HR Assistant in Oxford

HR Assistant in Oxford

Oxford Full-Time 30000 - 33000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
C.H. Guenther

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Support HR operations, manage payroll, and engage with employees in a dynamic food manufacturing environment.
  • Company: Join a leading food manufacturer that values integrity, respect, and collaboration.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous holiday, and a supportive work-life balance.
  • Other info: Experience a vibrant workplace culture with community events and ongoing development opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on employee wellbeing and engagement while developing your HR skills.
  • Qualifications: GCSEs in English and Maths; A-levels or equivalent preferred, with strong admin skills.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 33000 £ per year.

The HR Assistant provides essential support across HR operations and payroll processing for a busy food manufacturing site. The role is key to ensuring smooth HR operations, with accountability for payroll and responsibility and involvement in HR activities including Engagement, Recruitment, Wellbeing, Comms and HR administration.

What you'll be doing:

  • Payroll Processing: Manage the accurate processing of the weekly payroll and supporting monthly payroll. Ensure timely submissions of starters, leavers, changes and time off data.
  • HR Administration & Reporting: Maintain accurate HR & People records on HR systems and P files (Workday, ADP, Honeydew & Darwin). Liaise with system Account Managers to ensure continuous system accuracy and improvement. Produce weekly and monthly HR reports (headcount, turnover, time off, recruitment) and Finance reports. Raise purchase orders for the HR team (SAP).
  • Engagement & Communication: Facilitate the Engagement and Charity meetings and produce the annual planner. Coordinate employee events, site social events and volunteer days. Create site communications for notice boards and quarterly newsletters and provide creative ideas. Conduct Stay interviews and maintain reporting data for employee engagement.
  • Wellbeing: Support wellbeing initiatives across site, support managers with absence cases and occupational health referrals. Schedule and plan Annual Health Checks.
  • Recruitment & Onboarding: Advertise roles, screen applicants, arrange interviews, complete right‐to‐work checks, issue contracts, and coordinate HR inductions.
  • Employee Relations Support: First point of contact for colleague queries, note‐taking in meetings, supporting investigations, escalating issues appropriately. Act as minute taker for Employee Forums.
  • Compliance & Audit Readiness: Ensure documentation meets SMETA, customer audit, and UK employment law requirements. Support HR Manager and produce documentation for any inhouse audits and for SMETA audit.

What we're looking for:

  • Ideally experience of running or working with payroll.
  • Experience of Workday, ADP & ADP RealTime would be helpful but not essential.
  • Some experience of supporting recruitment and new starters would be a plus.
  • Excellent administrative and organisational skills is a must.
  • Confident IT skills & proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Canva.
  • High accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Problem solving/analytical ability.
  • An understanding and/or interest in UK employment law, right‐to‐work checks, and GDPR.
  • A positive, proactive, "can‐do" mindset.
  • Team player who will support the site.
  • Care and a great work ethic.

Qualifications:

  • GCSEs including English and Maths; A‐levels or equivalent desirable.

Working here:

  • Core office hours - Monday to Friday 8.00am to 4.00pm.
  • We offer a competitive salary of £30,000 -£33,000 per annum.
  • Our benefits package includes a company pension scheme, life insurance & income protection.
  • 33 days of holiday each year, inclusive of Bank Holidays.
  • We provide free on-site parking.
  • We support a healthy lifestyle with our Cycle to Work scheme, Employee Assistance Program, Annual Health Checks, Free eye tests.
  • We believe in ongoing development and investment in our people.
  • We foster a sense of community with family social events and activities.
  • Based on‐site in a food‐production environment.
  • Regular interaction with production lines, hygiene teams, technical teams, and shift managers.
  • Occasional flexibility for payroll deadlines, investigations, or recruitment needs.

Our values: The role holder will demonstrate and promote the Company's core values of: Integrity & Respect, Empowerment, Accountability, Collaboration, Agility.

HR Assistant in Oxford employer: C.H. Guenther

As an HR Assistant at our busy food manufacturing site, you will be part of a dynamic team that values integrity, respect, and collaboration. We offer a competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and a comprehensive benefits package, including a pension scheme and health initiatives, all within a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and development. Join us to contribute to meaningful HR operations while enjoying a vibrant community atmosphere with regular social events and opportunities for personal growth.

C.H. Guenther

Contact Details:

C.H. Guenther Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land HR Assistant in Oxford

Tip Number 1

Get your networking game on! Reach out to current employees in HR roles or even those in the food manufacturing sector. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might just lead to a referral.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview like it’s a big exam. Research the company culture, their values, and recent news. Show them you’re not just another candidate but someone who genuinely cares about their mission.

Tip Number 3

Practice common HR scenarios and questions. Think about how you’d handle payroll issues or employee queries. Being ready with examples will show you’re proactive and know your stuff!

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step.

We think you need these skills to ace HR Assistant in Oxford

Payroll Processing
HR Administration
Data Reporting
Engagement Coordination
Communication Skills
Wellbeing Initiatives
Recruitment Support

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the HR Assistant role. Highlight any relevant experience you have with payroll processing, HR administration, and recruitment. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!

Craft a Catchy Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about HR and how you can contribute to our team. Keep it engaging and make sure to mention specific experiences that relate to the job description.

Show Off Your Skills:Don’t forget to showcase your IT skills and attention to detail in your application. Mention any experience with systems like Workday or ADP, as well as your proficiency in tools like Excel and PowerPoint. We love a candidate who pays attention to the little things!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows you're keen to join our community!

How to prepare for a job interview at C.H. Guenther

Know Your Payroll Basics

Since the role involves payroll processing, brush up on your knowledge of payroll systems and processes. Be ready to discuss any experience you have with payroll, even if it's just a basic understanding. This shows you're proactive and prepared.

Familiarise Yourself with HR Systems

Get to know the HR systems mentioned in the job description, like Workday and ADP. Even if you haven't used them before, doing a bit of research can help you speak confidently about how you would adapt to using these tools.

Showcase Your Organisational Skills

This role requires excellent administrative skills, so be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully managed multiple tasks or projects. Think of specific instances where your organisational skills made a difference.

Emphasise Your Team Player Attitude

The company values collaboration, so highlight your ability to work well in a team. Share experiences where you've supported colleagues or contributed to team success, especially in HR-related activities or events.