HR Assistant

Howden Group Holdings; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global insurance group is seeking an HR Assistant to join their team in Milton Keynes. This role focuses on delivering excellent HR services to the UK businesses, supporting the employee lifecycle, and enhancing the client experience. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, able to work under pressure, and have experience with Workday. Join a dynamic team where you can grow in your HR journey.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Strong attention to detail and an ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Delivery-focused individual who puts client experience first.
• Experience in HR Shared Services is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide client-focused HR service across the employee lifecycle.
• Work as an advocate and expert on Workday HR.
• Ensure processes are completed on time for payroll.

Skills

Client-focused service

Strong relationship building

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Tools

Workday

Job description

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like‑minded people driving change at Howden.

HR Assistant

(HR Employee Services)

About the Role

Here at Howden Group Holdings, we are transforming the way we deliver HR services to our business and this is an exciting time to join our evolving HR function as we look to drive commercially aligned and strategic HR support to our stakeholders.

This is an exciting opportunity to deliver first class HR Services support to our UK businesses, providing first line HR support to a fast-growing and transformational business. This is a varied role as you will provide HR support on all operational elements from on-boarding, job change, family leave through to leaving.

You will role model HR best practice; establish credibility and trust with stakeholders at all levels; support innovation through advising, informing, challenging and facilitating discussions with the business and HRBP’s in equal measure on a wide range of issues – all in the context of a rapidly evolving and growing business.

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic individual looking to take the next step on their HR journey, to join a growing team within HR Employee Services. You will pride yourself on providing a high quality client focused service, driving self‑service and continuous improvement in a fast paced and entrepreneurial environment.

Role responsibilities

• Provide a client focused HR service across the employee lifecycle, delivering a great experience to our people.
• Working as an advocate and expert on Workday HR, guiding and supporting people, whilst promoting self service capability.
• Responsible for follow up actions and ongoing enquiries, ensuing processes are completed to a high standard and in time for payroll cutoff.
• Works closely with colleagues within HRES to drive consistency across the business, improve processes and gain efficiencies.
• Works with the Recruitment team to ensure the applicant through to new starter process is managed efficiently and provides a great candidate experience.
• Working collaboratively with the group HR centres of excellences, HRBP, reward, change, payroll, learning and HRIS teams.
• Validates data, ensures job details are correct, such as roles, teams and cost centres.
• Make appropriate decisions and use own judgement on work prioritisation ensuring expectations on service delivery can be met.
• Works within GDPR guidelines, managing people data requests and the confidentiality of data.
• Contributes to wider projects and initiatives within HR, driving process improvements, automation and efficiencies.
• Ensures cases and requests are completely correctly and in time for payroll.

Key requirements

• Delivery focused and able to demonstrate putting client experience first.
• Self- motivated with a positive attitude.
• Strong relationship building and influencing skills.
• Works well under pressure to meet deadlines whilst managing conflicting demands.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Team player with the ability to learn quickly.
• Workday and HR Shared Services experience desirable.
• Ability to work well independently with confidence.
• Strong organisational, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Problem solver with resilience, initiative and ability to challenge the status quo.
• Smart pragmatic and positive approach, able to build trust and offer proactive solutions.
• Workday and HR Shared Services experience desirable.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new

• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges

• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

Fixed Term Contract (Fixed Term)