Claims Handler in London

Who are we? Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. We're experts helping clients adapt and thrive in a changing world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 23,000 employees and spanning 56 countries. Our people are our biggest asset as well as our largest shareholder group and are everything that makes us unique; our inclusive culture, the quality service we offer our clients, and our continued growth, all come from our people-first approach.

Why work at Howden? We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will.

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 disappointed head-hunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

The Role

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and well-organised Claims Handler to join our Legal, Technical & Claims team, specialising in Directors and Officers claims. This role would suit someone at the beginning of their claims career, or with limited/relevant insurance or client‑facing experience, who is keen to develop technical expertise and play a key role in delivering positive outcomes for clients.

You will be working closely with colleagues as part of a team who provide claims advocacy for a range of international clients with a particular focus on Directors and Officers alongside Professional Indemnity and Employment Practices Liability. You will be responsible for providing technical expertise matched with excellent and efficient service. You’ll be someone who takes pride in professionalism, accuracy, and service. You’ll understand how your role contributes to the wider claims team and the client experience, and you’ll be comfortable working independently while recognising when to seek guidance or escalate issues.

What you'll do

• You’ll support the handling of D&O claims, working closely with more experienced colleagues while building your technical knowledge and confidence in the role.
• This is a learning‑focused position, offering exposure to a wide range of claims scenarios, stakeholders and territories.
• Your responsibilities will include:

• Learning how claims are managed from notification through to resolution, observing and supporting senior colleagues with progression towards managing your own portfolio of claims over time.
• Assisting with the set‑up of notifications and claims on internal systems, ensuring information is accurate, complete, and up to date.
• Reviewing policy documentation with support to understand key information and determine basic coverage positions.
• Actively developing your knowledge through day‑to‑day experience, training and support from colleagues to understand how your role contributes to the wider claims team and client outcomes.
• Managing your workload effectively, prioritising tasks with guidance while meeting agreed deadlines.
• Confidentially using claims and broking systems and following established procedures.
• Helping prepare claim correspondence, summaries and documentation for clients, brokers, and insurers.
• Supporting communication with clients, insurers and other third parties, ensuring updates and collections/payments are shared/processed clearly and promptly.
• Over time, organising and attending client, renewal and Insurer meetings where appropriate.
• Maintaining accurate electronic claims files, including updates to core systems and ECF, in line with agreed procedures.
• Escalating queries, risks, or unusual issues to senior team members as appropriate.
• Demonstrating a collaborative mindset and supporting team objectives, including assisting with additional projects and management information when required.
• Following internal policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements to ensure compliance at all times.
• Remaining aware of external, industry, legal and regulatory developments etc to ensure practice and output.
• Keeping informed of all legal and regulatory developments relevant to the Operating Entity and the Group.

What we're looking for

• An interest in claims handling and insurance, with some exposure to a claims or client‑facing environment preferred, though not essential.
• A basic understanding of insurance principles, policy documentation and the importance of compliance and regulation is ideal, though not essential.
• Strong organisation and time‑management skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively in a fast‑paced environment.
• Clear, professional communication skills and the ability to build positive working relationships with colleagues, clients, insurers and other third parties.
• A willingness to learn, confidence to ask questions, and a proactive approach to personal development.
• A collaborative, team‑focused mindset, combined with the resilience to work calmly under pressure.
• Progression toward professional qualifications (for example Lloyd’s/London Market or CII pathways) is encouraged, though not essential.

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. And we know that separate home and work lives don't really exist. 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 do our best to support our people in every aspect of their lives.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Howden we value diversity - there is no one Howden ‘personality 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.
• 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. 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.

Our sustainability promise

We’re on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world.