Executive Assistant

Full 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 18,000 employees spanning over 100 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.
The Role
As a newly established, standalone team, GFS (Global Financial Sponsors) does not engage in broking activities but instead acts as a central coordinating force, driving excellence through strategic collaboration. Our team is structured around three key functions: business development specialists focused on building relationships and securing business from global Private Equity funds, due diligence professionals providing expert insurance assessments primarily linked to acquisitions, and client-facing project managers who ensure seamless and consistent service across entire portfolios. If you thrive in a forward-thinking environment where client engagement and strategic coordination drive success, this is your chance to make a meaningful impact.
What you'll do
We are seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to support senior relationship managers and the Head of Transactional Diligence within our newly formed Global Financial Sponsors team. The ideal candidate will be proactive, highly organised, and capable of managing complex diaries while contributing to the team's culture and operational success. As the team grows, there will be opportunities to take on a leadership role and provide mentorship to new Executive Assistants.
Provide proactive but high-level diary management for senior relationship managers and the Head of Transactional Diligence.
Serve as a trusted partner in shaping the team’s operational rhythm and culture, contributing to the development of best practices and collaborative workflows as the team establishes itself.
Act as a liaison between internal stakeholders and external clients, managing communications, scheduling, and logistics with professionalism and discretion.
Support the team’s growth by helping onboard new Executive Assistants, with a view to taking on a leadership and mentorship role as the EA function expands.
Anticipate needs and take initiative in streamlining administrative processes, enabling the team to focus on strategic relationship management and transactional execution.
Who we're looking for
Knowledge/Experience
Previous experience of working in a secretarial capacity – ideally supporting a team
Experience of diary management and compiling international travel itineraries and plans
Understands the role of a Executive Assistant
Able to use Microsoft office packages in particular Word and Excel
Skills/Behaviours
Attention to detail with ability to produce accurate documentation, professional documents which are visually appealing and correct with regards to grammar, layout and spelling.
Ability to work effectively within a team.
Prioritisation and organisational skills – able to demonstrate flexibility with regards to working hours when required and is able to produce a high quality of work within short deadlines.
Proactive – is able to anticipate issues and rectify these on behalf of their manager/team
Internal Networking skills – understands the organisation and where to find answers/relevant resources.
Self-motivated
Numerate – able to create spreadsheets and manage expenses processes
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with internal and external stakeholders. Portrays a professional and polished image of the Division to all external contacts.
Able to deal with confidential matters appropriately
Qualifications
Educated to GCSE standard
May hold technically relevant qualifications e.g Word processing/secretarial 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.
Permanent