KYC Officer

Howden; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A global insurance company in Leeds is seeking a Security & Counterparty Business Partner. You'll manage onboarding processes, ensuring compliance with regulations while overseeing a team. Ideal candidates will have experience in a compliance role within insurance and strong communication skills. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to policy development and enhance business relationships within the company.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Supportive work culture

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Experience in a compliance or Security & Counterparty function within a regulated UK environment.
• Knowledge of insurance principles, products, and services.
• Experience managing or supervising others is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage onboarding processes for clients, insurers, and counterparties.
• Act as a referral point for onboarding queries and provide expert advice.
• Review and finalize Insurer Terms of Business Agreements.
• Maintain accurate records in company systems.
• Manage and develop a team, including recruitment.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Strong understanding of FCA principles

Excellent communication skills

Strong analytical abilities

Ability to prioritize under pressure

Education

University degree or recognized industry accreditation

Job description

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 over 20,000 employees spanning more than 100 countries.

We’re moving from strength to strength, expanding our global reach and growing both organically and through strategic, high‑quality mergers and acquisitions. By bringing together diverse expertise and perspectives, we’re enhancing our unique culture and values, whilst continuing to expand our capability to innovate and deliver exceptional solutions for our clients.

The Role

In the role of Security & Counterparty Business Partner, you will have the opportunity to aid business units in the compliant onboarding of customers, underwriters, and other associated entities. You’ll act as a key advisor to the business, ensuring onboarding processes meet regulatory and internal standards, while maintaining the integrity of account records across broking systems.

This role also includes line‑management responsibilities, overseeing a team and third‑party support from the Howden Service Centre in India. You’ll contribute to planning, reporting, and policy development, while encouraging positive relationships across the business to promote guidelines and ensure operational excellence.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Managing onboarding processes for clients, insurers and counterparties
• Acting as a referral point for onboarding queries and providing expert advice
• Reviewing and finalising Insurer Terms of Business Agreements
• Supporting completion of onboarding documentation and questionnaires
• Supervising insurer security and rating movements, and advising the business
• Maintaining accurate records in company systems
• Managing and developing a team, including recruitment and performance reviews
• Contributing to policy and procedure development for the Security & Counterparty team
• Encouraging strong connections throughout the organisation to facilitate work tasks
• Providing management information and contributing to wider team planning

Who We’re Looking For

• Commercial awareness and ability to apply regulation within insurance broking
• Experience in a compliance or Security & Counterparty function within a regulated UK environment
• Strong understanding of FCA principles, rules and guidelines
• Knowledge of insurance principles, products and services
• Experience managing or supervising others (desirable but not crucial)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving and influencing abilities
• Ability to prioritise and deliver under pressure
• Confident in building relationships and promoting best practices
• Committed to personal and team development, with a proactive approach to learning

Qualifications

• University degree or recognised industry accreditation
• Professional qualification (desirable)

What Do We Offer in Return?

A career that you define. 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

Diversity and Inclusion

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 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.

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 you get 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 toward our goal of making a positive impact in the world. You can read more about our sustainability work here.