Howden
HR Assistant - International

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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.
We're looking for an HR Assistant to join our HR Employee Services team, supporting colleagues and HR Business Partners across a number of international locations, with a particular focus on Europe.
This is a great opportunity
This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced, people-focused environment and takes pride in delivering accurate, efficient and high-quality HR support. You'll play an important role in ensuring colleague data is managed effectively throughout the employee lifecycle, helping to create a seamless experience for our people while maintaining compliance with local requirements and company policies.
Working closely with HR Business Partners, local HR teams and payroll colleagues, you'll help ensure our HR processes run smoothly across multiple countries and jurisdictions.
What You'll Be Doing
Supporting the Employee Experience
- Provide proactive and timely administrative support to HR Business Partners across international regions.
- Help deliver a positive colleague experience by ensuring HR processes are completed accurately and efficiently.
- Build knowledge of local employment practices, policies, benefits and HR processes to support HR teams effectively.
- Respond to HR administration queries and support colleagues throughout their employment journey.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Managing the Employee Lifecycle
- New joiners and onboarding activities.
- Contract and employment changes.
- Promotions, transfers and organisational changes.
- Leaver and offboarding processes.
- Monthly payroll-related data preparation and validation.
- Prepare employment contracts, letters and other HR documentation.
- Ensure employee records are maintained accurately within our HR systems.
- Work with local HR teams to ensure processes remain compliant with local legislation and requirements.
- Support payroll activities to help ensure colleagues are paid accurately and on time.
HR Systems & Data Management
- Maintain accurate employee data within Workday and other HR systems.
- Carry out regular data audits and validation checks.
- Produce standard reports and support HR reporting requirements.
- Assist with HR system testing and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support data quality and governance activities.
International HR Support
- Partner with HR teams across multiple countries and regions.
- Support compliance with local employment legislation and practices.
- Adapt your approach to meet differing regional and cultural requirements.
- Contribute to international HR projects and initiatives as required.
Continuous Improvement & Compliance
- Follow established HR processes, policies and service standards.
- Ensure compliance with GDPR and other relevant data privacy regulations.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, processes and the colleague experience.
- Support the creation and maintenance of process documentation and knowledge resources.


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What We're Looking For
- Previous experience in an HR Administration, HR Assistant or HR Shared Services role.
- Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- A customer-focused mindset and a passion for delivering great service.
- Confidence using Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams.
- Experience working with HR systems or case management tools.
- Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
- A collaborative approach and willingness to work across teams and countries.
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
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