HR Assistant

Job title: HR Assistant

Team: Human Resources

Reports to: HR Managers

Location: London

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a bright, enthusiastic and capable HR Assistant to provide administrative and advisory generalist HR support primarily to a number of our Legal and Business Services divisions. 

The HR team works collaboratively to support the business in a business partner model. You will have a varied and exciting role providing essential support to a number of our teams in the EU and those on international assignment, as well as across the wider generalist HR team.  The varied nature of this role means that as well as providing key administrative support, you will also have a business facing role requiring you to liaise and build key relationships across the firm. 

Areas of focus and responsibilities

• Working alongside the HR Advisors and HR Managers acting as a point of contact for HR queries from a number of Legal and Business Services teams.
• Responsible for generating correspondence relating to contract changes, probation extensions, sickness absence, disciplinary and, grievance matters, performance management and flexible working letters.
• Responsible for the leaver process for staff, including the preparation of paperwork, undertaking exit interviews where appropriate, coordinating the analysis of online exit interview data and providing feedback to line managers where necessary.
• Responsible for the parental leave processes (maternity/paternity/shared parental leave) including the preparation of paperwork, liaising with departing/returning employees, preparing the employee return to work inductions.
• Assisting the Senior HR Manager with international assignments including liaising with relocation agents, booking flights, arranging accommodation and drafting secondment terms.
• Provide note taking support at performance management and employee relations meetings as and when required.
• Assisting the HR Advisor and HR Managers in the preparation and coordination of the annual salary review process for our EU and international offices.
• Inputting into the monthly payroll submissions including accurately capturing and processing payroll changes for the Legal and Business Services teams.
• Acting as a point of contact for queries coming into the HR Helpdesk and effectively liaising with team members and the business to provide comprehensive solutions.
• Assisting with the preparation of the HR budget in the annual business planning process.
• Ad hoc project work – including policy writing, updating the precedent bank, research, updating current systems/procedures, assisting with our HR database, e-filing and archiving.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive.  It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for the performance of this job, and as such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.

Skills and attributes

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• High service delivery standards in every respect and the ability to win the confidence and respect of others
• Exceptional attention to detail and a sense of urgency
• Use of initiative in day-to-day tasks to ensure efficient ways of working
• Proactive management of your own workload, the ability to prioritise, adapt to changing deadlines and to work under pressure
• Methodical and flexible approach

Qualifications required

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent)
• The ideal candidate will have HR administration experience within a professional services organisation
• Highly PC literate with strong systems skills
• Must have excellent Excel skills

The essentials

• 9.30am to 5.30pm but flexibility will be needed during busy periods
• 12-week probation period
• 4 weeks' notice period
• Flexible benefit package 

About the HR team at Withersworldwide

The HR department at Withers has a complement of 18 HR professionals based in the London office, 9 in the US, 1 in Geneva, 7 in Asia and 2 remote workers who support the global HR function.  The department works with its global divisions on a business partner basis. 

The HR team is a hardworking and committed one and is closely integrated to deliver a valued service to the business. Our HR team enjoy the unique culture that Withers has to offer. We are proud to have won HR team of the year in 2019 at the HR in Law awards.

About Withersworldwide

A law firm focused on people and collaboration. For the past 125 years, Withers has supported some of the world's most remarkable people and organisations at defining moments in their lives. We are the only international law firm focused on successful individuals and private capital, working closely with founders, investors and family offices. We also advise governments, charities, global brands and start-ups of all shapes and sizes. Many of our clients are shaping the future and creating solutions to tackle many of the world's problems.  It makes for a fascinating and challenging practice. Our role is to get to know each individual client, find out where they want to be, and help them to get there – whether they are building a business, looking after their family, involved in a complex dispute or protecting their finances for the future. To meet their unique needs we are exceptionally collaborative, working together across teams and time zones. We are agile, focusing on strategy rather than rigid ideas and traditional hierarchy. It is a truly flexible working culture that puts people first. Join us to be part of a team that is always looking to the future. Where initiative, big ideas and bold moves are always encouraged. Where you can truly be yourself.

For further information, please contact the recruitment team.

Information for Recruitment Agencies

Withersworldwide endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, Withersworldwide operates a preferred supplier list and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.

Equal Opportunities Employment Statement

It is the policy of Withersworldwide to provide equal opportunities for all employees in relation to recruitment, training and promotion.  Decisions in these areas will be made only by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic and national origin), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation).