Account Handler

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 15,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

Our people are our biggest asset as well as our largest shareholder group and are everything that makes us unique; our inclusive culture, the quality service we offer our clients, and our continued growth, all come from our people-first approach. There’s no such thing as individual success. We all need to play our part, contributing our skills and experience to make a true difference. That’s Howden.

Why work at Howden?

We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will.

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 disappointed head-hunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

From day one, our mission has been to create an independent business with a unique culture - one that is controlled by the people who work for it. Finding the most talented and entrepreneurial people has always been key to our success.

People come to Howden for lots of different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. That's what sets us apart, and why we nurture and retain the best talent in the market. Whatever your priorities - work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering - you'll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

The Role

Supports their Team to deliver an excellent and comprehensive service in the administration of new business, renewal and mid-term changes so that customers’ needs are best satisfied through suitable cover and pricing.

Key Responsibilities

Works with minimal guidance to organise own work activities to ensure that personal and Team objectives are achieved

Participates in team meetings as required, reporting on business progress within their area of expertise

Manages assigned projects and contributes to other project as required

Provides relevant management information to senior managers

Reviews client documentation to ensure that information presented is sufficiently comprehensive/accurate to support the quoting process

Collates and communicates client requirements to ensure appropriate marketing of the risk

Prepares or checks market presentations

Liaises with clients and ensures client queries are resolved

Responds to market and third party queries as appropriate

Is aware of, and satisfies, territory, tax and legislation requirements

Produces high quality and compliant market documentation ensuring appropriate authorisations are secured

Plans the most appropriate solution for the client’s demands and needs

Takes responsibility for data entry, credit control and chasing subjectivities where required

Liaises with support technicians and IBA as required

Ensures up to date records are maintained at all times on the Company system

Works within agreed parameters and uses relevant systems to ensure documentation/communications adhere to company procedure/compliance requirements and provide an adequate audit trail

Processes data promptly and accurately on relevant systems in order to support and improve high levels of client service/internal process execution and to facilitate informed analysis

Maintains appropriate client files, and oversees the prompt and accurate production of documentation to best meet client, company and regulatory requirements

Ensures appropriate due diligence/sanctions checks are conducted in line with company procedures

Adheres to company policies and procedures and obtains necessary authorisations at appropriate points in the process

Actively undertakes personal development to ensure up to date knowledge and understanding of best practice

Remains aware of external, industry, legal and regulatory developments etc. to ensure practice and outputs are of a sufficiently high standard

Keeps informed of all legal and regulatory developments relevant to the Operating Entity/Group

Skills & Attributes:

Understands general and legal principles of insurance

Understands the relevant regulatory and legal frameworks

Knowledge of the market including an awareness of competitors, specific territory knowledge, cultural awareness

Relevant product(s) knowledge is required

Relevant experience in an account handling or technical role is desirable

Good understanding of Team objectives and how own role contributes to these

Specific systems knowledge relevant to role

Good communication and interpersonal skills

Able to work independently and use initiative

Able to work flexibly to achieve tight deadlines/targets with good organisation skills

Analytical and able to solve problems

An attention to detail and willingness to learn

Calm and resilient under pressure

Able to positively react to change

Is a team player, networks and able to build sustainable relationships

Able to build sustainable working relationships

Able to train junior members of the team on specific system/process tasks

Qualifications

GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent)

A levels (desirable)

Attainment of the LLMIT (the Lloyd's and London Market Introductory Test), where relevant to the role

Working towards or has attained ACII (although this is not critical)

Our Culture: People First

We've travelled far since opening our first office in 1994. Back then we were local experts - based in London, with direct access to the world's biggest insurance market. We're still locals, and we still deliver the right advice and the right insurance to our clients. But now, we're local all over the world. With 15,000 global colleagues and a partner network spanning more than 100 territories, we are the largest independent insurance broker in the world. But our values haven't changed since day one, when we set out to create a company grounded in:

Aligned external investors

The trust and integrity born of friendship

Expertise

Our focus on being a people-first business has always been at the very heart of Howden. Our vision was to create an independent business with a unique culture; one that would survive and thrive as a business controlled by the people working for it. Our employee ownership model sets us apart in the market. It's created a culture of collaboration and innovation, where we're driven to think bigger and empowered to challenge convention.

Our flat structure and entrepreneurial spirit help us attract the best people and empower them to be the best version of themselves. And when we bring in and nurture great talent, more follows. That makes us better - and that's better for everyone.

Diversity & Inclusion

At Howden we consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness and respect, regardless of their age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or family circumstances.

Who we’re looking for

At Howden we value diversity - there is no one Howden ‘personality 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

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define.

Our business succeeds by allowing our people to make a mark in the areas they care about most: personal development, volunteering, and fundraising for charity, or creating new insurance products that address society’s greatest challenges.

And we know that separate home and work lives don't really exist. If you're happy and healthy at home, you're more likely to be happy and fulfilled at work – and vice versa. That's why we do our best to support our people in every aspect of their lives.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Howden, we consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness, and respect – regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or family circumstances.

Our sustainability promise

We’re on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world. You can read more about our sustainability work here .

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 15,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

Our people are our biggest asset as well as our largest shareholder group and are everything that makes us unique; our inclusive culture, the quality service we offer our clients, and our continued growth, all come from our people-first approach. There’s no such thing as individual success. We all need to play our part, contributing our skills and experience to make a true difference. That’s Howden.

Why work at Howden?

