Account Executive - Commercial & Schemes

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 large corporates to emerging ventures, meticulously crafting bespoke solutions 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 looking for an ambitious and client-focused Account Executive to join our specialist Education team. This is a fantastic opportunity to build on strong existing relationships while identifying opportunities for further growth and development within the sector. Your focus will be on independent schools, but you'll also have the opportunity to expand your work into other complex education risks, such as academies, multi-academy trusts, colleges and other education providers, delivering tailored insurance solutions and trusted advice to support their evolving needs.

You'll be responsible for developing and maintaining client relationships, providing high-quality insurance guidance, and identifying opportunities to strengthen and expand your portfolio. Working closely with Account Handlers, claims teams, and insurer partners, you'll become a trusted advisor to your clients, ensuring they receive exceptional service and expert support throughout their insurance journey.

This is a full-time, permanent position remote based with travel to client visits and offices as required.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing education sector clients.
• Target and secure new business opportunities through effective prospecting, networking, and referrals.
• Establish and manage client renewal strategies in line with divisional objectives to maximise retention and growth.
• Ensure clients are appropriately insured for all relevant exposures and provide professional advice tailored to their needs.
• Conduct client meetings, insurance reviews, and renewal discussions.
• Prepare and present insurance programmes and recommendations to clients.
• Work closely with Account Handlers and Claims teams to deliver exceptional client service standards.
• Support the division in achieving retention, growth, and sales targets.
• Identify and maximise cross-selling opportunities across the wider Howden Group.
• Maintain a strong understanding of education sector risks, market trends, and insurance solutions.
• Actively seek and respond to client feedback to continuously improve service delivery.
• Maintain professional competence by complying with all Training and Competence requirements.

Knowledge & Experience

• A minimum of 5 years' experience providing specialist insurance advice within the commercial insurance market.
• Strong commercial insurance knowledge, including exposure to complex risks.
• Education sector insurance experience is highly desirable.
• Experience working with schools, academies, colleges, universities, or multi-academy trusts would be advantageous.
• A track record of winning new business and developing existing portfolios.
• Acturis experience would be advantageous.

Skills

• Excellent technical insurance knowledge.
• Strong client relationship and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent negotiation and broking skills.
• Ability to build credibility and influence clients, insurers, and colleagues.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of how businesses operate.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to gather, analyse, and interpret client information effectively.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• A proactive approach with the ability to identify opportunities for growth.

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent).
• Minimum Cert CII qualification.

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.