People Manager, Group

Principal Accountabilities:

HR Operations

• Refine and shape HR processes, policies, and systems for the Netherlands office in line with Group standards and Dutch labor law.

• Manage the various payroll and benefits administration with external providers

• Manage employment contracts and other contractual arrangements.

• Manage work permits and liaise with appropriate third parties to ensure compliance.

• Oversee employee benefits, insurance, and pension schemes in line with local standards.

• Participate in salary benchmarking and annual salary reviews.

• Deliver structured onboarding to integrate new hires into the Hawksford culture and systems, in line with Group standards.

• Lead the onboarding and integration of employees joining through M&A, ensuring clarity, consistency, and cultural alignment.

• Manage the end-to-end offboarding process for leavers.

• Coordinate with managers and relevant service lines (such as Operations and Finance) to facilitate timely leaver procedures, including return of equipment, system access deactivation, and final payroll.

• Ensure compliance with Dutch law and internal policies regarding notice periods, leaver documentation, and legal obligations (e.g. final settlements, unused leave, indemnities).

• Conduct structured exit interviews to gather feedback on the employee experience, identify potential areas for improvement, and support continuous improvement of HR practices.

• Manage the offboarding of employees impacted by M&A activity, restructures, or redundancies, in alignment with legal requirements and internal communications plans.

M&A Integration & Change Management

• Support HR aspects of post-merger integration, including aligning policies, benefits, and company culture.

• Ensure a seamless transition for employees joining through acquisitions.

• Manage communication plans to ensure transparency and engagement during transitions.

• Support cultural integration and change management efforts to unify teams.

• Ensure compliance with Dutch law throughout all integration phases.

HR Management

• Contribute to the development and execution of the People roadmap for the Netherlands, ensuring alignment with broader corporate goals (e.g., headcount growth, retention targets, cost control).

• Partner with local leadership ensuring a proactive service to the business.

• Provide HR insights, including metrics to the leadership team to ensure effective decision-making.

Employee Relations & Culture

• Act as the first point of contact for employees in the Netherlands and be a trusted advisor to employees and manager on People related matters.

• Manage employee relations issues in a fair, compliant, and solutions-focused manner.

• Ensure compliance with Dutch laws, GDPR, and EU employment directives.

• Build and maintain a positive, inclusive, and collaborative culture as we continue to grow and merge entities.

• Lead and support initiatives that foster employee engagement within the Netherlands office.

Talent Acquisition

• Ensure a consistent, inclusive, and high-quality candidate experience throughout the interview process, acting as an ambassador of the Hawksford values and culture.

• Dealing with all aspects of recruitment and selection, including candidate selection and interviewing where necessary.

• Ability to attract candidates by promoting job opportunities through the use of social media and other channels.

• Oversee relationships with external recruitment partners, ensuring service-level expectations are met and costs are managed effectively.

The successful candidate must have:

• Proven experience in within the HR function, with at least five years of generalist experience in HR.

• Knowledge of working within financial services and/or Big 4 experience.

• In-depth knowledge of Dutch law and HR best practices.

• Proven experience in employee relations, recruitment, and HR operations.

• Fluent in English and Dutch.