People Manager

People Manager

London | £80,000-£90,000 + Bonus + Benefits

Are you an experienced standalone HR professional who thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments? Do you enjoy being the trusted advisor, problem solver and operational backbone of a growing business? If so, we'd like to hear from you.

Our client, a highly regarded financial services organisation with headquarters in the Middle East, is seeking an experienced HR leader to take ownership of the UK people agenda. Based in London, this is a rare opportunity to lead all aspects of HR for a growing UK business while partnering closely with senior stakeholders locally and at Head Office.

The Opportunity

Reporting to senior HR leadership and working closely with the UK Country Head, you will act as the sole HR presence in the UK, supporting approximately 25 employees with planned growth over the coming year.

This is a broad generalist role requiring someone who is equally comfortable operating strategically and rolling up their sleeves to manage day-to-day HR operations.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Acting as the trusted HR partner to business leaders and employees
• Managing recruitment activity and helping secure top talent in a competitive market
• Advising on employee relations matters, performance management and organisational change
• Managing onboarding, exits, contractor populations and workforce planning
• Ensuring compliance with UK employment legislation and regulatory requirements
• Overseeing payroll, benefits administration and HR operations
• Driving employee engagement, wellbeing and culture initiatives
• Building strong relationships with regional and global stakeholders across the organisation
• Acting as the go-to HR expert for all UK people matters

About You

We're looking for an experienced HR professional who has previously worked in a standalone or highly autonomous HR capacity.

You will likely bring:

✅ Proven experience managing the full employee lifecycle independently

✅ Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice

✅ Exceptional attention to detail with a high-quality, thorough approach

✅ A proactive, solutions-focused mindset and excellent problem-solving skills

✅ Strong stakeholder management and influencing capability

✅ Confidence operating within matrixed and international organisations

✅ A commercial approach balanced with genuine empathy and credibility

✅ Experience working with head office teams in another geography

This role would suit an HR Manager, HR Business Partner or People Lead who enjoys ownership, values attention to detail and wants to make a tangible impact within a growing international business.