AddressFrom 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.
ROLE PROFILE:
Account Technician
ROLE PURPOSE:
Technicians are responsible for providing technical administration support to account handling staff within dedicated Business Units of their Operating Entity. They will work with other members of their team to ensure that their responsibilities are completed in accordance with applicable Company/Group policies.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Planning/Reporting:
- Works with senior members of the team to agree key priorities so that they can manage and plan their workload, ensuring that personal and team objectives are achieved
- Meets agreed targets
- Manages assigned projects and contribute to other projects as required
- Provides relevant management information to senior managers where required
Technical:
- Provide support and assistance to senior colleagues in their interactions with clients, producing brokers and underwriters regarding new business, renewals and mid-term changes
- Assist in monitoring team's Renewal and New Business activity, issuing renewal invitations and monitoring/chasing receipt, updating workflow
- Assist in the creation of comprehensive client and broking documents, reports and summaries
- Enter data into Sector (and other portals as appropriate) for new quotes, renewals and mid-term adjustments
- Prepare debiting instructions for own and colleagues' clients
- Co-ordinate and resolve queries from internal/external parties on behalf of the team, and investigate issues arising in a variety of MI reports
- Provide support for system updates for the team, undertaking system testing eg, schemes, new functionality, templates
- Technical duties (including monitoring debtors position and raising concerns with senior colleagues; running monthly Contract Certainty reports and ensuring data completion by the deadline; responding to issues raised regarding data integrity; supporting the credit control team where required; completing payment request forms; chasing subjectivities)
- Keeps informed of all regulatory and legal changes which impacts on the job role
- Ensures up to date records are maintained at all times on the Company systems
- Responds appropriately to urgent issues as they arise
- Maintain own electronic records and, where applicable, other members of the team
Policy, Process and Procedures:
- Interprets instructions and issues arising, and then implement actions according to policies and procedures
Environment, Customer Focus and Relationships:
- Develops strong relationships with their Business Units
- Develops strong relationships with clients as appropriate
- Deal with incoming enquiries from clients, insurers and third parties as appropriate
- Deal with client renewals and mid-term adjustments as appropriate
- Responds to the clients(both internal and external) requirements as appropriate
- Behaves with all clients (both internal and external) fairly and ethically
- Shares information that could be beneficial to the Operating Entity/Group
People Management/Personal Development:
The jobholder has no direct reports. They may be required to work alongside Trainee Technicians to support their development, as part of the training.
- 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
Regulatory and Compliance:
The Board of each Operating Entity requires the highest standards of corporate governance, operational excellence and financial reporting throughout the Group from all its employees. Specific responsibilities are listed below.
- Ensures compliance of self and direct reports (if any) with all applicable legal, fiscal and regulatory obligations in the form of policies and procedures
- Ensures correct authorisation is obtained and processes followed when required by the Operating Entity and/or Group
- Ensures performance, HR and T&C records are up to date and meet the Operating Entity and/or Group's requirements (which will include those of direct reports if any)
- Maintains accurate records and deals with correspondence appropriately
- Operates in an honest, professional and ethical manner
- Strictly adheres to the Group Employee Code of Conduct
- Completes all relevant regulatory training
- Ensures competence of self and direct reports (if any)
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Knowledge/Experience
- Experience in a similar role is highly desirable
- Should have previous experience of working in a client facing environment
- Able to undertake and demonstrate competence in technical training, as required by the industry regulator
- Technical expertise in allocated business lines
- Excellent understanding of processes and procedures within the insurance market (this will be developed with experience of the role and is not essential for recruitment purposes)
Skills/Behaviours
- Attention to detail with ability to produce accurate documentation
- Ability to work effectively within a team and answer queries from less experienced members of staff
- Prioritisation and organisational skills
- Self-motivated, able to work independently and use initiative
- Competent IT skills, including but not limited to Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with internal and external stakeholders
- Willingness to study for professional examinations (where relevant to the role)
- Excellent organisational skills
- Confident communicator both written and verbal
Qualifications
- GCSE's (or equivalent) including English and Maths essential
- A level Grade A-C (or equivalent)
- Progression towards gaining professional qualifications is desired, but not essential
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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