About this role
Role Summary
The HR Services Assistant is a key member of the HR Services team, acting as a first point of contact for colleagues across the firm and providing a high level of customer service and support.
Based in our Manchester office, you will coordinate new joiner activities and provide administrative and operational support across the employee lifecycle. This includes onboarding, pre-employment screening, performance management processes, secondments, fixed term contract renewals, employee departures, retirements and long service awards.
You will play an important role in ensuring data accuracy, supporting continuous improvement initiatives and helping to deliver an efficient and responsive HR service.
Key Responsibilities
• Act as a first point of contact for HR-related enquiries via telephone, email and online channels.
• Take ownership of employee queries from initial contact through to resolution.
• Process HR administration across key employee lifecycle activities.
• Prepare employment references, mortgage and rental verification letters, and business visa letters.
• Maintain accurate employee records within Workday and other HR systems.
• Support annual HR processes including pay reviews, benefits enrolment and annual leave reconciliation.
• Update HR documentation in line with legislative and policy changes.
• Build effective working relationships across the HR function and wider business.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and enhance service delivery.
• Support HR projects and initiatives focused on operational efficiency and employee experience.
• Handle confidential and sensitive information in accordance with data protection requirements and firm policies.
Key Requirements
Essential
• Previous experience delivering excellent customer service within a professional or commercial environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• A proactive and solution-focused approach to resolving queries.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and contribute towards shared objectives.
• A continuous improvement mindset and willingness to embrace new technologies and ways of working.
• Confidence working with HR systems and technology.
Desirable
• Previous experience in an HR Operations or Shared Services environment.
• Experience using Workday or similar HR systems.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, including Excel.
• Degree educated or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience supporting process improvement or automation initiatives.
Inclusion Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered on the basis of their merit alone. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK in the role in question and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing. Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only if and when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case-by-case basis and take a number of relevant factors into account (e.g. the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.