Account Executive

Howden is seeking a dedicated Account Executive to join our Commercial Schemes team in Maidstone. The role involves managing a renewals book of business in our Motor Trade team.

The Account Executive is responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with a portfolio of Motor Trade clients, providing a proactive, professional and high-quality service throughout the insurance lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

Client Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with a portfolio of Motor Trade clients.
• Act as a key point of contact and take ownership of the overall client relationship.
• Develop a detailed understanding of each client's business, operations, risks and future plans.
• Maintain regular contact throughout the policy year and provide a proactive rather than purely renewal-led service.
• Conduct client meetings, including face-to-face meetings where appropriate.
• Ensure agreed actions and commitments are followed through and clearly documented.

Renewal Management

• Proactively begin the renewal process and arrange and prepare for pre-renewal client meetings.
• Review the client's circumstances, claims experience, existing programme and any material changes to the business.
• Develop an appropriate renewal strategy with Account Handlers and other relevant colleagues.
• Liaise and meet with insurers as required to achieve suitable renewal outcomes.
• Present renewal terms and recommendations clearly and professionally to clients.
• Maintain oversight of the renewal through to completion, ensuring agreed actions and deadlines are met.

Claims

• Maintain awareness of significant or ongoing claims affecting clients within the portfolio.
• Work collaboratively with Claims Handlers and ensure appropriate communication between the client and internal teams.
• Ensure claims experience is considered as part of the renewal strategy.
• Keep clients appropriately updated on matters affecting their insurance programme.

Growth & Business Development

• Identify opportunities to grow existing client relationships through additional products, services and appropriate cross-selling.
• Proactively identify referral opportunities across the wider business.
• Develop relationships that can generate new business opportunities.
• Build a strong professional network and represent the business positively with clients, prospects and insurers.

The successful candidate will have:

• Minimum of 5 years commercial insurance experience
• Must be working or worked in a similar role previously
• Excellent client relationship and communication skills.
• Strong organisation and time-management skills.
• A proactive and commercially focused approach.
• Confidence conducting client and insurer meetings.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Ability to understand a client's business beyond their immediate insurance requirements.
• Strong attention to detail and record keeping.
• A collaborative approach to working with Account Handlers and other internal teams.
• A strong focus on client retention and service.
• Confidence identifying growth, referral and cross-selling opportunities.

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