Associate Employee Benefits Consultant

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.

We're looking for an Associate Employee Benefits Consultant to join our Small Schemes Team within our Small Business Solutions Division (SBS). You will be responsible for advising clients within the small to medium enterprise (SME) sector on their employee benefits programs.

What will you be doing?
- Collectively manage an existing portfolio of clients in relation to private medical insurance and/or group risk policies, developing cross-sell opportunity using the full range of services offered by the business to successfully achieve a range of business targets including revenue growth, client retention and quality.
- Identify new business and cross sales opportunities from this client portfolio by developing client relationships.
- Be a point of contact for an existing portfolio of clients. Understand the sector and benefits offered. Be prepared to respond quickly and accurately to client queries.
- Build a robust system for ensuring appropriate management of consultancy (and administration where required) tasks including proactive follow up with clients and insurers, keeping appropriate colleagues appraised at all times.
- Build and support the client relationship within a portfolio of SBS clients whilst providing advice on specific insurance products.
- Provide all technical advice to clients on the policies you are responsible for, seeking assistance from colleagues where appropriate.
- Proactively build external relationships with clients, prospects and insurers.
- Develop a broad knowledge of insurers' propositions and differences to provide the most appropriate advice for clients, focusing on the Preferred Provider Arrangements (PPAs) we have in place.
- Where appropriate ensure all systems are kept up to date.
- Undertake all other reasonable duties as required and directed.
- Take ownership of your own individual personal development and seek coaching/training where appropriate.

Technical:

- Ideally, applicants will have good knowledge of both Healthcare and/or Group Risk & Protection benefits and is ideally suited to someone who is wanting to take their first step into giving advice.

Policy, Process and Procedures:

- You follow process and best practice that is relevant to your role and compliant with business policy.
- In a collaborative way highlight and challenge where systems and processes are not effective or robust.

Environment, Customer Focus and Relationships:

- The exceptional customer experience that you provide will drive improved client retention and enables the opportunity for cross and upselling of our business portfolio of solutions.
- You will work closely with the Operations Team to ensure that the clients' group policies are proactively managed, and needs met, in accordance with relevant policies.
- The job holder may also be required to provide support to their line manager in relation to nominated business projects.
- You build strong internal, client and provider relationships based on respect that develops and builds loyalty, retention and increased growth.

Market Knowledge & Technology:

- You stay up to date and proactively seek to broaden your market knowledge and understanding of key trends.
- You understand the need for accurate client data in the systems including contacts, existing portfolios, markets and partners.
- You embrace Technology to deliver outstanding client solutions.

Compliance and Personal Development:
The Board of each Operating Entity requires the highest standards of corporate governance, operational excellence and financial reporting throughout the Group from all its Directors and employees. Specifically:

- You actively undertake personal development to ensure up to date knowledge and understanding of best practice.
- You ensure that HR and Training & Competency records are up to date and meet the Operating Entity and/or Group's requirements.
- You operate in an honest, professional and ethical manner.
- You can adapt best practice to the situation in hand within the framework of compliance.
- Strict adherence to the Group Employee Code of Conduct which strongly aligns to the FCA's code of conduct that all regulated entities must adhere to under the SM&CR.
- Complete all relevant regulatory training and ensure you remain competent to carry out your