Claims Executive - Commercial & Schemes

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 help businesses of all sizes navigate uncertainty with confidence, delivering tailored insurance solutions that protect what matters most. But when a loss occurs, it's our claims expertise that truly makes the difference. Supporting clients through challenging situations and helping them achieve the best possible outcome is at the heart of what we do.

We are looking for an experienced Claims Executive to join our established Claims team. This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in delivering exceptional claims outcomes, building trusted client relationships and acting as a strong advocate when our clients need us most.

This is a full-time, permanent opportunity based in our Colchester office, with hybrid working of 2–3 days per week.

Overview

As a Claims Executive, you'll take ownership of claims from notification through to settlement, ensuring clients receive expert guidance and support throughout the process. You will:

• Manage a portfolio of claims, including larger, more complex and contentious cases.

• Investigate, evaluate and negotiate claims to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients.

• Provide expert advice on policy coverage and claims procedures.

• Build strong relationships with clients, insurers, loss adjusters, legal representatives and other key stakeholders.

• Attend client sites following significant losses to understand the circumstances and help develop robust claims strategies.

• Analyse claims data and trends to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and risk mitigation.

• Prepare reports and management information, including key performance indicators.

• Support and mentor junior colleagues, sharing expertise and promoting best practice across the team.

• Act as an ambassador for the claims function, demonstrating the value claims excellence brings to clients and the business.

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of commercial insurance policies, coverage types and claims procedures (essential).

• Previous insurance brokerage experience (essential).

• Strong client relationship management experience (essential).

• Understanding of insurance principles, legal concepts and relevant regulatory frameworks.

Skills

• Confident, resilient and comfortable handling complex or challenging claims (essential)

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills (essential).

• Outstanding communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills (essential).

• Experience coaching, mentoring and supporting the development of junior team members (essential).

• A customer-focused approach with the ability to provide reassurance and support during difficult situations (essential).

• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across a wide range of audiences.

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent).

• A Levels (desirable).

• CII and/or CILA qualifications (desirable).

• BDMA Certificate (desirable).

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

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.