Personal Lines Team Leader - Athlone

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 mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 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.

Based in our Athlone office, Howden Ireland are delighted to have a vacancy as a Team Leader on a permanent basis for our Personal lines book of business that will be an integral part of our wider Personal Lines team.

About The Role:

Reporting to the Head of Personal Lines your overall function will be to manage the centralised administration and renewals team for the Personal Lines division ensuring efficient post management, renewal process management and Insurer/internal audits are completed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support and assist in the implementation of change to achieve continuous improvement in process, workflow and cost reduction whilst maintaining “best practice”.
• Implement the Company’s compliance and office procedures, Business Development and Renewal Procedures including Debt Management.
• Management of all Personal Lines incoming and outgoing post, and distribution of post to relevant handlers.
• Management of centralised Personal Lines inbox working collaboratively with all Personal Lines executives.
• Manage the distribution of the renewal lists to ensure all processes are followed and renewals issued withing regulatory timelines. 
• Management of Personal Lines cash books.
• Ensure team targets and objectives are achieved.
• Ensure that you are up-to-date with market practice and product availability, giving feedback to Management in relation to market issues, including pricing, service levels and product development.
• Strong focus on maintaining the Personal Lines account and expanding the team.
• Manage Audits for Personal Lines division.
• Overseeing the service delivery for the Premium Finance book.
• Attend weekly/monthly meetings when required
• Ensure the efficient management of the workload for the Personal Lines administration and renewals team.
• Management of leave within the team with a view to keeping staffing at optimum levels for operations with updates to the system.
• Lead, manage and motivate direct reporting staff through monthly 121 and annual PDR discussions.
• Carry out individual performance management in order to maintain and improve productivity and quality.
• Be the go-to person for queries from team members and additional teams where required.
• Training new team members and developing procedures in conjunction with HR and Compliance with a view to keeping skills matrix requirements within focus to minimise the skills gaps and record all training.
• Liaise with HR on any people related issues in conjunction with the department directors.
• Development of team through professional qualifications/continuous learning through effective empowerment of tasks.
• Ensuring team members fulfil CPD requirements annually by conducting regular checks, and/or arranging CPD Sessions without external providers.
• Ensuring compliance within team regarding CBI rules.

About You:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in an Account Handling role within insurance
• CIP qualified or MDI
• Ability to motivate and manage teams through effective leadership style with proven track record.
• Excellent technical product knowledge within the personal lines insurance market
• Proficient in negotiating terms and conditions to achieve favourable outcomes for both clients and the company.
• Excellent client relationship skills - ability to interact with clients over the phone and face to face, in a friendly, professional and timely manner.

About Howden Ireland:

Howden Ireland is part of Howden, the global insurance intermediary group, and has over 500 employees across 28 local offices advising clients on their commercial insurance, personal insurance, health insurance, life and pensions and mortgage requirements. Our success is primarily down to the incredible people we employ.

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