Job description
Location:
Birmingham
Office:
Birmingham
Discipline:
Human resources
Contact name:
Ben Porter
Contact email:
Contact phone:
07587481088
Vacancy reference:
020729
Closing date:
26 May 2023
HR Assistant
The role
Based in the firm’s Birmingham office, this is a fantastic opportunity to join a busy, fast-paced and well-respected HR team. This role will provide generalist HR Assistant support to the Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Oxford offices, as well as working collaboratively with the other HR Assistant’s across the firm to ensure consistent processes.
The role will include regular contact with the wider HR team, including payroll, systems, recruitment and diversity and wellbeing, as well as both partners and employees across the firm.
The person
This is a busy and challenging role and, to be successful, your background will include previous HR experience and knowledge and experience of using HR data systems, candidate assessment systems, DBS systems, and other related external platforms. You are likely to have had exposure to the full employee cycle through recruitment, induction, employee and leaver. As you will be supporting the largest office with over 300 staff and partners who are now working on a hybrid arrangement, you will need the ability to deal effectively, quickly and accurately with a high volume of work with often conflicting deadlines.
More specifically, you will be able to demonstrate the following:
- Ideally educated to a degree level, with A-level qualifications as a minimum, or equivalent;
- In addition to solid HR experience, the role requires a candidate with a good knowledge of Excel and accurate data processing
- Ability to turn work around quickly, without compromising on quality
- A keen eye for the detail
- Comfortable and able to manage multiple tasks at any one time, as well as ensuring your clients are kept updated as to progress
- An approachable, proactive and professional working style, with a calm and methodical approach to your work and excellent attention to detail
- You will have a common sense approach to problem solving and be able to explain more complicated matters in a simple and straight forward way either verbally or in writing
- In addition, you will be a self-starter, willing to take accountability for tasks, have strong communications skills and have an appetite for learning and retaining knowledge
The activities
General
- Action the necessary processes and documentation for starters, leavers, transfers, changes, maternities and secondments as requested
- Produce statistical information from the HR system as and when required i.e. reports for marketing for tenders, business continuity and absence statistics
- Accurately input all employee changes into the HR system. This will include starters, leavers, career changes and absences and updating personnel e-files as appropriate
- Process supplier invoices as required through the PO system
- Draft standard letter responses for leavers, mortgage requests, reference requests, change of hours etc
- Carry out exit interviews as requested
- Ensure the manual and electronic filing system is accurate and up to date and documents stored in line with the team’s GDPR requirements
- Arrange flowers for employees and long service/recognition awards
- Assist with any ad hoc projects and tasks as and when required
Recruitment & selection
- Assist with recruitment for predominantly Birmingham based business and executive support services vacancies. This will include updating job descriptions, advertising vacancies both internally and externally, liaising with recruitment agencies, short listing CVs, arranging interviews, managing interview assessments, interviewing where necessary and providing feedback, raising purchase orders for costs incurred
- Manage the full recruitment process through the HR system to include submitting the vacancy, publishing the vacancy, monitoring and tracking candidate applications through to updating the vacancy once closed
- Draft offer letters and contracts of employment for business and executive support services candidates for vacancies you are managing, this will include liaising with the hiring manager about the offer details
Induction
- Manage the induction and on-boarding process for new hires including;
- Organising inductions for new starters with relevant internal colleagues
- Preparing and issuing induction programmes
- Organising and host the HR induction meetings for all new starters
- Ensuring all actions on the new starter checklist are completed, specifically the pre-employment checks are returned to a satisfactory standard
Leavers
- Complete a leaver checklist for each employee who leaves the firm. Be responsible for actioning all tasks on the required checklist
Payroll
- Each month collate changes during the payroll period and update the payroll spreadsheet for authorisation adhering to deadlines as required
- Ensure any changes are made in the HR system as appropriate
- Support the payroll team with data inputting where required
Performance reviews
- Issue timely reminders for end of probation meetings to be scheduled and ensure paperwork is returned and correspondence is issued and e-filed
- Update the HR System with date probation passed as well as any employees who have their probation extended
Absence
- Respond to queries around balances or absence levels
- Prepare ad-hoc reports for line managers as required
- Maintain absence records accurately in the HR system, which will include liaising with employees to log their absence as appropriate
Pre-employment screening
Please note that, in the event that we make an offer of employment, we will conduct pre-employment screening that includes checks relating to your professional and academic qualifications, references from previous employers, your eligibility to work in the UK and any disciplinary history recorded with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). You will also be required to complete a self-declaration to access your character and suitability.
Disclosure and barring service check
This post is also subject to a satisfactory response from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
The Mills & Reeve Business Services career structure
We have a firm wide Business Services career structure and a published career progression framework. Within the firm wide career structure there are five career levels. For the purposes of the framework, this role is at an Assistant level and the role profile that details the outcomes and activities expected of across the firm is included with this job description. Further information on the firm’s Business Services career structure is available from the HR team.
The firm
What really sets Mills & Reeve apart from other law firms is the way we work with our clients. We understand that clients, in the 21st century, no longer want a traditional law firm – they want one that embraces forward thinking approaches to service, billing, commercial know-how, innovation, people management and community engagement.
Why not find out more about what it’s like to work at Mills & Reeve by taking two minutes to watch our video?
https://vimeo.com/363521296
And finally
Mills & Reeve is committed to providing an inclusive and supportive working environment. We are happy to consider flexible working arrangements and endeavour to achieve the right balance for both our people and the business. This attitude to flexible working ensures we continue to provide outstanding service to our clients, whilst allowing our people to develop their careers in the knowledge that personal priorities will remain just that.
Mills & Reeve is committed to promoting equality, diversity and to providing an inclusive and supportive environment. Please click the link below to find further information regarding our diversity policy.
https://www.mills-reeve.com/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion
If you would like any more information about Mills & Reeve, you can visit our website by clicking on the following link:
http://www.mills-reeve.com/