Executive Assistant

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.

The Executive Assistant (EA) provides high‐level, strategic and operational support to the Managing Director of one of the broking pillars. The role exists to enable effective leadership by managing priorities, governance and executive coordination, while acting as a trusted partner across planning, delivery and decision‐making.

What you’ll be doing

• Own end‐to‐end executive support for the Managing Director, ensuring time, focus and priorities are aligned to business objectives.
• Manage complex diaries, calendars and meeting schedules, anticipating conflicts and proactively resolving issues.
• Coordinate meetings end‐to‐end, including agenda planning, booking logistics, minute‐taking and follow‐up actions.
• Prepare the Managing Director for internal and external meetings through briefings, summaries and clear supporting materials.
• Support preparation for quarterly results meetings, including coordination of inputs, materials and key messages.
• Create, review and refine PowerPoint presentations for internal and external audiences, ensuring clarity, structure and quality.
• Arrange and manage travel, expenses and related administration with accuracy and efficiency.
• Act as a key partner on strategic initiatives, tracking actions, risks and delivery across agreed priorities.
• Organise strategy days, offsites and leadership sessions, managing logistics and preparation to support effective outcomes.
• Liaise with senior stakeholders to progress actions, maintain momentum and ensure follow‐through on decisions.
• Handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion, sound judgement and professionalism.
• Operate proactively, using initiative to anticipate needs, solve problems and improve ways of working.

Who we’re looking for

• Proven experience supporting a Managing Director or senior executive in a complex, fast‐paced business environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing diaries, meetings, travel, expenses and executive coordination at a senior level.
• Experience preparing executive‐level presentations, briefings and papers for internal and external audiences.
• Evidence of supporting strategic projects, business priorities or leadership initiatives beyond day‐to‐day administration.
• Experience engaging confidently with senior stakeholders and managing competing priorities.
• A track record of working with autonomy, discretion and sound judgement in handling confidential matters.
• Evidence of being proactive and committed, with the ability to anticipate needs and take initiative.

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal English, with the ability to communicate information clearly and effectively.
• Good numeracy skills, with confidence working with figures, data or performance information relevant to the role.
• A relevant business, administration or professional qualification is desirable.

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.