What it does: Administrates third-party insurance claims
Staff stats: 1000 in Australia and New Zealand, 26,800 globally
The good bits: Working for a global, ethical employer, and Fortune 500 company
The not so good bits: The fast pace and heavy workloads can be challenging
Hiring grads with degrees in: Engineering, Maths, IT & Computer Sciences; Finance, Accounting, Economics & Business Administration; Health & Medical Sciences; Law & Legal Studies; Sciences.
Gallagher Bassett is part of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co (commonly referred to as AJG or simply Gallagher), the world’s fourth-largest full-service insurance broker.
In 1927 Arthur James Gallagher launched a brokerage firm in Chicago. By 1950, Gallagher had bought his three sons into the business and incorporated it.
In the post-war period, the firm established a solid foundation in the US and since the turn of the Millennium, thanks to both frequent acquisitions and organic growth, the Gallagher group expanded its footprint throughout North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Now, the group has around 27,000 employees globally, and a revenue of over US$6 billion (AU$8 billion).
In 1962, Arthur’s son Jim joined forces with another insurance industry heavyweight called Sterling Bassett, and together they created a claims management business called Gallagher Bassett (known as GB). GB now has around 128 branches worldwide and manages claims in more than 60 countries.
In 1997, Gallagher Bassett expanded into this part of the world by acquiring a 50% interest in an Australian loss-adjusting firm called Wyatt. In 2003, GB bought out its partner, and then in 2014, the company made some significant acquisitions, including the OAMPS and Crombie Lockwood brokerage businesses of Westfarmers in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom for $933 million.
Today, Gallagher Bassett is Australia and New Zealand’s premier multi-disciplinary third-party claims administrator, and employs around 1,000 people across the region, with a revenue of $421 million in 2017.
GB offers clients “a unique suite of claims management and related consulting and technical services” across Workers’ Compensation and General Insurance lines and prides itself for delivering quality outcomes with care and compassion.
Nowadays, its parent company, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co, is chaired by Arthur’s grandson Pat Gallagher. It remains a ‘family’ organisation that stays true to its unique corporate culture.
The Gallagher culture is built on respect for clients, respect for employees, and respect for the value of teamwork. In 1984, Robert E Gallagher sat down and wrote a document outlining the shared values he believed were the foundation of the company. 35 years later, this same set of values still drives the company and its employees. It’s called ‘The Gallagher Way’.
In representing The Gallagher Way, a team of ‘Culture Champions’ drive culture initiatives, a Diversity and Inclusion committee aims to strengthen our supportive and inclusive workplace, and there is a robust Talent Management Framework in place to support the development and career goals of employees.
The firm believes promoting diversity and inclusion helps it better understand and respond to its clients’ needs, as well as making “GB an interesting and exciting place to work”.
To avoid any conscious or unconscious discrimination around ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or disability, GB has a ‘de-identified application process’ for senior roles. (This means personal details such as ages, locations and names are removed from applications before they are considered.)
Half of GB’s managers are female. GB has sponsored the Women in Leadership Conference, and celebrates the accomplishments of its female staff every International Women’s Day.
Building a culture of respect for all people is considered part of the ‘Gallagher Way’. This is reflected through cultural initiatives, partnerships with LGBTI organisations such as Twenty10 and Pride in Diversity, and participation in Pride Month and IDAHOBIT.
A commitment to preventing claims and the fair and expeditious handling of claims that do occur is part of the DNA of Gallagher Bassett.
GB aspires to act with integrity and promote environmental, social and economic benefits in the communities in which it operates.
The Gentle Bear program was launched in 2007, where teddy bears were handed out by police and emergency services staff to children caught up in distressing situations. The program has since expanded and to date, over 10,000 bears have been distributed worldwide. Gentle Bear has become the company’s global icon of charitable initiatives and GB’s symbol for caring and compassion.
Integrity is also fundamental to the company culture. In 2018, GB’s parent company, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. was named as one of the world’s most ethical companies by the Ethisphere Institute, a recognition they have achieved for the last seven years in a row, and they are the only insurance broker to have ever been recognised. Gallagher believe that being successful and acting ethically are not mutually exclusive.
