HR Business Partner – 12 months FTC
Location: UK
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced HR Business Partner to cover a period of maternity leave, which will support our organisation through a period of rapid growth, transformation, and strategic change. This role is ideal for a commercially minded HR leader who thrives in fast‑paced, scaling environments and is confident navigating complexity, ambiguity, and competing priorities. You will act as a trusted advisor to senior executives, including board‑level stakeholders, contributing to the development of people strategy, and driving organisational effectiveness across diverse business areas.
In addition to the above they will provide expert, hands-on HR support across the UK business, with a strong focus on Employee Relations (ER), the role will support all aspects of the employee lifecycle. In addition, the role will partner closely with the M&A team to support UK-based acquisitions and provide oversight and input into international M&A activity.
Key Responsibilities
Employee Relations & UK HR Support
- Act as the escalation point for ER cases, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance management, and exit processes.
- Provide expert guidance to managers and HR colleagues on UK employment law, internal policies, and best practice.
- Ensure consistent, fair, and legally compliant handling of all ER matters across the UK.
- Lead and directly manage complex cases, engaging in operational HR activity where required.
- Support and influence senior stakeholders in navigating sensitive people issues.
Performance Management & Exits
- Advise on and support performance management cases, including long-term capability and underperformance.
- Manage and oversee employee exits, including redundancy, settlement agreements, and dismissals, ensuring risk mitigation and legal compliance.
- Collaborate with legal advisors where appropriate to manage employment risk.
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Partner with the M&A team to provide HR support for all UK-based M&A activity, including due diligence, consultation, TUPE, and integration.
- Provide oversight and HR input into international M&A activity, ensuring awareness of people risks and alignment with group HR strategy.
- Support post-acquisition integration from an HR perspective, including policies, processes, and cultural considerations.
International HR Collaboration
- Working closely with US stakeholders to support and manage employee lifecycle for UK based teams.
- Manage HR activities for the Bermuda entity.
- Work with the UK Talent acquisition to support International based programmes.
Governance & Compliance
- Ensure all HR activity complies with UK employment law, internal policies, and governance standards.
- Contribute to the development, review, and enhancement of HR policies and procedures.
- Support continuous improvement in ER capability and HR operational effectiveness.
People Leadership & Capability Building
- Management oversight of a small HR Advisory team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and high performance.
- Collaborate with Centres of Excellence (Talent, Compensation, L&D, HR Operations) to deliver integrated, high‑quality HR solutions.
- Promote a culture of accountability, agility, and innovation.
Hands‑On Delivery
- Be comfortable switching between strategic conversations and detailed, hands‑on work.
- Support operational HR activities when needed, ensuring continuity and high‑quality execution during periods of rapid change.
- Lead by example, demonstrating agility, resilience, and a willingness to get stuck in.
Skills & Experience
- Considerable experience in a senior HR Business partnership role, with deep expertise in complex UK employee relations.
- Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and its practical application.
- Proven experience supporting performance management, employee relations, and exits in complex environments.
- Experience supporting M&A activity, including UK-based transactions; international exposure desirable.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with confidence advising leaders.
- Experience working in a global organisation.
- A hands‑on, pragmatic approach — able to operate at pace and dive into detail when required.
- Previous experience working within Financial services is preferred.
