Personal Assistant (to the Head of UK Specialty)

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.

We’re looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Personal Assistant to join us here at Howden!

You will have proven experience of supporting C-suite / Managing Directors and be an executive liaison that can work flexibility and efficiently in line with business and stakeholder needs. This is a great opportunity to join our energetic and fast-paced organisation and use your excellent interpersonal and communication skills. In this role you will be responsible for providing support to the Head of UK Specialty and their senior team.

What you’ll do

Schedule Management:

Maintain work diary for Head of UK Specialty

Organise meetings, presentations/speaking engagements, venue/room bookings, catering and the preparation of relevant material in advance

Manage local and international travel arrangements, including visa requirements, insurance arrangements and the preparation of travel itineraries

Ensure that time is effectively planned and the team is effectively prepared and issued with any relevant documentation and a daily timetable in advance of each working week

Information Preparation:

Prepare information for internal and external distribution. This may include writing letters and memos, creating presentations, transcribing dictation, editing, proofreading and internet research

Records Management:

Manage paper and electronic filing systems

Ensure that any administration processes follow Company, legal or regulatory requirements and scalable, utilising automation where possible

General Administration Support:

Screen calls and resolve issues as appropriate

Manage expenses records and claims and invoice processing

Respond to queries

Organise and respond to emails using agreed processes

Post messages/communication on the intranet/social media

Customer focus & Relationships:

Build strong relationships with the Operating and Group Executive teams as well as their manager’s direct report and other Assistants

Engage ethically and fairly with all clients (internal and external)

Develop positive relationships with preferred suppliers e.g. hotel and conferencing services, taxi services, restaurants, ensuring the best balance of quality, service and price

Management/Personal Development:

Act as a role model for positive behaviour, motivating and mentoring others within the corporate support function to deliver high performance

Manage the recruitment process where vacancies arise in your area of responsibility, working with the executive team as appropriate

Proactively undertake personal development to build knowledge and best practice

Keep up to date with external, industry, legal and regulatory developments etc to ensure practice and outputs are of a sufficiently high standard

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

What we’re looking for

Experience of working in a PA capacity

An understanding of Financial Services and/or Insurance would be beneficial but it is not essential

Experience managing/supervising others would be helpful, although not essential

Strong organisational and problem solving skills as well as attention to detail

Ability to demonstrate flexibility and produce high quality work at short notice

Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at varying levels of seniority

Ability to manage confidential matters appropriately

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other IT tools

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.
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