Executive Assistant

Howden; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A global insurance group in the City of London is seeking an Executive Assistant to support C-suite executives. This full-time role involves managing schedules, preparing documents, coordinating travel, and ensuring smooth executive operations. The ideal candidate has experience in insurance or financial services and is highly organised with exceptional communication skills. The position follows a hybrid work pattern, requiring onsite presence four days a week.

Qualifications

• Prior experience in an EA role, directly supporting C-suite stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Managing diaries, scheduling meetings, and organising appointments.
• Preparing documentation, including reports and presentations.
• Coordinating travel arrangements, both domestic and international.
• Taking and distributing accurate meeting minutes.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

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 23,000 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.

What is the role?

Howden is seeking a highly organised and proactive Executive Assistant to support our Head of Group Placement & Howden Markets and Deputy Head of Howden Markets. This role sits within our Howden Markets business, providing essential administrative and secretarial support to ensure the smooth running of their day-to-day responsibilities.

We are specifically looking for a highly capable EA who has already supported C-suite executives. The candidate must be ready to hit the ground running, with minimal need for guidance or training. This role requires exceptional attention to detail, the ability to manage multiple priorities, and strong communication skills. While we are open to candidates from different industries, experience in insurance or financial services is strongly preferred.

Please note this is a full-time, permanent role based in our Central London office. Following a hybrid work pattern, the expectation is to be onsite 4 days per week.

What will you be doing?

• Managing diaries, scheduling meetings, and organising appointments to ensure effective time management.
• Preparing documentation, including reports, presentations, correspondence, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and professional formatting.
• Assisting with the preparation of board papers and supporting governance-related tasks to ensure compliance with company policies.
• Helping to organise offsites, events, and townhalls throughout the year, ensuring smooth planning and execution.
• Acting as the first point of contact for complex tasks and problem-solving, using initiative and resourcefulness to assist Head of Group Placement & Howden Markets and Deputy Head of Howden Markets.
• Coordinating travel arrangements, both domestic and international, including visas, itineraries, and accommodation.
• Greeting and hosting external guests, ensuring they have a professional and positive experience.
• Handling email and call screening, prioritising urgent matters, and responding to routine enquiries where appropriate.
• Taking and distributing accurate meeting minutes, ensuring follow-up actions are tracked and completed.
• Managing expenses, processing invoices, and maintaining financial records for the department.
• Providing administrative support for personal matters where appropriate.
• Liaising with internal teams and external stakeholders, ensuring effective communication and collaboration.
• Maintaining strong attention to detail throughout all tasks and upholding the professional brand of the business.
• Providing support to the Chief of Staff in planning key initiatives and coordinating subsequent diary management.

What are we looking for?

• Prior experience in an EA role, directly supporting C-suite stakeholders.
• A strong background working in a matrix organisation, ideally within insurance or financial services.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• High attention to detail, with the ability to produce accurate and well-presented documents and manage confidential information professionally.
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to engage and build relationships at all organisational levels.

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.