IBA Manager

Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. We're experts helping clients adapt and thrive in a changing 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 over 24,000 employees spanning more than 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.

The role

The IBA Manager is a manager’s position supervising operations related to Insurance Broking Accounts (IBA), responsible for managing a team of Finance Technicians handling retail insurance markets.

The role combines people leadership, operational management, technical IBA expertise, collaborator management, reconciliations, aligning cash flows and ongoing improvement of processes.

What you'll be doing

• Lead, empower and develop an IBA team across multiple sites, ensuring team proficiency, appropriate training and effective performance management
• Deliver accurate and timely accounting administration services within agreed service standards
• Lead all aspects of cash matching, IBA payment requests and entries within IBA accounting systems
• Reconcile accounts with insurers, markets and clients, investigating and resolving queries promptly
• Build and maintain positive relationships with Business Units, underwriters, trading venues and suppliers
• Respond to stakeholder requirements expertly and deliver high levels of customer service
• Ensure adherence to company policies, procedures and regulatory requirements
• Monitor team performance and operational metrics, providing management information, reporting and analysis
• Lead team meetings and contribute to wider IBA management, projects and change initiatives
• Support business growth through operational efficiency, continuous improvement in execution and the sharing of best practice

Who we're looking for

• Previous experience as a Finance Technician or similar accounting role
• Experience balancing ledgers and accounts
• Experience supervising or leading staff
• Performance and absence management experience, with the ability to drive accountability and results
• Strong understanding of IBA protocols and guidelines
• Ledger reconciliation, cash matching and payment processing knowledge
• A customer-focused approach and strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to establish links across multiple business areas
• Understanding of insurance market processes and procedures is desirable

Qualifications

• GCSEs (or equivalent), including English and Maths
• An AAT qualification or other relevant accounting qualification is desirable

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

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.

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.

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. You can read more about our sustainability work here.