Junior Quantitative Analyst (Credit & Financial Risk)
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 26,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.
Working at Howden Re
At Howden Re, we're on a mission to do things differently. Our no silo approach, elite team, and clear focus on innovation and relentless execution means our clients are at the heart of all we do.
As a big 4 global reinsurance broker, we deliberately avoid the one-size-fits-all approach, committing to creating bespoke solutions that address the unique challenges of a modern and dynamic marketplace.
The Role
Working as part of a market-leading specialist Credit & Financial Risk reinsurance broking team with a world-wide mandate, you will play a key analytical role across the full lifecycle of client transactions, including:
•Structuring optimal reinsurance solutions for clients.
•Determining market-adequate pricing for reinsurance programmes.
•Developing and visualising reporting data for client portfolios.
•Market-benchmarking of programmes and pricing.
•Supporting RFP pitches through analytical work such as structuring and pricing.
•Providing analytical and pricing support for portfolio credit and significant risk transfer (SRT) transactions.
•Representing Howden and the team at credit, actuarial, and other market conferences and events.
Reporting to the Managing Director, Credit & Financial Risk reinsurance broking, you will develop your knowledge of credit reinsurance structures, portfolio analytics, and broking processes through hands-on learning and direct involvement in live client transactions.
This is a graduate-level role, ideal for someone with an analytical background who is eager to build a career combining data-driven credit analysis with client-facing broking. While the role is initially focused on analytical and structuring work, there is a clear long-term development path towards a broker/actuary role with growing client relationship and account management responsibilities.
What will you be doing?
•Build, maintain, and enhance quantitative models to support the structuring and pricing of credit reinsurance transactions.
•Conduct in-depth analysis and review of portfolio credit and significant risk transfer (SRT) transactions, including data validation, cash flow modelling, and scenario/stress testing.
•Support the preparation of client-facing analytical outputs, presentations, and transaction submissions, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
•Collaborate with brokers and account handlers to translate analytical findings into client solutions and structuring recommendations.
•Assist with the collection, cleaning, and interpretation of underlying portfolio data (loan-level, obligor-level, or aggregated) provided by clients and cedents.
•Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of transaction analytics, pricing assumptions, and models on company systems.
•Follow compliance procedures, including securing necessary approvals and maintaining client files (on shared drive and DMS).
•Build effective working relationships with reinsurers, clients, and internal stakeholders across our world-wide mandate.
•Stay informed of credit market trends, capital relief and significant risk transfer (SRT) developments, and analytical techniques relevant to the credit reinsurance segment.
•Actively participate in personal development, progressively taking on greater client and account management responsibilities over time, and adhere to regulatory requirements / training.
Who are we looking for:
•A university degree in finance, actuarial science, economics, mathematics, physics, or a related field.
•Strong programming and analytical skills, ideally including Python and/or R.
•A genuine interest in credit risk, structured reinsurance, and portfolio analytics, with the ambition to grow into a client-facing broker/actuary role over time.
•Expert knowledge in stochastic calculus, Monte-Carlo simulations and practical application of such.
•Fluent in English; German language skills strongly preferred.
•Willingness to travel as required.
•Swiss work permit or EU passport required.
•Good communication skills (written and verbal), with the ability to present analytical findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences alike.
•Good time management, able to manage multiple work-streams and meet deadlines under pressure.
•Adaptable and resilient, able to respond positively to change and to work both independently and as part of a small, high-performing team.
•Some prior exposure to insurance, reinsurance, or financial services (e.g. through internships) is preferable.
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.
