HR Controller

PUIG Deutschland GmbH; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent luxury brand company in the UK seeks an experienced HR Controller to manage financial aspects of HR while ensuring accurate budgeting and forecasting of personnel costs. The role focuses on collaboration with Finance and HR teams to drive business efficiency and support strategic decision-making. Candidates should have strong financial planning experience and excellent analytical and communication skills. This opportunity offers a collaborative work environment and a competitive compensation package.

Benefits

Creative work culture

Learning and development opportunities

International growth opportunities

Competitive compensation and benefits package

Qualifications

• Proven experience in HR financial planning.
• Strong background in cost analysis and financial reporting.
• Experience with accruals, rolling forecasts, and collaboration with finance teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting and forecasting for personnel-related costs.
• Collaborate with Finance and HR to optimise people costs.
• Oversee month-end provisions for bonus schemes.

Skills

HR financial planning

Cost analysis

Financial reporting

Collaborative skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Adaptability

Tools

HRIS

Excel (advanced)

Financial planning tools

Job description

Puig is a major player in the worldwide fashion and beauty industry. We have a wide portfolio of well-known luxury brands across fashion, fragrance, makeup, skincare, and wellness. Founded more than 100 years ago, Puig is a family-owned company with a long-term commitment to our brands and stakeholders.

The Opportunity

The HR Controller plays a pivotal role in managing the financial aspects of the HR function, with a strong focus on Net Personnel Expenses (NPE). This role ensures accurate budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis of people-related costs, partnering closely with Finance and HR teams to support strategic decision-making and cost control.

You will be working across three different entities, each offering its own unique challenges and opportunities. People is a major focus for this role, and you'll play a significant part in shaping our strategy and optimising our approach to ensure the highest levels of productivity across our retail estate and HQ strategy.

You'll also partner with senior leadership regularly challenging and provide insights to help drive our business forward.

What you’ll get to do

• Lead budgeting and forecasting for all personnel-related costs, including payroll, benefits, and HR operational expenses.
• Own compensation budgets, including salary planning, incentive schemes, and total reward forecasting.
• Monitor and reconcile HR-related costs, investigating variances and ensuring data accuracy.
• Develop and maintain financial models and tools to support workforce planning, cost projections, and scenario analysis (e.g., restructures, new store openings).

Strategic HR Support

• Support business cases for HR initiatives such as headcount changes, compensation programs, and organisational design.
• Collaborate with HR Generalists and senior leadership to assess the financial impact of hiring plans and structural changes.
• Collaborate with Finance and the retail management team to optimise retail people costs and best fit structures by door.
• Maintain and manage salary bands, ensuring Talent Acquisition is informed of updates, especially during annual salary review periods.

Operational Execution

• Oversee month-end provisions and calculations for bonus schemes and salary reviews.
• Ensure accurate position management and organisational chart alignment in collaboration with local HR teams.
• Support internal and external audits related to HR financials.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Act as the key liaison between HR and Finance, ensuring alignment across planning cycles and financial reporting.
• Serve as the bridge between the HR Controlling team and local HR to ensure consistency in data and processes.

Process Improvement & Governance

• Drive continuous improvement in HR financial processes, systems, and controls.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls and data governance standards.
• Uphold Puig values and contribute to a positive, inclusive company culture.

We’d love to meet you if you have

• Proven experience in HR financial planning, including budgeting for people costs and FTE planning.
• Strong background in cost analysis, variance investigation, and financial reporting.
• Experience with accruals, rolling forecasts, and collaboration with finance teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with HR, Finance, and senior stakeholders.
• Familiarity with headcount reporting and strategic workforce planning.
• Experience supporting audits and compliance processes.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and provide actionable insights.
• Financial acumen in budgeting, forecasting, and modelling within an HR context.
• Effective communicator with the ability to present complex data clearly to diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to align HR financial planning to business goals.
• Proficiency in HRIS, Excel (advanced), and financial planning tools.
• High attention to detail and discretion when handling sensitive data.
• Adaptability in a fast‑paced, evolving environment with competing priorities.

A few things you’ll love about us

• An entrepreneurial, creative and welcoming work culture
• A range of learning and development opportunities
• An international company with plenty of opportunities to grow
• A competitive compensation & benefits package

Puig is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

At Puig, we are continually looking for enthusiastic and committed individuals from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences to join our team. We believe that creating an inclusive environment in which you feel welcomed, valued, engaged, and empowered strengthens our business and fosters a culture where we are inspired to work hard, challenge ourselves, and be innovative in our thinking. Additionally, we believe that the diversity of our employees makes us a stronger company and better able to serve our customers around the world.