Account Executive - Commercial & Schemes

Howden; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Howden in Maidstone is seeking an Account Executive for our Commercial Schemes Motor Trade team. You will manage a renewals book, nurture client relationships, and work with Account Handlers, Claims Handlers, and Insurers to deliver renewals and growth.

The role requires at least five years of commercial insurance experience, strong communication and negotiation skills, a proactive service mindset, and the ability to understand a client’s business beyond immediate insurance needs.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years commercial insurance experience.
• Must be working or worked in a similar role previously.
• Excellent client relationship and communication skills.
• Strong organisation and time-management skills.
• A proactive and commercially focused approach.
• Confidence conducting client and insurer meetings.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Ability to understand a client’s business beyond their immediate insurance requirements.
• Strong attention to detail and record keeping.
• A collaborative approach to working with Account Handlers and other internal teams.
• A strong focus on client retention and service.
• Confidence identifying growth, referral and cross-selling opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Client Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with a portfolio of Motor Trade clients; own the overall client relationship; understand each client’s business, risks and plans; maintain regular contact and provide proactive service; conduct client meetings; document actions.

Skills

Client relationship management

Negotiation

Communication skills

Organisation/time-management

Proactive/commercial focus

Job description

Who are we?

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.

• At Howden - Commercial & Schemes, commercial insurance isn’t just what we do – it’s who we are. We support our clients through the complex landscape of commercial risk. We understand the diverse needs of businesses from emerging ventures to large corporates, meticulously crafting bespoke solutions where required to empower businesses to navigate uncertainty and achieve unwavering growth. Our depth of commercial insurance expertise allows us to protect client’s assets and fuel their progress. When our clients prosper, we celebrate success with them; when challenges arise, we provide unwavering support.We are seeking a dedicated Account Executive to join our Commercial Schemes team in Maidstone. This outstanding opportunity involves managing a renewals book of business in our Motor Trade team.

Role Purpose
The Account Executive is responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with a portfolio of Motor Trade clients, providing a proactive, professional and high-quality service throughout the insurance lifecycle.The role will take ownership of the client relationship, working closely with Account Handlers, Claims Handlers, and Insurers to deliver successful renewals, strong client retention and sustainable growth. A key focus will be understanding each client’s business, identifying their evolving risks and insurance requirements, and ensuring clients receive appropriate advice and regular contact rather than engagement being limited to renewal. Key ResponsibilitiesClient Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with a portfolio of Motor Trade clients.
• Act as a key point of contact and take ownership of the overall client relationship.
• Develop a detailed understanding of each client’s business, operations, risks and future plans.
• Maintain regular contact throughout the policy year and provide a proactive rather than purely renewal-led service.
• Conduct client meetings, including face-to-face meetings where appropriate.
• Ensure agreed actions and commitments are followed through and clearly documented.

Renewal Management

• Proactively begin the renewal process and arrange and prepare for pre-renewal client meetings.
• Review the client’s circumstances, claims experience, existing programme and any material changes to the business.
• Develop an appropriate renewal strategy with Account Handlers and other relevant colleagues.
• Liaise and meet with insurers as required to achieve suitable renewal outcomes.
• Present renewal terms and recommendations clearly and professionally to clients.
• Maintain oversight of the renewal through to completion, ensuring agreed actions and deadlines are met.

Claims

• Maintain awareness of significant or ongoing claims affecting clients within the portfolio.
• Work collaboratively with Claims Handlers and ensure appropriate communication between the client and internal teams.
• Ensure claims experience is considered as part of the renewal strategy.
• Keep clients appropriately updated on matters affecting their insurance programme.

Growth & Business Development

• Identify opportunities to grow existing client relationships through additional products, services and appropriate cross-selling.
• Proactively identify referral opportunities across the wider business.
• Develop relationships that can generate new business opportunities.
• Build a strong professional network and represent the business positively with clients, prospects and insurers.

The successful candidate will have:

• Minimum of 5 years commercial insurance experience
• Must be working or worked in a similar role previously
• Excellent client relationship and communication skills.
• Strong organisation and time-management skills.
• A proactive and commercially focused approach.
• Confidence conducting client and insurer meetings.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Ability to understand a client’s business beyond their immediate insurance requirements.
• Strong attention to detail and record keeping.
• A collaborative approach to working with Account Handlers and other internal teams.
• A strong focus on client retention and service.
• Confidence identifying growth, referral and cross-selling opportunities.

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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*.

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

Permanent