Office Receptionist

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.

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 is the role?

We are seeking a detail-oriented Receptionist for our Newport Beach, CA office.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Receptionist serves as the first point of contact for the office, playing a key role in creating a welcoming, professional experience for clients, visitors, and internal teams. We are seeking an individual with prior experience in a receptionist or front‑office role, ideally within an insurance brokerage or similar professional services environment. Beyond daily front‑office responsibilities, this role offers an excellent opportunity for growth and exposure to the insurance industry, serving as a potential stepping stone to other administrative, operations, or client service positions within the organization.

What will you be doing?

• Serve as the first point of contact for clients, visitors, carriers, and vendors, providing a welcoming and professional front office experience
• Greet and direct visitors, notify internal staff of arrivals, and ensure proper sign‑in procedures are followed
• Answer, screen, and route incoming phone calls to the appropriate departments or team members
• Respond to general inquiries and direct clients to the appropriate internal resources or teams
• Maintain the reception area, conference rooms, and front office to ensure a clean, organized, and professional appearance
• Manage incoming and outgoing mail, packages, and courier deliveries
• Coordinate meeting room scheduling and assist with preparing meeting spaces as needed
• Support administrative tasks including document handling, filing, scanning, and data entry
• Assist with onboarding logistics for new hires and visitors, as requested
• Handle confidential client and policy-related information with discretion and professionalism
• Monitor office supplies and place replenishment requests when necessary
• Follow company policies and procedures, including compliance and privacy requirements
• undefined

What are we looking for? 

Qualifications:

• Proven experience in a receptionist, front office or similar role, preferably in a corporate environment.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to interact professionally across teams and with vendors.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and handle ad-hoc requests in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) and other productivity tools.
• Organizational and problem-solving skills to ensure efficient workflow and timely completion of tasks.
• Flexibility and adaptability to support evolving business needs.
• Interest in learning the business and growing into future career opportunities within the organization

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in an insurance brokerage environment preferred

Compensation and Benefits

The expected rate for this role is $25.00-$32.00 hourly, actual rate will be determined based on factors including candidate experience and work location. This role is classified as non-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.

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.