Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. 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 24,000 employees spanning over 56 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.
Role: Head of IBA – US Retail (Insurance Broking Accounts)
Location: Hybrid Charlotte, NC
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 mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 20,000 employees spanning over 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 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 dynamic and experienced Head of Insurance Broking Accounting (IBA) to lead the US IBA team and oversee the effective execution and administration of US accounting practices and regulatory compliance. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for end-to-end Bill-to-Cash processes, including accounts receivable and payable reconciliation, premium application and payments investigation, and aging. The position requires strong expertise in the Insurance accounting space within an Insurance agency/brokerage environment, proficiency with agency management systems (Applied Epic preferred), and the ability to deliver accurate Insurance Accounting and KPI reporting. Success in this role depends on strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, high ethical standards, and the agility to adapt to evolving regulatory and business needs.
What will you be doing?
Technical Oversight
Lead onshore and offshore teams supporting across accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cash allocation activities.
Partner with Global IBA teams to ensure alignment with Group process standards, while incorporating and operationalizing U.S.-specific requirements within the agency management system.
Define operational requirements for new and existing processes, collaborating with key stakeholders including agency management SMEs, IT, Treasury, and Finance.
Drive team performance by setting clear objectives, monitoring delivery, and ensuring service level agreements are consistently met.
Facilitate and lead team and business-unit meetings as required to support operational alignment and issue resolution.
Ensure timely and accurate execution of cash matching, payment processing, and technical transactions, establishing and enforcing escalation protocols where necessary.
Maintain accurate, up-to-date system records and deliveraccounting operations, and KPI reporting to Operating Entity and Group stakeholders.
Perform account reconciliations with markets and clients as required, ensuring issues are resolved efficiently and accurately.
Respond to account-related inquiries promptly and in accordance with defined service standards.
Monitor and assess regulatory and legal changes impacting IBA operations and ensure appropriate operational responses.
Provide support for U.S. Cashiering and Treasury activities as required.
Policy, Process & Procedures
Responsible to review and update IBA operating procedures as necessary; incorporating US specific workflow requirements
Interpret instructions and implement actions in accordance with policies and procedures.
Stakeholder Engagement & People Leadership
Active member of the US Commercial Lines Operations Leadership Team; working across the extended leadership team for effectiveness and collaboration. Need to work something in about being responsible to Commercial Lines, Personal Lines and Employee Benefits Operations
Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, serving as an effective escalation point when needed.
Respond to business and customer requirements with agility, professionalism, and sound judgment, while upholding the highest ethical standards in all interactions.
Proactively share relevant information to support the success of the Operating Entity and the broader Group.
Lead, manage, and develop team members through clear performance expectations, coaching, and feedback.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement that drives engagement and results.
Planning & Reporting
Develop and agree on operational plans to meet the needs of the Operating Entity for activities across Bill to Cash.
Lead assigned projects and contribute to cross-functional initiatives.
Represent the department in internal project groups and working parties.
Provide relevant management information and reporting to senior leadership.
Monitor and ensure all Insurance Broker Accounting (IBA) KPIs remain on track to meet agreed targets.
What are we looking for?
In-depth understanding of the Bill-to-Cash lifecycle within an agency management system; hands-on Applied Epic (AppliedEPIC) tactical experience is highly desirable.
Proven experience in accounting operations, preferably within an IBA or comparable agency environment.
Demonstrated leadership capability with a strong track record of managing, developing, and motivating teams.
Exceptional planning, organizational, and project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
Comprehensive knowledge of financial systems, reconciliation processes, and general ledger management.
Proven ability to interpret, implement, and enforce policies and procedures with accuracy and consistency.
Strong communication skills with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
High level of integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to ethical financial practices.
Adaptability to regulatory changes and evolving business requirements in a dynamic environment.
Advanced proficiency in producing, analyzing, and interpreting financial and KPI reports to support decision-making.
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.
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.
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
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
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