Senior Administration Assistant in London

We are currently representing a leading global legal services provider in the appointment of a Senior Admin Assistant, based in Cape Town, as part of a period of continued growth and investment in their international operations.

Our client operates at the intersection of legal services and flexible talent solutions, partnering law firms and in-house legal teams with high-calibre contract lawyers across multiple jurisdictions. Backed by a globally recognised professional services brand, the business is scaling its operational infrastructure to support an expanding international contractor base.

This is a varied, hands-on role at the centre of the contractor lifecycle — from interview coordination and onboarding through to compliance, payments, and offboarding. You'll be the go-to point of contact for contract lawyers on assignment, working across legal, HR, IT, finance, and risk stakeholders to keep everything running smoothly, accurately, and to the highest standard of regulatory rigour.

Onboarding Governance

• Oversee end-to-end onboarding for contractors, consultants and temporary workers, ensuring pre-engagement checks, documentation and compliance requirements are completed before assignment commencement.
• Coordinate onboarding activity with HR, IT and other operational teams so that system access, accounts, equipment and related requirements are progressed in line with business needs.
• Maintain accurate candidate and compliance records in Mercury and other systems, with complete documentation and a robust audit trail.

Compliance Management & Resolution

• Manage onboarding and compliance matters, including exceptions, screening outcomes and resolution pathways, liaising with Legal, HR, IT, Finance, Risk, Legal and other stakeholders as required.
• Oversee contingent workforce compliance processes, including IR35, Agency Worker Regulations, Right to Work, compliance documentation and Umbrella/PSC engagement pathways.
• Operate relevant onboarding and screening platforms, including Right to Work checks through Experian and other providers.
• Maintain knowledge of relevant legislation and support consistent application of contingent workforce policies, controls and governance processes.

Audit & Quality Assurance

• Conduct regular audits of onboarding and compliance and contractor records to ensure documentation is complete, accurate and aligned with operating procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Identify operational risks and control weaknesses, producing findings, recommendations and remediation actions to support continual process improvement.
• Support internal, client and external audits by maintaining accurate records and providing evidence, reporting and documentation as required.

Process Improvement & Governance

• Drive continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen controls and reduce compliance risk through improvements, workflows and automation.
• Develop and maintain governance frameworks, policies, procedures and operational documentation, ensuring they remain current and aligned with business and regulatory requirements.

Candidate & Stakeholder Support

• Act as a key contact for candidates during onboarding, providing guidance on engagement models, onboarding requirements and compliance obligations.
• Liaise with third-party providers, including Umbrella companies and screening providers, to progress onboarding activity and resolve compliance queries.
• Manage onboarding and compliance inbox activity, ensuring queries are triaged, actioned and responded to appropriately.
• Maintain candidate biographies, records and client role specification information, ensuring information is accurate and up to date, while building strong relationships with Account Management, Talent and other global stakeholders.

Candidate Interview Coordination

• Coordinate candidate interviews.
• Identify and book suitable interview times based on interviewer and candidate availability.
• Issue interview invitations and confirmation communications using approved templates.
• Provide candidates with relevant information ahead of interviews and respond to routine queries.

Team Support & Coaching

• Provide guidance and support to the Administration Assistant, sharing best practice and helping maintain consistency in operational delivery.
• Assist with onboarding and compliance training and support knowledge-sharing across the wider team.

Experience in operations, onboarding, compliance or workforce administration, ideally within a contingent labour, contractor or temporary workforce environment.

Strong understanding of onboarding, Right to Work and compliance requirements, together with experience of compliance monitoring, audits or quality assurance activities.

Excellent organisational, communication and stakeholder management skills are essential, along with strong attention to detail.

Advanced Microsoft Office skills (particularly Excel) and the ability to manage competing priorities independently.

Experience supporting IR35 and AWR compliance processes, working within legal, professional services, recruitment or managed service environments, using contractor management systems, producing compliance reporting and supporting international onboarding activities would be advantageous.