Head of Human Resources (Director Level)
Financial Services
Location: London (Hybrid)
Our client, a high‑performing boutique financial services firm, is seeking an experienced Head of Human Resources to lead the People function. This is a pivotal, hands‑on leadership role with both strategic and operational responsibility, supporting the business to maintain excellence across all HR activity.
The Opportunity:
As the most senior HR leader, you will partner closely with the C-suite, and senior leadership to deliver a best‑in‑class people experience. You’ll shape and oversee all HR operations, lead a small but high‑performing team, and ensure the firm’s culture, values, and people‑centric approach remain at the forefront.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the day‑to‑day HR function, ensuring high‑quality service delivery across all people processes.
- Own the full employee lifecycle including recruitment, onboarding, performance, development and exits.
- Oversee UK, & US headcount
- Provide trusted HR advice to senior leaders; coach managers to build people leadership capability.
- Lead talent management, including mid‑year reviews, succession planning, L&D and retention initiatives.
- Manage the annual performance and compensation review cycles.
- Drive the annual employee engagement survey, analysis, and post‑survey action plans.
- Champion company culture, values, and DEI, ensuring inclusive and consistent people practices.
- Oversee early careers initiatives including internships, graduates and outreach programmes.
- Maintain HR governance, compliance, policy updates, and expert management of complex employee relations cases.
- Ensure strong HR data integrity, reporting, and monthly cost budget oversight.
Key Experience Required:
- 6+ years’ broad HR generalist experience, ideally within financial services or a high‑performance environment.
- Experience leading an HR function or deputising at Head of HR level.
- Outstanding employment law expertise and a confident operator with complex ER cases.
- Commercial, pragmatic partnering skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
- Strong technical capability across HR systems, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Experience across multiple UK jurisdictions; US exposure advantageous.
- High attention to detail, sound judgement, and comfortable balancing strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery.