Senior HR Business Partner - Audit

About the role

This role sits within Group Corporate Services, which brings together the specialist functions that enable the organisation to operate effectively and support its people and business priorities. As the primary HR contact for assigned internal client groups, you will build a strong understanding of their commercial context, strategic priorities and future workforce needs. You will combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, providing trusted advice and constructive challenge to senior stakeholders while coordinating support across the People function and other operational teams.

You will help shape and deliver the people plan, use workforce information to identify trends and interventions, and lead key annual processes including performance, reward, promotion and talent reviews. You will also champion inclusion, diversity and social equality, support complex and higher-risk people matters, and help leaders navigate change with confidence.

Roles and responsibilities

• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders and operational stakeholders, providing informed HR advice, constructive challenge and responsive support.
• Develop a detailed understanding of the client group, including its strategy, commercial priorities and workforce pipeline, to shape relevant people solutions.
• Contribute to the strategic people plan, lead its delivery within agreed parameters and monitor progress against business needs.
• Use management information to identify workforce themes and recommend practical interventions that improve organisational and colleague outcomes.
• Coordinate the consistent delivery of annual people processes, including performance, reward, promotion and talent review activities, in line with organisational guidance.
• Partner with recruitment, resourcing, learning, HR advisory, finance and other teams to anticipate workforce needs and provide a joined-up service.
• Advise leaders on complex or higher-risk people matters, support organisational change and restructuring activity, and escalate significant risks appropriately.
• Lead, coach and motivate the HR Business Partner team, allocate work effectively and deliver cross-functional people projects and change initiatives.

Experience and skills needed

• Demonstrable experience of partnering with senior stakeholders and translating business priorities into clear people plans and actions.
• Broad HR expertise, including experience of advising on complex employee relations matters and organisation-wide people processes.
• Evidence of using workforce data and commercial insight to identify trends, influence decisions and recommend effective interventions.
• Experience of leading significant cross-functional projects or change initiatives in a complex, matrix organisation.
• Strong relationship-building, influencing and presentation skills, with the confidence to advise and challenge senior leaders.
• Experience of leading, coaching or mentoring HR professionals while managing competing priorities and maintaining high service standards.

Qualifications required

• CIPD qualification or an equivalent recognised HR qualification.