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.

What is the role?

The Howden Markets Placement Advisory team operates within Howden Group to execute the Group Placement Strategy. Howden Markets provide the infrastructure, advice and business support to deliver sustainable, best in class placement solutions and drive carrier / market engagement to ensure best outcomes for Howden and its clients.

The individual will work with the Portfolio Managers and other senior members of the department to develop, deliver and manage portfolio solutions for Howden UK&Ireland ‘UK&I’, Howden Specialty and International – in line with the Howden Markets strategy to build and maintain strategic insurer relationships, grow and retain profitable business whilst ensuring that budget/targets are met or exceeded.

They will be a key contributor and support for other members of the team and business – helping to coordinate the project work and day-to-day activity related to a portfolio solution.

A core part of the role is to ensure the successful creation and delivery of services (on plan, to budget, high quality) related to a portfolio solution, to both our internal clients ‘the Howden Retail and Specialty businesses’ and external clients ‘the insurers’, e.g. meetings, reports, presentations, data. As well as reporting which involves analysis and presentation of data.

Additionally, they are responsible for ensuring that day to day activities operate in accordance with applicable Company and/or Group policies to achieve targets, develop the business and deliver an excellent and comprehensive service.

What will you be doing?

Coordination and Support

• Supports the Portfolio Managers and wider Placement Advisory team in the day-to-day management and delivery of portfolio solutions and other placement related work.
• Coordinates activity related to the delivery of services to our internal clients ‘the business’ and our external clients ‘the insurers’. This would include…
  • Coordinating the quarterly business review meetings with the business and insurers, ensuring meetings are executed to a high standard including agendas, supporting materials, minutes etc.
  • Creating reports and presentations related to a portfolio solution, e.g. market presentations, reports and status updates.
  • Helping to plan and manage the timeline of activities – ensuring key tasks are completed on time.
  • Ensuring our colleagues in Howden Markets are kept up to date on progress and potential issues.

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Analyses data related to a portfolio solution, e.g. gross written premium, insurers, commissions, to assess potential opportunities and monitor performance.
• Pulls data from Excel and transfers to PowerPoint to present information in a simple and digestible way for stakeholders.
• Supports the creation of weekly, monthly or quarterly reports to stakeholders.
• Required to support the Portfolio Managers in meetings with the business and insurers, explaining the data and potential issues.
• Continuously improves monitoring and reporting of information to deliver enhanced value to our clients internally and externally.

Policy, Process and Procedures:

• Ensures up to date records are maintained at all times on the Group systems
• Keep informed of all legal and regulatory developments relevant to the Company/Group
• Interprets instructions and issues arising, and then implement actions according to policies and procedures

Environment, Contacts & Relationships:

Clients

• With guidance from the Portfolio Managers and senior members of Placement Advisory, builds and maintains strong relationships with internal stakeholders (e.g. Regional Offices, Business Producers, Brokers, Legal Counsel, Compliance, Audit, Accounts, Claims and Administration) and external contacts (e.g. Clients, Professional Bodies, Regulators, Brokers, and Insurers) to ensure delivery meets expectations and is compliant.
• Partners with the Portfolio Manager to acts as a point of contact for client requirements, portfolio issues and queries (internally & externally)
• Helps to report and resolve client issues with the Portfolio Managers, relating to portfolio solutions, escalating them to the Portfolio Manager when identified.

Suppliers/Markets

• Remains aware of the market e.g. competitors, potential changes/risks to ensure practices and outputs are of a sufficiently high standard and contribute to the identification of opportunities and business growth.

Other

• Consistently delivers an excellent and comprehensive service
• Promotes company values and contributes to a positive culture within Howden Group

• People Management/Personal Development:
• Acts as a role model by demonstrating a positive attitude and promoting continuous improvement
• Displays and instils a positive, highly-collaborative agile mindset and customer-centric culture
• Actively undertakes personal development to ensure up to date knowledge and understanding of best practices
• Remains aware of external, industry, legal and regulatory developments to ensure practice and outputs are of a sufficiently high standard

What do we need from you?

• Experience in insurance desirable but not essential
• Experience in dealing with clients and internal colleagues
• Experience in using Excel to analyse data and create outputs
• Experience in supporting a dynamic team
• Understanding general principles of insurance
• Understanding of London Market operations
• Awareness of the regulatory environment and requirements including e.g. FCA rules, data protection, money laundering, specific standards of insureds’ professional bodies – desirable but not essential
• Uses initiative
• Demonstrates an interest to learn and progress - asks questions
• Consultative and collaborative
• Highly organised, with good planning/prioritisation/time management skills
• Analytical and able to solve problems
• Customer focussed approach
• Strong inter-personal skills
• Able to work flexibly to achieve tight deadlines/targets
• Able to positively react to change
• Able to work effectively in a team
• Overseeing colleagues and offering help when required to resolve issues
• GCSEs or equivalent including English and Maths essential
• Educated to degree standard (desirable, but not essential)
• Technical qualifications in progress (e.g. Prince2, AMP, PMP, MSP, CII Certified etc.) would be beneficial
• Likely to have Dip CII and have started to study for ACII

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.