Senior Account Handler

The role is focused on the meticulous administration, with strong attention to detail and deep technical knowledge, of complex, high-value accounts, utilising expertise in document production, complex tax schedules, Lloyd’s and London market practices. You will specialise in supporting and managing the administration of large accounts across the banking, insurance, and investment sectors within the dedicated Operations team, in the Financial Institutions department. This position offers an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the efficiency and success of our client service proposition and operations focused on some of the largest and highest profile clients in the sector.

What you’ll do:

• Working closely with the client teams to administer the comprehensive account renewals — ensuring accuracy of tax schedules, regulatory compliance, and thorough documentation, especially for London market slips.
• Perform technical duties, including data entry, preparation of compliant MRCs, quotes, indications documents, and endorsements efficiently when required, maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and delivering high-quality service to clients via the client service team.
• Onboarding of new clients, carrying out Due Diligence checks and Sanctions screening.
• Collaborate with team members to set and prioritise key objectives, optimally leading workload to ensure both personal and team goals are met.
• Deliver specialised internal support on tax matters relevant to substantial insurance arrangements for financial institutions, ensuring compliance and optimising the outcomes for large accounts.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory changes, tax legislation, and London market practices, ensuring all activities for large accounts are conducted within applicable guidelines.
• Handle incoming enquiries from team members, internal stakeholders, insurers, and third parties, ensuring a professional and timely response.
• A good understanding of data and emerging technologies and how they apply.
• Consistently meet agreed performance targets and deadlines.
• Interpret and implement instructions and issues in line with company policies and procedures.
• Respond promptly and appropriately to urgent issues as they arise, providing effective solutions that prioritise excellent client outcomes.
• Build relationships with central service functions including at a senior level and share operational insights.
• Ensure that escalation procedures are familiar and effective.
• Mentor junior account handlers in managing large accounts and promote best practices, especially regarding London market protocols and slip processing for major portfolios.
• Understand the importance of and take accountability for the timely provision of documents as part of the service to our clients.

Who we’re looking for:

• Extensive experience in insurance broking, account handling or operational roles, ideally with large and complex multi-jurisdictional financial institution placements.
• Strong technical knowledge and understanding of the cradle to grave insurance process and London market practices, including slips and tax considerations for major banking, investment, and insurance accounts.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills for internal stakeholders, with the ability to present complex information clearly, particularly for substantial portfolios.
• Solid understanding of regulatory frameworks governing financial institutions, insurance markets, and tax regulations affecting large accounts and ability to utilise available resources to maintain and monitor this.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively within internal teams managing large accounts.
• Meticulous attention to detail, organisational skills and high standards, especially for slip production and tax documentation involving large placements.
• Professional qualifications such as ACII or equivalent an advantage.
• Commercially astute and proactive in identifying opportunities to continually improve processes.
• Resilient, tenacious and adaptable, able to manage high volumes and complex priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ethical and trustworthy, maintaining confidentiality and integrity in all dealings with client information.
• Team‑focused, committed to delivering exceptional support and value to internal stakeholders managing large accounts.
• Excellent decision making, critical thinking skills and problem solving.
• Adaptable and able to respond effectively to a changing commercial environment.
• Actively listens to the views of colleagues and business leaders but also has the strength of character to challenge where needed to ensure operational excellence.
• IT skills – competent with Microsoft programmes, electronic placing and in‑house broking systems.
• The ability to follow and utilise technology and systems in a fast‑changing environment at team and group level.
• A good understanding of end‑client standards, demands and pressures.

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. We understand that work and home life are intertwined; 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 support our people in every aspect of their lives.

Diversity and Inclusion: 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. Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.