The company also releases an annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report as their commitment to maintaining high standards of ethical behaviour and supporting the communities in which they live and work. To honour this commitment, and in commemoration of the company’s 90th anniversary, they set a goal of 90,000 hours of volunteering service from employees during 2018, a target that was surpassed several months early.
GB uses its award-winning paid internship program as a “pipeline for future talent”.
Internship roles will differ each intake but are generally offered in the following operational departments: Claims; Liability; Account Management; Sales; and Risk and Compliance. Corporate roles are also available each year. In the past, this has included IT, Marketing, HR and Finance. Those with a background in allied health, applied sciences, business, commerce, law, psychology or other relevant areas are welcome to apply. Candidates are expected to be interested in exploring a career in the insurance industry. A range of competencies is assessed during recruitment, including cultural fit with the organisation’s values.
Internships run for six weeks over the summer holidays. They begin with a three-day orientation at GB’s Australian HQ in Brisbane. (GB’s Australian offices are located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne and Sydney.)
Interns take part in training and professional development activities. They receive one-on-one mentoring and plenty of coaching and support from managers and peers. They also get the opportunity to do “challenging, meaningful work”, including being assigned a process improvement project which they complete independently and provide recommendations back to the business. And, if things go well, interns have “a pathway to possible employment opportunities post-graduation”.
Applications for the internship program are made via the jobs page on the firm’s website. The selection process includes interviews and online testing.
At this stage, GB does not offer a formal grad program, but there will be employment opportunities available into certain roles, and all GB employees have access to ongoing professional development and career progression.
GB offers attractive remuneration packaging, flexible work arrangements where applicable, and other benefits including a staff Wellness Program, Workplace Giving Program, annual Thank You Day, service recognition awards, and access to a range of discounts on insurance, travel, and retail.
To maintain its position as an ‘innovative market leader’ GB recruits and nurtures “highly skilled professionals” and offers them “a defined career path in claims management”. Managers work with their staff to create development plans; ones that allow staff to gain the skills and experience they require “to be a success, both now and in the future”
GB is a “value-driven organisation where pride, trust, leadership and accountability are encouraged and celebrated”. Everyone is expected to live to ‘The Gallagher Way’ values.
The GB workplace is a “fast-paced, performance-driven and results-focused environment”.
GB staff are expected to balance “commercial outcomes with compassionate care”.
Star Rating: Not available
Gallagher Bassett (GB) is Australasia’s largest multi-disciplinary third-party claims administrator. Drawing on our global network and extensive local resources, we manage claims on behalf of insurers, brokers, government and self-insured organisations.
Our story is one of innovation, commitment to quality and strategic decision making.
GB introduced the Third Party Claims Administrator (TPA) model to the local insurance industry. As pioneers in this fast-growing sector, we continue to set the benchmark for quality, customer service and TPW systems across all insurance sectors.
Globally, we have operations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Locally, with offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Darwin and New Zealand, and a team of more than 1000 claims management experts, GB provides a unique suite of claims and policy management and related consulting and technical services.
Business as usual for us is meaningful work in a fast-paced, performance-driven and results-focused environment. Our daily challenge is to balance commercial outcomes with compassionate care.
We help people to get their lives back on track as quickly as possible because we are passionate about claims excellence and customer service.
Are you ready for an exciting career in the insurance industry?
Our internship is about building a pipeline for future talent for the organisation. For our interns, it’s about exploring the range of exciting career options in the insurance industry whilst gaining professional development and valuable experience to support their studies.
We offer a variety of internship roles each year across our business. In 2019 these include Claims, Liability, Account Management, Impairment Benefits, Analyst, Finance, Risk & Compliance, and Sales. Relevant study areas for these roles include Psychology, Allied Health/Applied Sciences, Information Technology, Marketing, Business, Law, Commerce, or Mathematics.
What we offer:
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