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 over 20,000 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.
The Role
We now have an exciting opportunity to join us on a permanent basis, as a Claims Handler within our Legal, Technical & Claims team focussing on Professional Indemnity claims. The team is part of Howden’s Specialty business, and the position is based at our HQ in the City of London.
We’re seeking a highly skilled individual who’s eager to learn, ideally with some insurance market in a Professional Indemnity claims capacity. You will be working closely with colleagues as part of a team who provide claims advocacy for national and international clients with a particular focus on solicitors and accountants. You will be responsible for providing technical expertise, excellent and efficient service in relation to large and complex claims.
We need you to approach claims handling on an “added value” basis, applying your expertise in providing advice to the clients on coverage issues and other technical matters, preparing substantive notifications, proactively managing the flow of information and taking a strategic approach to claims resolution.
What you'll do
* You’ll be working closely with colleagues as part of a team who provide professional indemnity claims advocacy for national and international clients, which includes technical advice and supporting clients faced with large and complex insurance claims.
* We need you to approach claims handling on an “added value” basis, applying your expertise in providing advice to the clients on coverage issues and other technical matters, preparing substantive notifications, proactively managing the flow of information and taking a strategic approach to claims resolution.
* The role will require you to attend client meetings, initially with supervision to ‘learn by osmosis’, which will include renewal meetings/claims review meetings plus looking at claims trends affecting a client and their industry.
* You’ll then move onto working with your own portfolio of clients, be the day to day claims contact and approach claims handling by “going the extra mile” ensuring the team’s high standards are maintained by doing all they can for clients.
* We also need you to provide support on bigger clients where there is a two person account handling requirement– reading/understanding notifications, dealing with day to day correspondence and keeping accurate records which adhere to the company’s processes and procedures.
* The candidate must have the ability to communicate with colleagues and clients effectively plus engage with insurers and challenge them where necessary to achieve the best outcomes for clients. The candidate should be self-motivated, a team player who is well organised and able to work under direction or on their own.
Who we're looking for
* 1 – 2 years’ experience in a Professional Indemnity claims role is preferable, although not essential
* A strong drive with a commercial mind-set
* Excellent communication skills, being confident in explaining complex matters clearly and simply
* You’ll need to be able to develop sustainable long-term relationships both internally and externally.
* Adaptability for working independently and as part of the team.
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 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
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.
Reasonable adjustments
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.
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.