Personal Assistant

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.

We're looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Personal Assistant to join us.

You will have proven experience of supporting C-suite / Managing Directors and be an executive liaison that can work flexibility and efficiently in line with business and stakeholder needs. This is a great opportunity to join our energetic and fast-paced organisation and use your excellent interpersonal and communication skills. In this role you will be responsible for providing support to the Chief Finance Officer & Group Technology Officer for Howdens’ UK&I Retail division.

The role is offered on a full time, permanent basis, based from our office in Witney - Oxfordshire with hybrid working and occasional travel to our HQ in London.

Key Accountabilities

Schedule Management:

• Maintain work diary for Chief Finance Officer & Group Technology Officer.

• Organise meetings, presentations/speaking engagements, venue/room bookings, catering and the preparation of relevant material in advance.

• Manage local and international travel arrangements, including visa requirements, insurance arrangements and the preparation of travel itineraries.

• Ensure that time is effectively planned and the team is effectively prepared and issued with any relevant documentation and a daily timetable in advance of each working week.

Information Preparation:

• Prepare information for internal and external distribution. This may include writing letters and memos, creating presentations, transcribing dictation, editing, proofreading and internet research.

Records Management:

• Manage paper and electronic filing systems.

• Ensure that any administration processes follow Company, legal or regulatory requirements and scalable, utilising automation where possible.

General Administration Support:

• Screen calls and resolve issues as appropriate.

• Manage expenses records and claims and invoice processing.

• Respond to queries.

• Organise and respond to emails using agreed processes.

• Post messages/communication on the intranet/social media.

Customer focus & Relationships:

• Build strong relationships with the Operating and Group Executive teams as well as their manager's direct report and other Assistants.

• Engage ethically and fairly with all clients (internal and external).

• Develop positive relationships with preferred suppliers e.g. hotel and conferencing services, taxi services, restaurants, ensuring the best balance of quality, service and price.

Person Specification

• Experience of working in a PA/EA capacity.

• An understanding of Financial Services and/or Insurance would be beneficial, but it is not essential.

• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills as well as attention to detail.

• Ability to demonstrate flexibility and produce high quality work at short notice.

• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at varying levels of seniority.

• Ability to manage confidential matters appropriately.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other IT tools.

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