Commercial Account Executive in Chelmsford

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. With a no limits approach, we can rise to any challenge. Whatever the question, the concern, or the risk, we can get the right people in a room and find the right answer. Our collective power is also helping us to change the insurance narrative – doing right by our clients while using insurance as a tool to build resilience for individuals, businesses and communities. From pro bono work to insuring COVID‑19 vaccine development to de‑risking the carbon market, we’re using our skills, knowledge, and networks to make a difference and speed positive change in the world around us.

We are actively looking for a Commercial Account Executive to join our Howden Consumer & Local Commercial team. Our local Commercial team have grown rapidly over the last 14 years, and we now have over 200 people within the team across the UK. In this role you will be responsible for building rapport with new and existing clients, who could range from sole traders, through to the MD/CEO of a large organisation, and working closely with the Branch Manager to achieve objectives.

About you: You will have experience winning new business and building long lasting relationships with B2B clients. You must have a passion for developing business through marketing, community engagement, networking, client meetings, just to name a few – the stronger our presence in the market, the more successful you will be. You will be tenacious and have a business curiosity, as this will allow you to identify and explore new business opportunities to drive the best possible outcome for our clients. You are willing to learn, as every day will be different. This is a great opportunity to progress your career as a Commercial Account Executive and further your professional qualifications. You are consultative, have the ability to question effectively and will be an active listener; you will take the time to fully understand client requirements and be able to advise on products and solutions – always identifying opportunities, but more importantly, looking for a ‘path to yes’.

Rewards:

• 22 days holiday (plus bank holidays), increasing through length of service
• Life Assurance up to 4x salary, protecting your loved ones in case the worst should happen
• Income protection, guaranteeing an income for up to 5 years in the event of an illness or injury
• Contributory pension scheme – 4% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution, rising to 5% & 5% in April 2025
• Access to a Healthcare Cashplan, which gives you access to a variety of health related benefits
• Access to a host of lifestyle and financial benefits that you can choose from: Discounts on gym membership across the UK
• Salary sacrifice schemes – Travel Insurance, Cycle to Work, Car leasing, Technology purchase
• Access to discounted personal health policies – Critical illness, private medical, dental plans
• A range of insurance products available commission free, including home, motor, travel and specialist vehicles
• Access to hundreds of high-street retailer discounts

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.

Howden began in 1994, as just three people and a dog. Now there are 23,000 of us, and we're a leading global insurance group, managing $37bn of premiums for our clients. Our largest shareholder group is us – the people who work in the business – supported by three long-term, minority growth-equity partners who share our vision to build a business to last, one that will never be sold. The owner's mindset is something that's embedded in our culture; our people readily take ownership of their decisions, their actions, and their outputs. They’re invested in every sense. And we all know that by working together to drive the business forward, everyone will benefit from the extraordinary results we can achieve.