AO/People Business Specialist

Who We Are:

We are a leading global investment management firm offering high-quality research and diversified investment services to institutional clients, retail investors, and private-wealth clients in major markets around the globe. With over 4,000 employees across 57 locations operating in 26 countries and jurisdictions, our ambition is simple: to be the most trusted investment firm in the world. We realize that it's our people who give us a competitive advantage and drive success in the market, and our goal is to create an inclusive culture that rewards hard work.

Our culture of intellectual curiosity and collaboration creates an environment where you can thrive and do your best work. Whether you're producing thought-provoking research, identifying compelling investment opportunities, infusing new technologies into our business or providing thoughtful advice to our clients, we are fully invested in you. If you're ready to challenge your limits and empower your career, join us!

Who You’ll Work With:

The EMEA People team is dedicated to servicing and partnering with AB’s employee base to enable outstanding business outcomes. The team supports employees across multiple countries in EMEA and collaborates closely with colleagues in global offices, including Nashville, New York and the APAC region.

What You’ll Do:

This role provides broad administrative and operational support within the EMEA People team, with key involvement in business critical matters including benefits management, SMCR and immigration.

We are looking for a highly organised and experienced People Business Specialist with strong attention to detail and proven systems and administration expertise. The role supports the day‑to‑day operations of the function, including employee lifecycle management and People-related administration across EMEA.

Responsibilities:

 Administration and Operations

• Draft employment documentation, including contracts, amendments letters, employment certificates, reference letters, etc. 

• Manage the EMEA People Inbox, responding to employee queries in a timely manner and escalating as required.

• Act as the internal expert on new hire onboarding including but not limited to; the enrolling of new hires onto Workday, ensuring payroll and benefit enrollment, completing right to work checks, ordering and monitoring background checks, conducting new hire inductions.

• Own the termination and resignation process including the exit logistics such as updating systems, calculating holidays and final payments, preparing leaver documentation, and conducting exit interview (as required).

• Support the management of confidential employee documentation including employment and compensation letters, liaising with Senior People Business Partners, Legal, and Finance as needed.

• Ensure the People Intranet is accurately updated with policies, the employee handbook and benefit summary documents.

• Respond to enquiries regarding People policies and processes.

• Prepare regular and ad-hoc reports for the People Team and the business across EMEA.

• Launch and monitor probation reviews, meeting with employees and managers and escalating as required.

• Lead recruitment processes, including opening job requisitions, collating job descriptions, posting job advertisements, sharing CVs with hiring managers, booking interviews and liaising with candidates and agencies.

• Support employees and managers with absence cases including parental leave and sickness absence, preparing documentation, and updating systems as required.

• In partnership with the Senior People Business Partners, coordinate all outgoing and incoming international relocations for EMEA, including working with vendors to obtain quotes, seeking business approval, coordinating visas and processing in Workday.

• Monitor fixed-term contracts and flexible working end dates.

• Own Workday processes and ensure accurate employee records are maintained.

• Manage Time Off plans for all EMEA countries, ensuing entitlements and records are correct in Workday.

• Partner with the People Digital team on projects to enhance and streamline processes for employees and the People team.

• Provide support on EMEA diversity and inclusion initiatives, in collaboration with external partners.

Benefits

• Excel in benefits administration including managing the annual renewal cycle, with support from the Senior People Business Partner.

• Manage the relationship with our benefits broker, liasing with them to ensure plans are maintained, data is provided and invoices are correct and are processed timely.

SMCR

• Partner with the Senior People Business Partner on the Senior Manager and Certification Regime, liaising with Compliance, organising regulatory exams, collating documentation, managing background screening checks and taking responsibility for updating the internal tracking system.

Immigration

• Liaise with immigration lawyers to work on the application, transfer of sponsorship, termination, and extension of different types of visas, assisting with monthly immigration checks.

• Ensure up to date knowledge of UK Immigration Rules.

• Lead regular reviews of right to work documentation across all EMEA countries, ensuring compliance with local requirements.

What We’re Looking For:

• Experience in HR operations and administration

• Experience working on UK employment matters, including Senior Management and Certification Regime (SMCR) and UK Immigration Rules

• Experience working on European employment (highly desirable)

• Experience working on employee benefits (highly desirable)

• Experience working with a Global People Team

• Attention to detail, accuracy and proven organizational skills are critical to success in this role

• Ability to work collaboratively

• Experience with HRIS systems (Workday preferred)

  ·        

• Self-starter, can work independently and be highly collaborative

   

Special Knowledge:

• Demonstrated experience in managing and maintaining employee processes

• Ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential employee matters with discretion

       

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver to established timeframes

   

Competencies:

• Client focus

• Ingenuity

• Relentless execution

• Team orientation

• Learning agility

   

Skills:

• Attention to detail and passion for accuracy

• Organisation skills and managing competing priorities