We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will.

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 disappointed head-hunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

From day one, our mission has been to create an independent business with a unique culture - one that is controlled by the people who work for it. Finding the most talented and entrepreneurial people has always been key to our success.

People come to Howden for lots of different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. That's what sets us apart, and why we nurture and retain the best talent in the market. Whatever your priorities - work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering - you'll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

The Role

Supports their Team to deliver an excellent and comprehensive service in the administration of new business, renewal and mid-term changes so that customers’ needs are best satisfied through suitable cover and pricing.

Key Responsibilities

• Works with minimal guidance to organise own work activities to ensure that personal and Team objectives are achieved

• Participates in team meetings as required, reporting on business progress within their area of expertise

• Manages assigned projects and contributes to other project as required

• Provides relevant management information to senior managers

• Reviews client documentation to ensure that information presented is sufficiently comprehensive/accurate to support the quoting process

• Collates and communicates client requirements to ensure appropriate marketing of the risk

• Prepares or checks market presentations

• Liaises with clients and ensures client queries are resolved

• Responds to market and third party queries as appropriate

• Is aware of, and satisfies, territory, tax and legislation requirements

• Produces high quality and compliant market documentation ensuring appropriate authorisations are secured

• Plans the most appropriate solution for the client’s demands and needs

• Takes responsibility for data entry, credit control and chasing subjectivities where required

• Liaises with support technicians and IBA as required

• Ensures up to date records are maintained at all times on the Company system

• Works within agreed parameters and uses relevant systems to ensure documentation/communications adhere to company procedure/compliance requirements and provide an adequate audit trail

• Processes data promptly and accurately on relevant systems in order to support and improve high levels of client service/internal process execution and to facilitate informed analysis

• Maintains appropriate client files, and oversees the prompt and accurate production of documentation to best meet client, company and regulatory requirements

• Ensures appropriate due diligence/sanctions checks are conducted in line with company procedures

• Adheres to company policies and procedures and obtains necessary authorisations at appropriate points in the process

• Actively undertakes personal development to ensure up to date knowledge and understanding of best practice

• Remains aware of external, industry, legal and regulatory developments etc. to ensure practice and outputs are of a sufficiently high standard

• Keeps informed of all legal and regulatory developments relevant to the Operating Entity/Group

Skills & Attributes:

• Understands general and legal principles of insurance

• Understands the relevant regulatory and legal frameworks

• Knowledge of the market including an awareness of competitors, specific territory knowledge, cultural awareness

• Relevant product(s) knowledge is required

• Relevant experience in an account handling or technical role is desirable

• Good understanding of Team objectives and how own role contributes to these

• Specific systems knowledge relevant to role

• Good communication and interpersonal skills

• Able to work independently and use initiative

• Able to work flexibly to achieve tight deadlines/targets with good organisation skills

• Analytical and able to solve problems

• An attention to detail and willingness to learn

• Calm and resilient under pressure

• Able to positively react to change

• Is a team player, networks and able to build sustainable relationships

• Able to build sustainable working relationships

• Able to train junior members of the team on specific system/process tasks

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent)

• A levels (desirable)

• Attainment of the LLMIT (the Lloyd's and London Market Introductory Test), where relevant to the role

• Working towards or has attained ACII (although this is not critical)

Our Culture: People First

We've travelled far since opening our first office in 1994. Back then we were local experts - based in London, with direct access to the world's biggest insurance market. We're still locals, and we still deliver the right advice and the right insurance to our clients. But now, we're local all over the world. With 15,000 global colleagues and a partner network spanning more than 100 territories, we are the largest independent insurance broker in the world. But our values haven't changed since day one, when we set out to create a company grounded in:

• An employee-ownership model

• Aligned external investors

• The trust and integrity born of friendship

• Expertise

• Independence

Our focus on being a people-first business has always been at the very heart of Howden. Our vision was to create an independent business with a unique culture; one that would survive and thrive as a business controlled by the people working for it. Our employee ownership model sets us apart in the market. It's created a culture of collaboration and innovation, where we're driven to think bigger and empowered to challenge convention.

Our flat structure and entrepreneurial spirit help us attract the best people and empower them to be the best version of themselves. And when we bring in and nurture great talent, more follows. That makes us better - and that's better for everyone.

Diversity & Inclusion

At Howden we consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness and respect, regardless of their age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or family circumstances.

Who we’re looking for

At Howden we value diversity - there is no one Howden ‘personality 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

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define.

Our business succeeds by allowing our people to make a mark in the areas they care about most: personal development, volunteering, and fundraising for charity, or creating new insurance products that address society’s greatest challenges.

And we know that separate home and work lives don't really exist. If you're happy and healthy at home, you're more likely to be happy and fulfilled at work – and vice versa. That's why we do our best to support our people in every aspect of their lives.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Howden, we consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness, and respect – regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or family circumstances.

Our sustainability promise

We’re on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world. You can read more about our sustainability work here .

About Us

Howden began in 1994, as just three people and a dog. Now there are 17,000 of us, and we're a leading global insurance group, managing $38bn of premiums for our clients.

Our largest shareholder group is us – the people who work in the business – supported by three long-term, minority growth-equity partners who share our vision to build a business to last, one that will never be sold.

The owner's mindset is something that's embedded in our culture; our people readily take ownership of their decisions, their actions, and their outputs. They’re invested in every sense. And we all know that by working together to drive the business forward, everyone will benefit from the extraordinary results we can achieve.