HR Assistant - International in London

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.

We're looking for an HR Assistant to join our HR Employee Services team, supporting colleagues and HR Business Partners across a number of international locations, with a particular focus on Europe. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced, people-focused environment and takes pride in delivering accurate, efficient and high-quality HR support. You'll play an important role in ensuring colleague data is managed effectively throughout the employee lifecycle, helping to create a seamless experience for our people while maintaining compliance with local requirements and company policies.

Working closely with HR Business Partners, local HR teams and payroll colleagues, you'll help ensure our HR processes run smoothly across multiple countries and jurisdictions.

What You'll Be Doing

• Provide proactive and timely administrative support to HR Business Partners across international regions.
• Help deliver a positive colleague experience by ensuring HR processes are completed accurately and efficiently.
• Build knowledge of local employment practices, policies, benefits and HR processes to support HR teams effectively.
• Respond to HR administration queries and support colleagues throughout their employment journey.

Managing the Employee Lifecycle

• New joiners and onboarding activities.
• Contract and employment changes.
• Promotions, transfers and organisational changes.
• Leaver and offboarding processes.
• Monthly payroll-related data preparation and validation.
• Prepare employment contracts, letters and other HR documentation.
• Ensure employee records are maintained accurately within our HR systems.
• Work with local HR teams to ensure processes remain compliant with local legislation and requirements.
• Support payroll activities to help ensure colleagues are paid accurately and on time.

HR Systems & Data Management

• Maintain accurate employee data within Workday and other HR systems.
• Carry out regular data audits and validation checks.
• Produce standard reports and support HR reporting requirements.
• Assist with HR system testing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support data quality and governance activities.

International HR Support

• Partner with HR teams across multiple countries and regions.
• Support compliance with local employment legislation and practices.
• Adapt your approach to meet differing regional and cultural requirements.
• Contribute to international HR projects and initiatives as required.

Continuous Improvement & Compliance

• Follow established HR processes, policies and service standards.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR and other relevant data privacy regulations.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, processes and the colleague experience.
• Support the creation and maintenance of process documentation and knowledge resources.

What We're Looking For

• Previous experience in an HR Administration, HR Assistant or HR Shared Services role.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• A customer-focused mindset and a passion for delivering great service.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams.
• Experience working with HR systems or case management tools.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
• A collaborative approach and willingness to work across teams and countries.

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.