Senior Associate - Balance Sheet Advisory & Structuring

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

Senior Associate will work within the balance sheet advisory & structuring team to help advise clients on balance sheet and capital optimisation. The role is based in Dublin with flexible working but will involve collaboration with CAP colleagues globally (particularly in London) and clients across Europe and beyond.

The role requires deep technical accounting expertise in the financial services area, preferably with a strong understanding of bank balance sheets. This role will involve engaging with Howden colleagues, bank and financial services clients, asset managers/ hedge funds and insurance underwriters to develop new and bespoke financial and risk solutions to real world problems which our clients are working to mitigate.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a technical accounting centre of expertise supporting colleagues across the Howden CAP business

• Leverage a deep understanding of technical accounting standards to structure and implement insurance and or capital markets solutions for our clients

• Monthly and bespoke technical updates for clients

• Helping to structure complex deals, together with other senior advisors

• Work with other strategic advisors (law firms, bankers and consultants) to help clients optimise their use of capital and insurance

• Work with the Howden CAP and wider teams to devise and deliver unique approaches and innovative products and solutions

• Support the development and structure of alternative capital vehicles 

• Support senior members of Financial Institutions, Balance sheet advisory & structuring team

Skills & Attributes

• Technical accounting qualification and practical expertise in an accounting advisory role

• Working knowledge of bank balance sheets and the regulatory environment

• Strong attention to detail and ability to work proactively alone or as part of a team

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders

• Excellent MS office skills

• High energy and desire to create something unique in the market

Our Vision

Howden CAP aims to become a £250 million business, the finance advisor of choice for clients and the clear market leader in insurance capital and innovation. It will operate as a separate brand and division within Howden, but it will collaborate seamlessly with colleagues around the globe and with colleagues in reinsurance and capital markets to achieve client outcomes. Our people will act at the “tip of the spear” to open up banking and private equity clients to the Group.

Howden CAP currently operates with five pillars

• M&A: Our market-leading W&I, title and insurance due diligence practice, growing 15% per year.

• Credit: including credit risk (non-payment insurance) to banks for capital optimisation, trade credit, portfolio solutions, synthetic securitisation and other esoteric and structured risk solutions

• Tax and Contingent: Tax, litigation funding and contingent risk solutions.

• Real Assets and Green Transition: including PRI, solutions to banks and PE that focus on infrastructure, environmental risks including the transition to Net Zero, energy transition, ECAs and intergovernmental and regional organisations, and PE and retirement fund investment in long-dated assets.

• Surety: including bank-related and bank fronted and supported surety, as well as regional and local surety.

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