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 mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 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 - Corporate & Commercial are on the hunt for an Account Handler to join their SME Financial lines team and support their team for the administration of clients' insurance requirements, including general enquiries, renewals, mid-term adjustments, obtaining quotations and invoicing of premiums. Dealing with our SME clients , you will have a passion for providing excellent service to your clients.

Please note this is a full-time, permanent opportunity. You will be based in our Maidstone office and ideally be onsite for 3 days per week on average.

Overview:

• Assist in achieving Group/Division client retention targets by providing an excellent level of service.
• Liaise effectively with the Account Executive to ensure an appropriate strategy for renewal, attend client meetings as necessary and action meeting points (if applicable).
• Undertake market exercise to establish most competitive terms available.
• Obtain renewal terms and present to client.
• Issue renewal documentation in line with contract certainty.
• Ensure premiums are collected prior to the commencement of cover and in line with Howden procedures.
• Handle all queries, whether written or by telephone, in a professional manner and process effectively in line with service standards.
• Record all relevant information, correspondence and documentation on Acturis and make effective use of the diary system.
• Produce accurate and professional documentation at all times using relevant Howden templates.
• Process adjustments in line with procedures, including notification to insurers, issue of revised documentation, and collection of additional premium.
• Actively cross-sell products from other Divisions.
• Liaise with and assist other branches and Group Resources as necessary.

Knowledge:

• Working knowledge of all the main classes of General Insurance and the CII's Code of Ethics and GDPR.
• Must have a minimum of 2 years experience dealing with SME or commercial clients.

Skills:

• Good level of technical insurance skills, to be assessed by regular in-house testing.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to process work quickly and efficiently.
• Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines.
• Excellent client service skills.
• Good negotiation and broking skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to gather and analyse information from the client.
• Ability to identify and respond appropriately to an individual client's level of understanding.
• Ability to persuade and influence others.

Qualifications:

• GCSEs A-C in Maths & English.
• Cert CII (desirable).
• Acturis ( desirable).

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

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.