Assistant Accountant

Who are we? 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. Are you an accounting professional looking to build your career in insurance broking, with the stability, resources and opportunities that come with being part of a growing global organisation? About Howden We are part of the Howden Broking Group, the world's largest privately owned insurance broker, headquartered in London. Since launching Howden in the Pacific region in March 2021, we have grown from a team of three to over 600 employees across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Our mantra is to be People First . We believe you can teach someone new skills, but not how to be a different person. We offer a chance to join a rapidly growing business at an exciting time, with a genuinely collegiate culture and highly engaged team. The opportunity We're looking for an Assistant Insurance Broking Accountant to assist with the financial management and accounting activities related to our insurance broking platforms, primarily supporting Howden Equine

• Howden's specialist equine and bloodstock insurance division. This role will report to the IBA Manager – AUS and will oversee the IBA ledgers, client and insurer reconciliations, and trust account management, working closely with our brokers, the wider finance function, other internal teams and auditors. Key responsibilities include:
• Performing the IBA function, including maintaining the IBA ledgers within the relevant broking platform/s.
• Attending to insurance debtor and creditor reconciliations and managing client ledgers and accounts with account brokers and the credit control team.
• Reconciling all insurer/underwriter accounts and IBA trust bank accounts, ensuring all outstanding reconciling items are promptly investigated and appropriately resolved.
• Performing the receipting processes, reviewing unallocated cash receipts, and attending to IBA payments, refunds and claims payments.
• Reviewing and validating client and insurer bank account details, and rates and calculations within the broking platform.
• Attending to insurance duty returns and lodgements and assisting with ESL and NRIT returns and lodgements.
• Ensuring data integrity, maintenance and compliance across all systems. In addition to the tasks outlined above, this role may also extend to assisting the Finance team with general finance-related activities (such as journals, balance sheet reconciliations and variance analysis). Let’s talk about you We'd love to hear from you if you have:
• Accounting and/or other related qualifications.
• 2+ years’ experience as an Assistant Accountant / in an accounting role (insurance industry experience preferable, but not essential).
• Knowledge of relevant tax regimes and duties, such as non-resident withholding tax, GST, insurance duty and ESL/FSL (preferred).
• Strong Excel, Word and Outlook skills.
• Strong attention to detail and a methodical approach to reconciliations and reporting.
• Sound judgement and the ability to build effective working relationships across internal and external stakeholders. Just as importantly, you will be someone who embodies our cultural values: Put people first, be authentic, challenge complacency, think client, pursue excellence and keen to make your mark. Why Join Howden? When you join Howden, you become part of a team that is genuinely proud of the difference we make every day. Our people are united by a commitment to quality, integrity, and client-centred outcomes – and the exceptional results we consistently achieve are a testament to this culture. You'll enjoy:
• The opportunity to build your career in insurance broking finance, gaining exposure to trust accounting, reconciliations and the broader insurance broking platform, supported by an experienced team.
• Ongoing professional development and learning opportunities.
• Meaningful, values-aligned work with real impact.
• A supportive and experienced team who celebrate excellence.
• Opportunities to grow your capability through a strong mentoring leadership team. Remuneration and benefits In addition to competitive remuneration, we offer free salary continuance insurance, and our industry-leading bonus leave benefit, where employees can qualify for up to two weeks' additional paid leave each year. What’s next? If you're looking for a role where you'll be supported to grow your skills, do meaningful work and have the backing of a growing global business, we'd love to hear from you. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our Human Resources team at [email protected] . EEO Statement We wish to provide a supportive and welcoming workplace environment, which represents the communities and cultures within which we live and work. We have a huge diversity of talent from all walks of life, each with unique experiences and perspectives, all of whom can make a difference. Howden Pacific strives to build an inclusive workplace where our people feel welcome to bring their whole and true self to work, where differences are accepted and where our words and actions are inclusive. 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