Employee Relations Specialist

KPMG in the UK is part of a global network of firms that offers Audit, Legal, Tax and Advisory services. Through the talent of over 16,000 colleagues we bring our creativity, insight and experience to solve our clients’ and communities’ biggest problems. We’ve been doing this for more than 150 years.

Group Corporate Services (GCS) is the home for all internal support services that support the combined firm. Working with our Capability-led matrix and throughout the whole firm, GCS executes on our Group's strategic goals by enabling growth, protecting the firm and running operations effectively and efficiently, resulting in improved profitability. We do this using a ‘We are Group’ mindset.

The People and Resourcing domain’s purpose is to enable the Group’s business strategy through its people. We maintain our position as an employer of choice by fostering a Values-led culture, enabling our people to thrive, and delivering a positive experience through the employee lifecycle. We are a strategic HR function that leverages digitisation, automation, and data-driven insights to enhance decision-making and productivity.

At KPMG we want to build and maintain positive and constructive relationships individually amongst our people, and collectively between the firm and our people. We believe that a positive climate in the workplace enables greater employee engagement and commitment, with a positive impact both on employee well-being and business outcomes.

The team will be responsible for end-to-end case management and for coaching/upskilling the business to more effectively address ER matters in the business line. We are introducing a best practice tiered approach to service delivery, including self-service for generic questions and effective triaging of incoming concerns promoting routes to resolution outside of formal cases. We have a separate team within the ER function responsible for formal investigations.

By firmly anchoring Employee Relations expertise in the ER function, we are professionalising the service and creating tangible and rewarding career opportunities for ER professionals. We are committed to continuous improvement so that we can evolve our Employee Relations (ER) services and support mechanisms to be the best they can be, encouraging open communication, ensuring our colleagues can thrive both professionally and personally and building trust within our organisation.

What will you be doing?

• Reporting into ER Manager, you will manage a broad and varied ER workload across the capability providing full support, coaching and advice to PL/PM/HRBP in a wide range of ER work, including day to day running of triage process.
• To guide the ER Advisor’s and to promote upskilling and development in role.
• Provide detailed and comprehensive ER support, advice and guidance on complex cases and issues to PL/PM/HRBP and other leaders within the business on the full range of ER issues in line with best practice and company policy.
• Supporting and leading where appropriate with consultations, restructures, redundancies and TUPE.
• Ensure all advice that is given is presented and explained in a practical and workable business solution that highlights and mitigates any potential risks taking into account the commercial requirements of the business.
• Lead on cases working collaboratively with the wider HR team and business to ensure best possible outcomes.
• Lead on the management and resolution of sickness absence issues (including coaching PL/PM/HRBP) including Ill health capability dismissals and advising on complex OH referrals.
• Be a stakeholder in the grievance process and provide further details to ERIT if needed and cascade updates to HRBPs.
• Provide HR representation on the ERIT panel, hear evidence, and participate in the decision-making process.
• Work on the grievance and disciplinary outcome letters collaborating with the partner and ELAT before sending it out to the individual.
• Informing HRBPs of the outcome and agree with HRBPs on any learnings/actions outside of the outcome letter is taken back to the business.
• In case of appeals, process the appeal via ERIT and have an independent HR representation to sit on appeal panel.
• Be the main process owner for Death in Service cases and undergo all operational and administrative aspects of the process such as, notifying stakeholders and providing wellbeing support, and contacting the next of kin.
• To review and sign off Settlement Agreements.

What will you need to do it?

• Experience of working in Employee Relations.
• An ability to build relationships and communicate with people at all levels both written and verbal.
• Experience in coaching and developing others and driving a culture of service excellence, promoting upskilling and development within the team.
• Able to deal with having difficult conversations that may be of sensitive matters.
• Proactively build strong and enduring relationships with key stakeholders, including clients in the business.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• It is expected that you will be CIPD qualified or have the relevant experience.