HR Systems & Reward Manager

The role

This is a fantastic opportunity to join our HR team of 10 HR/L&D professionals, supporting a firmwide headcount of over 450. The HR Systems & Reward Manager is a pivotal role and has responsibility for all HR-related systems, HR data and reporting, and the firm’s various reward and benefits schemes.  You will get involved in the effective planning, implementation, administration and maintenance of the firm's current reward and benefits schemes, HR systems and related reporting / management information. This is an excellent role for a Manager looking to take on a broader role or someone looking to step up from a Senior Analyst role to a Manager position. 

Role responsibility

HR Systems

• Acting as a “Super User” of the firm’s HR systems (Sage People, Performance Leader and Zest Flexible Benefits);
• Identifying and implementing database changes and enhancements;
• Ensuring Performance Leader, our feedback and performance management system is up-dated each year in advance of annual performance review season;
• Maintaining dashboard information and co-ordinating the annual holiday carryover process;
• Ensuring all data is accurate, systems are operating effectively and are fit for purpose and managing relationships with system vendors;
• Identifying options to enhance the firm's investment in its software, including liaison with colleagues from other departments to facilitate the flow of data;
• Maintaining comprehensive systems documentation, user guides and standard operating procedures; and
• Producing regular and ad hoc reports, management information and data analysis.

Employee Benefits

• Coordinating and administering the firm’s benefits schemes e.g. life assurance, income protection, private medical and dental insurance, SIPP pension, childcare vouchers, Cycle to Work, gym and other voluntary benefits;
• Working with our benefits brokers on benefit renewals, budgeting proposals and ongoing promotion and communication to increase awareness and engagement internally;
• Preparing monthly benefits reconciliations and updating external providers;
• Delivering the benefits induction and HRIS training to new joiners;
• Carrying out all required regulatory procedures, such as auto-enrolment requirements and liaising with the payroll team for the provision of P11Ds ; and
• Regularly benchmarking our benefits offering to ensure that it remains in line with the market; analysing internal and external data to identify market trends, insights, and opportunities for improvement. 

Partner Benefits and Systems

• Coordinating the bi-annual health checks for partners and Business Services Heads; and
• Preparing performance leader for partner reviews and drafting all necessary communications.

Reward

• Supporting the annual salary review process, including budget projections, undertaking job matching and salary survey data submission and analysis;
• Providing instructions to Payroll relating to benefits and changes to employee details such as new joiners, leavers, contract changes;
• Ensuring that bonus schemes remain fit for purpose and recommending innovative solutions where appropriate; consider introduction of an LTIP; and
• Completing the regulatory gender pay gap reporting requirements, in addition to voluntary ethnicity pay gap reporting, and work with colleagues to develop public statements outlining the results.

Other

• Leading and supporting (as appropriate) on various projects and initiatives relating to HR systems, management information, reward and benefits;
• Managing and developing the HR Team Co-Ordinator;
• Working closely with HR colleagues to ensure that an exceptional service is delivered to the business in all aspects of the employee life cycle;
• Delivering presentations to Senior Management on relevant topics/analysis; and
• Undertaking ad hoc project work, as required.

About you

Ideally you will be able to demonstrate;

• Experience in a similar role within a professional services environment;
• Ability to build relationships at all levels, both internally and externally;
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of relevant best practice, processes, and regulations;
• Excellent verbal, numeric and written communication skills, underpinned by a strong customer focus ethic;
• Track record of operating with a high degree of organisation, accuracy and attention to detail;
• Proven ability to work effectively both autonomously and as part of the wider HR function; 
• Actively networked with peers in similar firms;
• Advanced Excel skills, including knowledge of VLookups, Pivot Tables, Filters etc.;
• Previous project management experience;
• Previous experience of SagePeople HR system, Performance Leader and Zest Employee Benefits is highly desirable, but not essential;
• Excellent MS Office skills, including Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint;
• Prior pensions and benefits administration experience;
• Prior experience of carrying out gender pay gap reporting; and
• An openness to change, with an innovative and collaborative approach.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual holiday
• Permanent Health Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Interest free Season Ticket Loan
• Private Healthcare
• Pension Scheme
• Staff Introductory Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

About us

With almost 200 lawyers in one location, we ensure our clients have the right team to help them get from where they are to where they want to be. We advise major corporates and institutions as well as entrepreneurial, ambitious enterprises which are often privately or family owned, or private equity backed. As well as our significant business law capability, we are one of only a few London-based law firms with a large private wealth offering. Our clients find our straightforward approach a compelling alternative to larger, less personal firms.

Whether you are an ambitious and talented individual wanting to hit the ground running from day one, or an established professional looking for a new opportunity, Howard Kennedy is the firm where you can really make it happen.

We have earned a strong reputation for our exceptional and uniquely talented people who between them deliver outstanding results for clients. In a firm of our size, our strong team dynamic creates a thriving culture of creativity and entrepreneurialism. Howard Kennedy is a pragmatic and non-hierarchical environment where success is shared, and you are proactively encouraged to thrive at your own pace.

Our distinctive culture is built on fairness and respect. Guided by the firm’s values of talk straight, think smart and be yourself, everyone in the firm holds equal value, and everyone plays their role in supporting, encouraging and inspiring colleagues to do their best work.

At the same time, we recognise and reward individualism, celebrating the diversity of our people and supporting them to grow their practice and drive their own career advancement.

As well as client work, there is opportunity to broaden your horizons at the firm with fulfilling pro bono and charity projects. We have a regular social calendar full of wellbeing activities, charitable and social events too.