Trainee Company Secretarial Assistant

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.

What is the role?

We are seeking a motivated Trainee Company Secretarial Assistant to join our busy Company Secretariat team on a permanent basis.

In this role, you will receive comprehensive training and gain hands-on experience in a wide range of core company secretarial duties, all whilst supporting the team in maintaining the highest governance standards within our dynamic and fast-paced environment. You will also have ample opportunity to get involved in a variety of project work alongside our team members.

As the Trainee Company Secretarial Assistant, you will assist the Company Secretariat team in managing the provision of services to the Group’s boards, shareholders and the business in accordance with Group policy to achieve targets, develop the business and deliver an excellent and comprehensive service.

We’re looking for a confident and pro-active self-starter with a good understanding of company secretarial role and company law, who is eager to learn and apply their knowledge.

Please note this is a full-time, permanent role based in our central London office. The expectation is to be onsite 3-4 days per week on average.

What will you be doing?

• Assist in the arranging of board and committee meetings, including pack production and follow-up on action points;
• Support in minute-taking of non-regulated subsidiary board or committee meetings;
• Assist in the maintenance of divisional statutory books to ensure timely and accurate filings, including tracking and diligent filing of meeting minutes;
• Liaise with and manage divisional overseas entities in regard to their statutory records, filing and regulatory requirements;
• Assist in maintaining Group subsidiary statutory records via Diligent Entities;
• Assist with the update and management of Group corporate structure charts and process maps;
• Drafting and proof-reading documents, such as minutes, annual reports etc.;
• Filing forms and documentation with Companies House;
• Interact and support the Group’s international businesses with various requests, including KYC requests;
• Assist in the administration work of strategic projects;
• Assist in M&A activity, Group-wide projects and ad hoc matters.

What are we looking for?

• A relevant degree in either Law, Finance, Business, or Corporate Governance, or similar relevant work experience if you are not a recent graduate.
• Some administrative experience such as data entry, cataloguing, record-keeping, and documentation preparation. This can be gained from either work experience, internships, or your degree.
• Strong MS Suite skills (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) with the ability to analyse and present data.

Training and Development:

Comprehensive training will be provided on a wide range of core company secretarial duties, including but not limited to:

• Understanding of company law and regulatory requirements.
• Board and committee meeting procedures.
• Corporate governance principles and best practices.
• Companies House filing requirements and procedures.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.

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.