Employee Benefits Consultant - SME

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 mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 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.

What\’s the role?

By working closely with our clients to deeply understand their needs, we are able to develop solutions that are truly best-in‑class. We choose to be specialists rather than generalists, so that we have the expertise required to solve even the most complex challenges. Our entrepreneurial approach promotes innovation, integrity and a constant focus on delivering the best solutions for our clients.

The job holder is responsible for advising clients within the small to medium enterprise (SME) sector on their employee benefits programs, with a preferred specialist knowledge of Group Risk and or Healthcare. This opportunity is to join a dynamic division within Howden Employee Benefits and Wellbeing. You will be expected to manage client relationships and manage policies in Group Risk and or Healthcare, as well as develop new opportunities across the broad spectrum of Employee Benefits. Managing a portfolio of clients and the responsibility to deliver a personal account development new business budget. The role will include elements of both personal and scheme operations, but some additional support will be provided by the SME Operations team.

What will you be doing?

• Be the first point of contact for clients. Understand the sector and benefits offered. Be prepared to respond quickly and accurately to client queries.
• Builds a robust system for ensuring appropriate management of consultancy (and administration where required) tasks including proactive follow up with clients and insurers, keeping appropriate colleagues appraised at all times.
• Build and lead the relationship with a portfolio of SME clients whilst providing advice on specific insurance products.
• Provide all technical advice to clients on the policies you are responsible for, seeking assistance from colleagues where appropriate.
• Work closely with the SME Operations Team to ensure all renewal, reviews, claims and medical underwriting are completed in a timely manner to meet clients’ needs.
• Proactively build on existing external relationships with clients, prospects and insurers.
• Hold a broad knowledge of insurers’ propositions and differences to provide the most appropriate advice for clients.
• Be comfortable in ensuring we are provided with an appropriate level of remuneration for the work undertaken across HEBW.
• Where appropriate ensure all systems are kept up to date.
• Be involved in both existing business and new business activities.
• Take ownership of your own individual personal development and seek coaching//training where appropriate.

Technical:

Applicants will need to be proficient in advising clients in Group Risk and or Healthcare, along with a knowledge of broader Employee Benefits, including Wellbeing and Pensions. In addition, albeit not essential, you will have an awareness of the other areas of business where the group could support in the General Insurance sector.

Policy, Process and Procedures:

• You follow process and best practice that is relevant to your role and compliant with business policy.
• Constructively you suggest process improvements to deliver workable solutions.
• In a collaborative way you challenge wider processes to enable and drive improvements to service whilst ensuring compliance

Environment, Customer Focus and Relationships:

• The exceptional customer experience that you provide will drive improved retention and enables the opportunity for cross and upselling of our business portfolio of solutions.
• You will work closely with the SME Operations Team to ensure that the clients’ group policies are proactively managed, and needs met out in accordance with relevant policies. The job holder may also be required to provide support to their line manager in relation to nominated business projects.
• You build strong internal, client and provider relationships based on respect that develops and builds loyalty, retention and increased client benefit spend.

Market Knowledge & Technology:

• You stay up to date and proactively seek to broaden your market knowledge and understanding of key trends.
• You understand the need for accurate client data in the systems including contacts, existing portfolios, markets and partners.
• You understand the scope and advantage of our technology platforms, such as “Hubspot” and “EPIC”, to client’s and the business’ needs.
• You embrace Technology in order to deliver outstanding client solutions.

Compliance and Personal Development:

The Board of each Operating Entity requires the highest standards of corporate governance, operational excellence and financial reporting throughout the Group from all its directors and employees. Specifically:

• You actively undertake personal development to ensure up to date knowledge and understanding of best practice.
• You are aware of the need and sources of compliance and understand and apply compliance.
• You ensure that HR and Training & Competency records are up to date and meet the Operating Entity and/or Group’s requirements.
• You operate in an honest, professional and ethical manner.
• You are able to adapt best practice to the situation in hand within the framework of compliance.
• Strict adherence to the Group Employee Code of Conduct which strongly aligns to the FCA’s code of conduct that all regulated entities must adhere to under the SM&CR.
• Completes all relevant regulatory training and ensure you remain competent to carry out role.

What do we need from you?

• Detailed knowledge and understanding of group risk policies and or healthcare (relative to your client portfolio). This will primarily include death in service, income protection, critical illness, private medical insurance, dental, cash plan and EAP. At least 3 years advising clients in Group Risk or Healthcare and advising on wider Employee Benefits would be beneficial.
• You have Microsoft Office experience and are able to use basic functionality as a minimum.
• You can create, write and manipulate template reports.
• You strive to be “the best you can be” to deliver high standards of work for the benefit of your clients.
• Your professionalism increases the positive aspect of customer‑experience and underpins their loyalty.
• You take ownership of your portfolio and proactively manage the associated workload, flagging client risks and opportunities.
• You are conscientious, orderly and disciplined with good organisational and time management skills.
• You are motivated with a strong desire to learn.
• You have a good attention to detail.
• You are a team player.
• You lead by example and act as a role model for Howden Employee Benefits & Wellbeing.
• You interpret change, what it means to the business, and the action you need to take to support the change.
• Experience in consultancy or administration.
• Experience of working in Employee Benefits or with an Insurance Provider is preferred but not essential.
• CII GR1 qualified for risk, IF7 for Healthcare is preferred.

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.

Permanent