Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Howden Ireland are delighted to have a vacancy as a Senior Claims Specialist who will be an integral part of our wider Claims team. As a Senior Claims Specialist, you will be responsible for reporting, managing and processing insurance claims efficiently while delivering excellent customer service.

About the Role:

Working within Howden Ireland, the Senior Claims Specialist will operate as a technical expert and trusted advisor, acting as a key intermediary between clients and insurers across all classes of commercial claims.

This role combines strong technical claims knowledge with a client-facing consultative approach, supporting clients throughout the claims lifecycle while influencing outcomes through expert guidance, negotiation support, and proactive engagement with insurers and service providers.

The role does not carry delegated authority for claims decisions but plays a critical role in shaping outcomes, managing expectations, and ensuring best-in-class service delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as a trusted claims advisor to a portfolio of clients, providing guidance and support across all stages of the claims process.

• Serve as the primary liaison between clients and insurers, ensuring clear communication, alignment, and effective progression of claims.

• Provide expert interpretation of policy coverage, terms, and conditions to support client understanding and expectations.

• Support clients in developing claims strategies, particularly for complex or high-value claims.

• Attend client meetings, presentations, and claims reviews, offering insight on claims trends and risk implications.

• Oversee day-to-day claims activity for Howden clients, ensuring claims are progressed efficiently and in line with best practice.

• Work closely with insurers and claims handlers, challenging and influencing where appropriate to achieve fair and timely outcomes.

• Provide technical input into coverage discussions, claims validation, and dispute resolution scenarios.

• Assist with queries from team members and internal teams where required

• Training team members (new and current) on all aspects of Claims when required

• Advise on claims documentation, quantum discussions, and recovery strategies where applicable.

• Maintain strong working relationships with insurers, Loss Adjusters, Loss Assessors, and other claims service providers.

• Stay up to date with market developments, insurer approaches, and claims trends across all commercial lines.

• Analyse claims data to identify trends, patterns, and emerging risks.

• Produce high-quality, client-facing claims reports and insights, supporting risk management and renewal discussions.

• Support clients with risk improvement recommendations based on claims experience and industry best practice.

• Contribute to the development of automated and data-led reporting tools within the Claims function.

• Act as a central coordination point between internal teams (broking, operations, compliance) and external stakeholders.

• Identify service gaps or inefficiencies and work collaboratively to drive improvements.

• Support insurer engagement and negotiation discussions, advocating for client interests at all times.

• Assist with all aspects of claims, as per business needs and requirements

• Ensure all activities are fully compliant with regulatory requirements, including the Consumer Protection Code.

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, including process optimisation and digital transformation within claims.

About You:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a claims-focused role within insurance broking or underwriting.

• CIP qualified or Grandfathered in Claims (with CPD compliance).

• Broad knowledge across multiple lines of commercial insurance (Property, Liability, Motor, etc.).

• Strong understanding of the Irish insurance market and claims environment.

• Experience engaging directly with both clients and insurers in an advisory capacity.

• Ability to operate as both a technical specialist and client-facing consultant.

• Strong negotiation awareness and confidence in dealing with insurers and third parties.

• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple complex claims concurrently.

• Comfortable working in a non-delegated authority environment, influencing rather than deciding outcomes.

• Proactive, solutions-focused, and commercially aware.

• Full clean driving licence.

• Excellent IT, reporting, and data analysis skills.

• Strong focus on delivering value and building trusted, long-term client relationships.

• Deep understanding of commercial insurance claims and policy structures.

• Ability to clearly articulate complex technical matters and influence stakeholders effectively.

• Strong capability to interpret data and translate insights into practical recommendations.

• High level of accountability, discretion, and ethical standards.

• Works effectively across teams while independently managing responsibilities.

About Howden Ireland:

Howden Ireland is part of Howden, the global insurance intermediary group, and has over 600 employees across 29 local offices advising clients on their commercial insurance, personal insurance, health insurance, life and pensions and mortgage requirements. Our success is primarily down to the incredible people we employ.

For more information, please visit About Us | Howden Ireland (howdengroup.com)

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new

• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges

• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs.  Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.