HR Advisor

Buckles Solicitors LLP; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Birthday day off

Christmas Eve 1 day leave

Healthcare options (AXA)

Health cash back plans for family

Enhanced pension 5% matched

Buy additional holiday (up to 3 days)

Group Life Assurance 4 x annual salary

Job summary

Buckles Law is recruiting an HR Advisor to join our HR team in Peterborough. This generalist HR role covers employee relations and payroll support, working closely with the Head of HR to deliver a reliable HR service.

You will advise managers, handle day-to-day people matters, maintain accurate HR records, and contribute to process improvements across the employee lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Experience as HR Advisor or generalist HR role.
• Solid knowledge of UK employment law and routine employee relations.
• Experience guiding managers on HR matters and policy.
• Strong organisation to handle varied workload.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while escalating complex issues when needed.
• Proactive approach and interest in improving HR processes.
• Payroll exposure including data checks and pay changes is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical HR support to managers and employees across daily HR activities.
• Progress routine employee relations cases while escalating sensitive matters.
• Support monthly payroll delivery with accurate, auditable records.
• Ensure HR policies are applied consistently and data maintained.
• Deliver responsive and professional HR service while guiding managers.

Skills

HR advisory experience

UK employment law

Manager guidance

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Independent working with escalation

Proactive approach

Payroll processes experience

CIPD Level 3 (desirable)

Education

CIPD Level 3 qualification (desirable)

Job description

Buckles Law is an award-winning law firm that provides world-class client experience and services on a comprehensive range of legal services to both businesses and individuals in the UK and internationally.

We deliver effective and cost-efficient legal solutions from our offices based in Bristol, Cambridge, London, Nottingham, Peterborough, and Stamford, with an international presence in Paris and Milan.

We recognise that all this is possible due to our team of highly dedicated, enthusiastic professionals across our locations. We pride ourselves on providing a positive work environment where independent thinking and new ideas are actively encouraged and where every member of the team genuinely can make a difference.

Buckles holds the LawNet Mark of Excellence, is Investor in People Gold accredited, and is a certified B Corporation, reflecting its commitment to excellence, people and responsible business practices.

We are recruiting a HR Advisor to join our HR team in Peterborough.

This is a generalist HR role providing practical day-to-day support to managers and employees across the firm. The role will cover a broad range of employee relations and HR activity, alongside responsibility for supporting the accurate and timely delivery of monthly payroll.

Working closely with the wider HR team and reporting to the Head of HR, you will provide a reliable and responsive HR service, supporting managers with day-to-day people matters, progressing routine employee relations cases and ensuring key HR processes are completed consistently and on time.

The role would suit an experienced HR generalist who is confident working across a varied workload, enjoys providing practical support to managers and employees, and has strong attention to detail. You will also need to be comfortable working with payroll, HR systems and employee data, identifying issues and escalating more complex or sensitive matters where appropriate.

Responsibilities of an HR Advisor:

• HR Processes and Employee Lifecycle: Coordinate key HR processes including probation, performance and employee lifecycle activity, ensuring reviews, documentation and follow-up actions are completed accurately and within agreed timescales.

• Employee Relations and Manager Support: Provide practical HR support to managers and employees across day-to-day people matters, including absence, probation, performance, flexible working, family leave, disciplinary and grievance cases, escalating complex or sensitive matters where appropriate.

• Payroll and HR Operations: Support and coordinate the monthly payroll process, ensuring pay-impacting changes are accurate, appropriately checked and processed on time, with clear records and audit trails maintained.

• HR Compliance and Records: Support the consistent application of HR policies and maintain accurate employee records, documentation and reporting, ensuring HR activity is delivered in line with employment legislation, regulatory requirements and firm policies.

• Manager and Employee Support: Provide a responsive and professional HR service, helping managers navigate HR processes and providing practical guidance while ensuring appropriate escalation where required.

• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, systems, controls and ways of working, and support wider HR projects and initiatives across the employee lifecycle.

Skills and experience required:

• Previous experience in an HR Advisor or equivalent generalist HR role.

• Good knowledge of UK employment law and experience managing routine employee relations matters.

• Experience providing practical HR support and guidance to managers.

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload.

• Strong attention to detail and confidence working with HR records, data and reporting.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to work independently while knowing when to escalat complex, sensitive or higher-risk matters.

• A proactive and practical approach, with an interest in improving HR processes and ways of working.

• CIPD Level 3 qualified or working towards this would be desirable.

• Experience of running or supporting monthly payroll processes, including checking data and managing pay-impacting changes would be desirable.

Reward and development:

Buckles recognises the success of every employee; we work with you to ensure you have what you need to maximise your potential and develop your career.

Alongside a host of development opportunities, professionally and personally, we offer some fantastic benefits, which include (but not limited to):

• 25 days annual leave + all UK Bank Holidays.

• An additional day for your birthday each year (or closest working day to your birthday).

• Additional annual leave on Christmas Eve (1 full day) and New Years Eve (half day PM) if these days fall on a contracted working day.

• Private healthcare options for you - via AXA

• Free healthcare cash back plans for you and your family

• Enhanced pension - 5% matched contribution by Buckles.

• Ability to buy additional holiday - up to 3 days per year.

• Group Life Assurance - 4 x your annual salary.

We are an equal opportunity and disability-inclusive employer and value diversity across the firm. We do not discriminate based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or parental or caring status.