Operations Associate

HM&A; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Howden is seeking an Operations Associate to provide senior‑level operational support across the lifecycle of M&A insurance transactions. You will own complex operational activity, ensure high‑quality delivery, and coordinate from initiation to premium settlement while supporting brokers, clients and markets with confidence and judgement.

The role involves day‑to‑day operational support, documentation management, client and stakeholder liaison, and guidance to junior team members.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior operational or transactional support role within insurance, financial services or a professional services environment.
• Demonstrable experience managing complex documentation and operational processes with minimal supervision.
• Experience acting as a trusted operational contact for internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong experience handling confidential information and applying sound judgement in sensitive situations.
• Evidence of managing competing priorities across multiple transactions and deadlines.
• Experience supporting or overseeing junior colleagues and maintaining team standards.
• Strong written and verbal English, with the ability to communicate information clearly.
• Good numeracy skills, with confidence working with figures or data relevant to the role.

Responsibilities

• Own day‑to‑day operational support for M&A transactions from initiation through to settlement of premium.
• Take responsibility for the accurate and timely preparation, review and management of complex transaction documentation.
• Act as a key operational point of contact for clients, underwriters, brokers and internal teams.
• Maintain and oversee repository files, ensuring documentation is complete, accurate and appropriately stored.
• Ensure records on company systems are accurate, up to date and maintained to a high standard.
• Support compliance with internal procedures, identifying and resolving issues proactively.
• Monitor post‑completion deliverables and follow up to ensure obligations are met.
• Support and guide junior team members on operational processes and documentation standards.
• Assist with client due diligence activities, applying judgement to identify and escape issues where required.
• Complete and review data entry, data computation and operational updates on company systems and spreadsheets.
• Support invoicing, payment tracking and monitoring of inward and outward payments, resolving discrepancies as they arise.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with brokers and markets to support effective transaction delivery.

Skills

Operational excellence

Stakeholder management

Microsoft Excel

Data analysis

English communication

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Excel

Data management systems

Job description

Role Overview

As an Operations Associate you will provide senior‑level operational support to the Howden M&A team, owning complex operational activity across the lifecycle of M&A insurance transactions. Your role ensures high‑quality operational delivery, strong control and effective coordination from initiation through to premium settlement, while supporting brokers, clients and markets with confidence and judgement.

Responsibilities

• Own day‑to‑day operational support for M&A transactions from initiation through to settlement of premium.
• Take responsibility for the accurate and timely preparation, review and management of complex transaction documentation.
• Act as a key operational point of contact for clients, underwriters, brokers and internal teams.
• Maintain and oversee repository files, ensuring documentation is complete, accurate and appropriately stored.
• Ensure records on company systems are accurate, up to date and maintained to a high standard.
• Support compliance with internal procedures, identifying and resolving issues proactively.
• Monitor post‑completion deliverables and follow up to ensure obligations are met.
• Support and guide junior team members on operational processes and documentation standards.
• Assist with client due diligence activities, applying judgement to identify and escape issues where required.
• Complete and review data entry, data computation and operational updates on company systems and spreadsheets.
• Support invoicing, payment tracking and monitoring of inward and outward payments, resolving discrepancies as they arise.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with brokers and markets to support effective transaction delivery.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior operational or transactional support role within insurance, financial services or a professional services environment.
• Demonstrable experience managing complex documentation and operational processes with minimal supervision.
• Experience acting as a trusted operational contact for internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong experience handling confidential information and applying sound judgement in sensitive situations.
• Evidence of managing competing priorities across multiple transactions and deadlines.
• Experience supporting or overseeing junior colleagues and maintaining team standards.
• Strong IT capability, with advanced experience using Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook in an operational context.
• A degree or equivalent professional experience is desirable.
• Experience or exposure to insurance, M&A or transactional environments is desirable.
• Strong written and verbal English, with the ability to communicate information clearly.
• Good numeracy skills, with confidence working with figures or data relevant to the role.

Benefits

We value diversity and are committed to providing a supportive and flexible work environment.

Reasonable adjustments: Howden is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Adjustments may include software, IT and office setups, flexible hours or hybrid working where available. Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations; if you want to know more, please discuss with your Recruitment Partner.