Executive Assistant to Group CFO

New York City, office based (Manhattan) with the option of hybrid working.

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 23,000 employees and spanning 56 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.

What we’re looking for

We are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and commercially aware Executive Assistant to support our Group Chief Financial Officer. This role sits in our New York City office, providing essential administrative and operational support across multiple time zones. This is not a traditional EA role. We are looking for someone who acts as the CFO's eyes and ears on the ground, building genuine relationships across the business, anticipating problems before they arise, and taking full ownership of both technical and administrative challenges as they come up. You will be expected to use your initiative, exercise sound judgement, and operate with a high degree of independence.

The role will also provide light support to our Group Chief Legal Officer when he is present in the US, working closely alongside his EA to ensure seamless coverage. The candidate must be ready to hit the ground running, bringing high emotional intelligence, genuine tech savviness, and the confidence to engage effectively at all levels of a global organization. Absolute discretion and confidentiality are non-negotiable. Please note this is a full-time, permanent role based in our New York City office, following a hybrid working pattern with an expectation to be onsite 4 days per week.

What you’ll be doing

• Managing complex diaries, scheduling meetings, and coordinating appointments across multiple time zones to ensure the CFO's time is protected and well-prioritized.
• Preparing high-quality documentation, including reports, presentations, and correspondence, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and professional formatting.
• Assisting with the preparation of board papers and supporting governance-related tasks to ensure compliance with company policies.
• Anticipating potential issues before they arise and taking full ownership of resolving both technical and administrative challenges with minimal escalation.
• Acting as the CFO's eyes and ears on the ground, proactively building relationships across the business to stay informed and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
• Serving as the primary bridge between the CFO's office and the Group CEO's office, building a strong and trusted relationship with the CEO's EA to ensure seamless communication, coordination, and prioritization of requests between the two offices.
• Coordinating travel arrangements, both domestic and international, including visas, itineraries, and accommodation.
• Greeting and hosting external guests, ensuring they have a professional and positive experience.
• Managing inbox correspondence, prioritizing urgent matters, and responding to routine enquiries where appropriate.
• Managing expenses, processing invoices, and maintaining financial records for the department.
• Providing administrative support for personal matters where appropriate.
• Liaising with internal teams and external stakeholders, ensuring effective communication and collaboration.
• Maintaining strong attention to detail throughout all tasks and upholding the professional brand of the business.
• Providing light administrative support to the Group Chief Legal Officer when present in the US, working closely with his EA to ensure seamless coordination and coverage.

What qualifications we’re looking for

• Proven experience as an EA in a one-to-one role supporting a senior C-suite executive, with the ability to hit the ground running and operate with a high degree of autonomy.
• Demonstrable emotional intelligence, with the interpersonal skills and confidence to build trusted relationships at all levels of a global organization.
• Tech savvy, with a genuine comfort using digital tools and platforms to work efficiently and streamline processes.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to anticipate problems, manage multiple priorities, and remain composed in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Excellent communication skills, with experience navigating complex, high-stakes correspondence with sound judgement and professionalism.
• Absolute discretion and confidentiality in handling sensitive information — non-negotiable.
• A strong background working in a matrix organization, ideally within (re)insurance, insurance broking, or financial services.
• Flexibility to work across time zones, particularly between the US and the UK.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define.

Our business succeeds by allowing our people to make a mark in the areas they care about most: personal development, volunteering, and fundraising for charity, or creating new insurance products that address society’s greatest challenges. And we know that separate home and work lives don't really exist. If you're happy and healthy at home, you're more likely to be happy and fulfilled at work – and vice versa. That's why we do our best to support our people in every aspect of their lives.

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.

Compensation and Benefits

The expected base salary range for this role is $125,000 - $165,000; actual base salary will be determined based on factors including candidate experience and work location. This role is classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

In addition to a competitive base salary, employees are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus. Howden also offers a variety of benefits and programs, subject to eligibility, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including healthcare savings and reimbursement accounts
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Flexible Paid Time Off and paid parental leave
• Life and Disability insurance

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.