Job Introduction
Main Responsibilities
The HR Advisor role supports the business and the HR Business Partner team, through providing high quality HR advice and guidance to managers and employees across the bank, throughout the main areas of the employee life cycle. The role focuses on employee relations, performance management, policy implementation, and supporting a high-performing, compliant workplace, in accordance with the bank’s culture.
The role operates in line with the Bank's Risk Management framework (including sub-frameworks) and relevant risk and compliance policies and procedures, ensuring appropriate and timely escalation of any concerns to the relevant HR Business Partner and/or their line manager.
Key Responsibilities:
- Proactively advises and supports line managers and employees through key stages of the employee lifecycle.
Employee Relations & Advisory
- Provide professional HR advice to managers and employees on all HR policies, procedures, and employment legislation seeking support from the HR Business Partner where appropriate
- Manage suitable employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, absence management, and performance issues, ensuring fair and consistent outcomes
- Advise and support on long term sickness cases - liaising with the bank’s insurer and/or occupational health, liaising with employees and line managers throughout the process including supporting with phased return to work discussions and documentation
- Support the HRBP team with investigations and hearings, note taking and preparing documentation as required.
Performance & Talent Management
- Supporting key stages of the Wheel process e.g. work environment survey; Salary Dialogue Review, etc.
- Advise managers on all stages of performance management i.e. Individual Action Plan completion through to formal capability processes
- Support the HR Business Partner team with annual talent & succession planning activities.
Change & Business Support
- Support the HR Business Partner team with any organisational change activities
- Support adhoc project work as and when required.
HR Operations & Reporting
- To follow all HR process documents diligently and ensure related trackers and HR systems are well maintained
- Undertake operational employee journey activities i.e. employee induction support; new manager joiner process and leaver processes
- Support the HR Business Partner team with relevant data analysis to draw on themes and enable appropriate decision-making
- Collaborate with HR centres of excellence such as HR Support, reward, payroll etc. to ensure a seamless employee lifecycle.
Ideal Candidate
Research (by Harvard University) shows that women are particularly likely to second guess themselves and not apply - so if you are worried you don't meet all the criteria, get in touch anyhow and let us do the worrying…
Skills & Competencies
- Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices (preferably within financial services)
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills
- Ability to manage sensitive matters with discretion and professionalism
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work in a regulated, fast-paced environment with competing priorities
- Highly IT literate and must have excellent Excel skills
- Proactive management of own workload, the ability to prioritise, adapt to changing deadlines and to work under pressure.
Qualifications & Experience
- Professional HR certification (e.g., CIPD or equivalent) desirable
- Proven experience in an HR Advisory or Generalist role, ideally within banking or financial services
- Experience handling employee relations cases end-to-end
- Experienced using HR systems to analyse and interrogate data – ideally with experience of using automated processes within an HR system.
Personal Attributes
- High level of integrity and confidentiality
- Proactive, resilient, and solution-focused
- Strong attention to detail and risk awareness
- Collaborative and customer-focused approach.
Company Information
Handelsbanken is a relationship bank with a decentralised way of working, a strong local presence thanks to a nationwide network of branches, and a long-term approach to customer relations. Each Handelsbanken branch operates as a local business enabling it to make decisions at a local level and provide a bespoke service. The focus is always on the need of the individual customer and not on the sale of specific products.
The Bank is deeply committed to embedding good equality and diversity practice into all of our activities. This is so that we are an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring place to work that encourages everyone to apply, regardless of socio-economic background, age, disability, pregnancy and/or parental status, race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin), veteran status, marital and civil partnership status, religion or belief, sex, gender reassignment or sexual orientation.
Check our Handelsbanken website for further information
At Handelsbanken, we deeply value our unique culture and values including trust in and respect for each individual. We take pride in nurturing a work environment where people flourish, and where they are empowered to take decisions in their areas of expertise. We take a long term perspective in everything we do and want each employee who joins us to build a long terms successful career with the Bank.
What is in it for you?
- We have a wide range of learning and development available, empowering and enabling our colleagues to take ownership of their own development.
- Competitive Salary and an extensive range of benefits is provided, including private medical insurance, income protection and life assurance
- A market-leading pension contribution of 15% paid by the bank, which can be invested in a wide range of funds (including ESG and Shariah funds)
Application next steps
Your journey with us begins once you have submitted your application. One of our Handelsbanken recruiters will be reviewing your details and will later organise a phone conversation if you match the role requirements. If there is a mutual fit, we will extend an invitation for you to participate in an interview.
How can we support you to be your best self? Our Talent Acquisition team will be happy to provide support e.g. if you need additional time to prepare for an interview or you have any requirements for any part of the interview/hiring process – just let us know by email uk_talent@careers.handelsbanken.co.uk.
This advert will be live for a minimum of two weeks. However, please note that after the two weeks, the closing date could change at any time depending on the number of responses received.
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