Share Scheme Assistant

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.

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 mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 22,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

Our people are our biggest asset as well as our largest shareholder group and are everything that makes us unique; our inclusive culture, the quality service we offer our clients, and our continued growth, all come from our people-first approach. There’s no such thing as individual success. We all need to play our part, contributing our skills and experience to make a true difference. That’s Howden.

Why work at Howden?

We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients.

Always have, always will.

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 disappointed head- hunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

What is the role?

As a Share Scheme Assistant (job title subject to change depending on experience) at Howden, you will play a vital role in supporting the Shares Team in delivering share-related and ad hoc services to the Group’s boards, shareholders, and the wider business, ensuring full compliance with Group policies.

Your responsibilities will include the day-to day administration of shareholder related tasks, as well as Share Scheme databases such as Diligent Entities and Shareworks.

We are seeking an experienced hire with a particular focus on engaging with shareholders, including providing general information on shareholdings and incentive schemes, assisting with share transfers to our Employee Benefit Trust vehicle and instructing the associated shareholder payments.

You must have the ability to review and interpret governance documents, such as the Articles of Association, the Shareholders’ Agreement and Share Notices.

In addition to shareholders, you will be in regular contact with internal teams, including HR, Tax, Legal and Company Secretariat.

Please note that the role is permanent, based in our Central London office. Following, a hybrid work pattern, you are expected to be onsite 4 days per week.

What will you be doing?

In addition to the above, the role will contribute to:

• Supporting projects such as Internal Share Offers, liquidity events, and the allotment of incentive awards.

• Assisting with issues raised by team members and internal partners, escalating as needed.

• Producing financial and administrative reports.

• Supporting team members with daily activities and continuously expanding knowledge of Diligent Entities and share scheme databases.

• Assisting with Group-wide projects, ad hoc matters, and developing relationships with employee shareholders.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a candidate with the following qualifications and skills:

• Experience in Share Schemes and a strong desire to continue developing a career in this area.

• Proven ability to manage share administration.

• Highly organised, with the ability to establish and implement effective control processes for detailed and accurate monitoring.

• Excellent communication skills, with the capability of drafting bespoke correspondence to shareholders.

• Ideally, competition of The Certificate in Employee Shares Plans qualification.

• Familiarity with Diligent Entities and Shareworks is highly preferred.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define.

Our business succeeds by allowing our people to make a mark in the areas they care about most: personal development, volunteering, and fundraising for charity, or creating new insurance products that address society’s greatest challenges.

And we know that separate home and work lives don't really exist. If you're happy and healthy at home, you're more likely to be happy and fulfilled at work – and vice versa. That's why we do our best to support our people in every aspect of their lives.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Howden we value diversity - there is no one Howden ‘personality 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 consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness, and respect – regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or family circumstances.

Our sustainability promise

We’re on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world.

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.