Apply here by 25 December 2021
> Senior HR Advisor / Business Partner (EMEA)
> Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester
The Team
Our HR Team is spread across our London, Manchester, Leeds and Edinburgh offices and supports the firm’s non-UK offices remotely. The HR Team is made up of various smaller teams including Learning and Development, Reward & Wellbeing, Resourcing, HR Operations, HR Business Partnering and the CSR & Diversity team. You can expect a varied, fast paced and diverse role within a collegiate, dynamic and friendly team.
AG pride themselves on continual improvement and innovation and the HR team is pivotal to driving forward fresh initiatives, annual processes and projects and there is lots of opportunity to get involved in working with others across the team. AG have a modern approach to work and offer excellent opportunities for learning, training and career development. We are also open to conversations regarding flexible and home working.
The Role
This role is within the HR Business Partnering team. The HR Business Partners are responsible for supporting specific areas of the business. This role is an additional role to support the existing HR Manager and HR Advisor in supporting our offices across Asia (Singapore and Hong Kong), the Middle East (UAE, Oman and Qatar), Germany (Hamburg), France (Paris) and beyond as the firm plans for future expansion into Europe. The role can be based in Leeds, Manchester or Edinburgh, with some travel to the other UK offices as required and occasional travel to our offices outside of the UK.
The HR team for our International offices is expected to deliver the same basic set of HR and business partnering duties as applied in supporting our UK based client teams, but with the added complexity and nuances of varied jurisdictions, laws and regulations, time zones and cultures. As such we are looking for someone with HR business partnering experience with an interest in learning how to tailor this to each of our offices. You will be given support and training to allow you to quickly get up to speed with acting as an expert on local compliance requirements in the regions this role will cover.
You can expect to work cohesively with the wider HR Team, key stakeholders and partners within the business providing guidance, support and coaching.
The role is varied and in supporting the achievement of the firm’s growth and development plans you will get involved in a number of ad hoc projects within the Central HR team on a regular basis, supporting colleagues in other locations or teams as needed. Our HR Advisors provide comprehensive operational HR support to our fee earning teams and business services areas, therefore you will play a key role in supporting the day to day operational HR tasks. The list below is not exhaustive but gives a flavour of some of the responsibilities of a HR Advisor.
International HR Duties
Our International HR Advisor is to build a solid understanding of the local laws and regulations which apply to the relevant jurisdiction including for example (and this list is not exhaustive):
> Local tax, visa, employment and regulatory requirements in order to ensure compliance on all employee matters, and in particular in relation to ER matters, new joiner onboarding and leaver processes
> Secondment processes and requirements for both UK employees to our non-UK offices, and inbound secondees to the UK
> Local recruitment methodologies
Employee Relations
> Working with line/HR Managers in handling a variety of employee relations issues (disciplinary, grievance, performance, management) through to exit where necessary, in line with both local regulations and AG policies/ values
> Providing timely support and appropriate advice; coaching line managers and maintaining appropriate records
> Working with line/HR Managers in handling absences cases, including liaising with line managers to ensure effective management and reporting of short and long term sickness; providing appropriate support to individuals; and ensuring timely submission of any occupational health referral or income protection forms as applicable
> Providing assistance and advice to both employees and line managers with regard to the day to day application of HR policies and procedures, as well as ensuring HR records are kept up-to-date
> Providing day to day benefits information and advice as required. Being aware of the terms and conditions applicable to the various roles within the firm and across different jurisdictions, and working with relevant teams to ensure that that the appropriate benefits are in place for staff in a timely manner
> Dealing with all parental leavers/ returners, including handling working flexibly applications in conjunction with the line/HR Manager
Resourcing
> Working alongside the Resourcing team, providing support to the HR Manager in the provision of timely and cost effective and efficient resource management to client teams
> Liaising with recruiting line/HR managers to establish a business case and authorisation of vacancies before commencing with appropriate sourcing and attraction methodologies. Supporting the selection process as needed
> Leading on the offer approvals process with relevant input from the HR/ Finance/ Line manager as well as the Resourcing team, including providing guidance on relocation packages where needed
> Working with the Resourcing team on issuing offer paperwork and, in conjunction with the current HR Advisor, supporting all new joiners from point of offer to date of commencement, assisting with any queries raised throughout the offer process
> Supporting leavers from point of resignation to leaving date. Conducting exit interviews as required, and feeding back appropriate MI
> Managing secondment requests
> Assisting the Graduate team with their summer placement programme, trainee solicitor assessment centres and law fairs as required, both in and out of the UK. As well as facilitating the successful implementation of training contracts in our International offices
> Supporting the Grad team and the firm with annual Trainee seat move and qualification processes in the non-UK offices.
Performance Management
> Assisting in the provision of rigorous performance management support to client groups as required
> Supporting the line managers with the firm’s regular Check-ins process to ensure meetings take place and any training and development needs and/ or performance matters are dealt with in a timely manner
> Assist HR/Line Managers with client group promotion processes
> Supporting the annual salary review process for all client groups
Other
> Produce MI and monthly reports to identify trends within client groups
> Be involved in and take the lead on ad hoc projects both across the wider HR team and within the client group on a regular basis
Knowledge, skills and experience required (bespoke to role)
> Ideally you will be of graduate calibre and either part or fully CIPD qualified but this is not essential
> Previous generalist HR experience at a similar level required, ideally but not necessarily within a professional services or similar fast paced environment
> Experience of working with international jurisdictions would be advantageous but not essential
> Have the ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision
> A demonstrable ability to influence at senior levels; excellent written and verbal communication skills
> A clear ability to manage a complex and changing work-load, flexibly and efficiently
> A strong team orientation
> Ability to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines whilst maintaining a high attention to detail at all times
> Highly computer literate, in particular strong Excel skills
AG is an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate on the basis of a person’s gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. We are committed to having a diverse team and actively encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and communities, particularly those from underrepresented demographics. We want our recruitment practices to be as inclusive as possible, so please let us know if you need us to make any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process to help you perform to your best.
Apply here by 25 December 2021
