Finance Assistant - Commercial & Schemes

Who are we? 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 support our clients through the complex landscape of commercial risk. We understand the diverse needs of businesses from large corporates to emerging ventures, meticulously crafting bespoke solutions to empower businesses to navigate uncertainty and achieve unwavering growth. Our depth of commercial insurance expertise allows us to protect client’s assets and fuel their progress. When our clients prosper, we celebrate success with them; when challenges arise, we provide unwavering support. We are looking for a Finance Assistant to join our team in London, who will be responsible for maintaining accurate financial records and supporting the business with ad-hoc information requests whilst adhering to the finance team’s controls and procedures. Please note this is a full-time, permanent opportunity. You will be based in our London office and ideally be onsite for 2 days per week with one of these days being a Friday. During training you will be required in the office more often. Key Responsibilities Processing all purchase invoices that come into the group and ensuring timely payment of suppliers. Assisting with the maintenance of all the office cash books Responding to audit queries Keeping accurate electronic records of the purchase invoices, cash book entries Receipting and debiting on Risk Manager Supporting fellow team members with day-to-day queries and ad-hoc duties as required Assisting with month end procedures and producing month end reports Knowledge A minimum of 12 months experience in an administration position. Knowledge on all Microsoft packages. Skills Self-motivated and shows initiative. Financial and numerical skills including high levels of accuracy and analytical skills. Excellent communication skills – verbal & written. Ability to work under own initiative and as part of a team. Good organisation skills and an excellent attention to detail. An ability to manage time effectively and have a pro-active approach to work. Strong Excel skills required (SUM, COUNT, VLOOKUP, IF, LEFT/MID/RIGHT and Pivot Tables). Qualifications: GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent). 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 Howden began in 1994, as just three people and a dog. Now there are 23,000 of us, and we're a leading global insurance group, managing $37bn of premiums for our clients. Our largest shareholder group is us – the people who work in the business – supported by three long-term, minority growth-equity partners who share our vision to build a business to last, one that will never be sold. The owner's mindset is something that's embedded in our culture; our people readily take ownership of their decisions, their actions, and their outputs. They’re invested in every sense. And we all know that by working together to drive the business forward, everyone will benefit from the extraordinary results we can achieve.