What does a senior claims adjuster do?
A senior claims adjuster is in charge of inspecting and analyzing insurance claims to validate and adjust payments. Among their responsibilities include reviewing and verifying claims documents, visiting sites to investigate property damages and personal injuries, gathering evidence such as photos and videos, and conducting interviews with witnesses and clients. Moreover, as a senior claims adjuster, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to fellow claims adjusters while enforcing and promoting the company's policies and regulations.
Senior claims adjuster responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior claims adjuster resumes:
- Manage file inventory by utilizing CCC pathways diary system documenting claim file activities in accordance with establish procedures
- Experience litigation adjuster proactively investigating, evaluating, and negotiating commercial and homeowner general liability casualty and property damage liability claims.
- Prepare and calculate consumer pensions as well as variable & fix annuities.
- Develop relationships with other departments such as sales, underwriting, and SIU in order to meet business goals.
- Prepare property repair estimates utilizing Xactimate estimating software.
- Structure settlement options with annuities and Medicare set-aside programs.
- Work in conjunction with SIU investigators when fraudulent activity are suspected.
- Represent the company at arbitration hearings, mandatory settlement conferences, monitor trial results and attorneys.
- Review files for no-fault benefits eligibility; prepare recommendations for case resolution; negotiate settlements; respond to all arbitration applications.
- Work autonomously investigating homeowner's liability and automobile claims in the field.
- Issue damage payments, compliance letters, establish loss reserves, and maintain customer diary through Allstate's NextGen system.
- Write detail estimates of damage for insure and contractor using Symbility estimating platform.
Senior claims adjuster skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Senior Claims Adjusters are proficient in Customer Service, Litigation, and Coverage Issues. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Senior Claims Adjusters that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 25%
Developed excellent customer service and communication skills through interfacing with customers and co-workers in both an office setting and field environments.
- Litigation, 9%
Experienced litigation adjuster proactively investigating, evaluating, and negotiating commercial and homeowner general liability casualty and property damage liability claims.
- Coverage Issues, 6%
Identify and investigate loss facts and potential coverage issues and communicate findings to appropriate involved parties and legal representatives.
- Strong Customer Service, 5%
Use strong customer service skills to negotiate with policy holders, claimants, or attorneys to settle the claim to completion.
- Settlement Authority, 5%
Awarded claims within authority limit and/or prepared reports justifying additional reserve or settlement authority.
- Claims Handling, 3%
Plan the medical and indemnity strategy to manage the severe injury/exposure claims using strong service-oriented claims handling.
Most senior claims adjusters use their skills in "customer service," "litigation," and "coverage issues" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential senior claims adjuster responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a senior claims adjuster to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "adjusters and examiners must each evaluate whether the insurance company is obligated to pay a claim and determine the amount to pay." Senior claims adjusters often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "collaborate with corporate claims in the investigation, litigation, analysis, and settlement of complex and high exposure claims. "
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling senior claims adjuster duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "claims adjusters and investigators must get information from a range of people, including claimants, witnesses, and medical experts." According to a senior claims adjuster resume, here's how senior claims adjusters can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "negotiated settlements and coordinated communications between law enforcement, attorneys, and claimants. "
Detail oriented. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of senior claims adjusters is detail oriented. This skill is critical to many everyday senior claims adjuster duties, as "adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators must carefully review documents and damaged property, because small details can have large financial consequences." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "conducted quarterly meetings with details on claim status to include litigation, medical updates, and monies paid. "
Interpersonal skills. A big part of what senior claims adjusters do relies on "interpersonal skills." You can see how essential it is to senior claims adjuster responsibilities because "adjusters, examiners, and investigators often meet with claimants and others who may be upset by the situation that requires a claim or by the settlement the company is offering." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical senior claims adjuster tasks: "provided superior customer service through excellent interpersonal, written and verbal skills, plus strong analytical skills and attention to detail. "
The three companies that hire the most senior claims adjusters are:
- Gallagher46 senior claims adjusters jobs
- Sedgwick LLP45 senior claims adjusters jobs
- The Hanover Insurance Group22 senior claims adjusters jobs
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Compare different senior claims adjusters
Senior claims adjuster vs. Insurance examiner
A claims examiner is responsible for conducting a claim review of a client against a particular insurance company--usually a health and life insurance company. An examiner must review claims and then approve them, reject them, or develop a possible settlement. They need to communicate with policyholders and insurance agents to assess if all the information under the company's claims guidelines and policies are correct and accurate.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior claims adjuster are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "litigation," "coverage issues," and "strong customer service." On the other hand, a job as an insurance examiner requires skills like "ekg," "financial statements," "blood pressure," and "health history." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Insurance examiners earn the highest salaries when working in the health care industry, with an average yearly salary of $54,171. On the other hand, senior claims adjusters are paid more in the insurance industry with an average salary of $66,103.The education levels that insurance examiners earn slightly differ from senior claims adjusters. In particular, insurance examiners are 2.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a senior claims adjuster. Additionally, they're 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior claims adjuster vs. Field investigator
A field investigator is responsible for collecting information and evidence to support ongoing investigations of law enforcement agencies. Field investigators analyze the occurrence and connections of criminal activities by gathering related cases and coordinating with scene witnesses. They also validate the information by conducting surveillance operations and coordinating with law professionals. A field investigator may also work for private clients, updating them regularly for the progress, and informing them of additional actions as needed to solve complicated cases.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, senior claims adjuster responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "litigation," "coverage issues," and "strong customer service." Meanwhile, a field investigator has duties that require skills in areas such as "excellent time management," "background checks," "mental health," and "criminal justice." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, field investigators earn a lower salary than senior claims adjusters. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, field investigators earn the most pay in the insurance industry with an average salary of $41,014. Whereas senior claims adjusters have higher pay in the insurance industry, with an average salary of $66,103.field investigators earn similar levels of education than senior claims adjusters in general. They're 4.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior claims adjuster vs. Total loss specialist
As a Total Loss Specialist, your job will involve appraising the damage and determining the salvage value on the total-loss vehicle. You will be tasked with examining the damaged vehicle to ascertain the extent of damage done to its body and structure and other mechanical, electrical, and internal damage. You'd also have to arrange with another appraiser to resolve any disagreement with the shop on the cost of repair after determining the extent of the damage to the vehicle.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, senior claims adjusters are more likely to have skills like "litigation," "coverage issues," "strong customer service," and "settlement authority." But a total loss specialist is more likely to have skills like "hr," "outbound calls," "inbound calls," and "training sessions."
Most total loss specialists achieve a similar degree level compared to senior claims adjusters. For example, they're 2.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior claims adjuster vs. Subrogation specialist
Types of senior claims adjuster
Updated January 8, 2025
