Account Executive - Commercial & Schemes

Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. 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 24,000 employees spanning over 56 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.

At Howden, Commercial & Schemes, commercial insurance isn’t just what we do - it’s who we are. We support our clients through the complex landscape of commercial risk. We understand the diverse needs of businesses from large corporates to emerging ventures, meticulously crafting bespoke solutions to empower businesses to navigate uncertainty and achieve unwavering growth. Our depth of commercial insurance expertise allows us to protect client’s assets and fuel their progress. When our clients prosper, we celebrate success with them; when challenges arise, we provide unwavering support.

Join us as a Account Executive in our office in Cheltenham and become a vital part of our dynamic renewals team. This role will be responsible for contributing to our Travel & Schools Strategy and entails day-to-day management of our existing partnerships in the Education sector, specifically focused on tour operators, language schools and independent schools. This includes ongoing account management to deliver an exceptional service for our customers. The role will require occasional face to face renewal visits with clients and event attendance. This role will also include collaboration across strong internal and external relationships with key internal stakeholders to ensure success.

Please note this is a full-time, permanent opportunity. You will be based in our Cheltenham office and ideally be onsite for 2 days per week on average.

Overview:

• Responsible for managing, developing and renewing a portfolio of accounts with our existing partners to support increased growth and income.
• Establish suitable distribution methods to effectively negotiate renewal rates and terms, compiling adequate data to compose a professional renewal presentation.
• Ensure ongoing contact with our existing partners to maintain positive relationships.
• Exceeding annual targets
• Ensure that our Appointed Representative (AR) partners are distributing products compliantly and within the parameters of The AR framework.
• Use initiative to find opportunities for leads to other areas of the business.
• Travel to partner meetings and attend client promotional events.
• Managing own diary and booking appointments and meetings.

Knowledge:

• A minimum of 2 years' experience working in the insurance industry is preferred but not essential.

Skills:

• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to understand people and build rapport, adapting styles of communication accordingly.
• Ability to exceed individual targets and deadlines as defined by the business plan.
• Multi-tasking and organisational skills with attention to detail, quick assessment, and effective workload prioritisation.
• The ability to manage your own diary, working to tight deadlines with accuracy.

Qualifications:

• GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent).
• Cert CII (desirable for this role).

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

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.