Job Introduction
Handelsbanken is a relationship bank built on trust, long-term thinking and local decision-making. We provide bespoke banking and wealth management services to personal and corporate customers,
Our decentralised model means decisions are made close to the customer, in our branches. Our central Functions teams play a vital role in supporting the branch network, providing the expertise, governance and infrastructure that enable branches to serve customers effectively and sustainably.
This approach had underpinned our success for decades. Handelsbanken is independently recognised as one of Europe’s safest commercial banks, holds the strongest credit rating among its peers and is consistently ranked highly for customer satisfaction and relationship banking.
Our culture is values-led, shaped by trust, respect, and long-term thinking. We empower our people to use their expertise, make confident decisions and build long-term careers. We look for people who share our long- term vision, want to grow and want to make a meaningful impact in their local community and with the Bank
We also recognise that flexibility can support people to perform at their best, and that it looks different for everyone. While arrangements will depend on the requirements of the role and the needs of the business, we are open to having a conversation around what flexibility could look like for you.
Check our Handelsbanken website for further information
The opportunity
The HR Advisor provides high quality HR advice and guidance to managers and employees across the bank. The role focuses strongly on employee relations, performance management, absence management, policies and employment legislation, whilst ensuring HR processes are applied consistently and 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
Employee Relations & Advisory
- Provide professional day-to-day HR advice and guidance to managers and employees in line with policy, procedures and employment legislation
- Manage and/or support employee relations cases end-to-end, including disciplinary, grievance, capability and absence matters, 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 where appropriate.
Performance & Talent Management
- Support key stages of the annual management (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 advising and supporting managers with 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 where required
- 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 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 experience.
What we’re looking for
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 UK 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
- Proven experience in an HR Advisory role, ideally within banking or financial services
- Experience handling all employee relations cases end-to-end
- Professional HR certification (e.g. CIPD or equivalent) desirable
- Experienced using HR systems (desirable to have previously used Workday) 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.
Why join Handelsbanken
We want everyone at Handelsbanken to feel supported, motivated, and able to do great work. That’s why, alongside brilliant colleagues, meaningful work and training and development opportunities, we provide a variety of benefits designed with your wellbeing in mind.
In addition, there is a flexible benefits package with the key highlights detailed below.
Application next steps
Your journey with us begins once you have submitted your application. One of our Handelsbanken Talent Acquisition Partners will be reviewing your details and will later organise a phone conversation if your experience aligns with our requirements, we will extend an invitation for you to participate in an interview.
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.
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.
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