and emergency salvage operations
• referring suspected fraudulent claims for further investigation.

Loss adjusters usually work between 35 and 40 hours a week. They may be on call during weekends and public holidays to respond to emergencies. Most of their time is spent visiting claimants or sites, so a valid driving licence is essential. The job can be physical, potentially dangerous and distressing at times. Safety equipment is worn.

Salaries range from £18,000 a year for trainee loss adjusters to £70,000 or more for those with specialist or management duties.

Loss adjusters need:

• excellent verbal and written communication skills
• integrity, tact and diplomacy
• good observation and investigative skills
• flexibility, able to react quickly to different situations
• a good working knowledge of the law and insurance.

Loss adjusters work for insurance companies and brokers, specialist loss adjusting firms and the risk management departments of public and private companies.

There are no set entry requirements and it may be possible to train as a claims technician and then progress into loss adjusting. However, most new entrants have a professional qualification and relevant work experience in claims management or related careers like risk management, accountancy, law, surveying and engineering. Loss adjusting requires good numeracy and writing skills, so employers usually require GCSEs (A*-C) in maths and English, or equivalent Level 2 qualifications as a minimum. Increasingly, employers take on graduates to formal training programmes. Any degree discipline is usually accepted.

Once employed, loss adjusters generally follow professional qualifications offered by the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA). By undertaking CILA exams and continuing professional development, many progress from ordinary member to Associate and finally Fellow.

With experience, loss adjusters may become managers and deal with more complex claims or might specialise in particular cases. Self-employment is possible.

Further details