Group Senior Reward Manager

Who Are Azets Azets is an international business advisory group, with 9,000 local experts in 190 locations across eight countries, backed by progressive technology. We are united by one clear purpose: to improve the lives of our clients, colleagues and communities in a sustainable way.

100,000+ clients on unique journeys trust us to meet their immediate and evolving needs, remove barriers, and deliver sustained outcomes so they can move forward with confidence.

ADVISER OF CHOICE

Our clients come in all shapes and sizes, but all 100,000+ of them trust us with everything from their immediate challenges to long-term strategic goals. Clear sustained outcomes are the driver for clients moving forward with confidence.

EMPLOYER OF CHOICE

Our people thrive in a supportive, inclusive culture with a modern life-work balance and professional development. Collaboration, community and every contribution allows them to move forward with confidence.

ACQUIRER OF CHOICE

Trusted locally and backed by international strength, we integrate seamlessly with new

partners, delivering sustained growth with specialist, bespoke support that helps them to move forward with confidence.

Job Purpose The Group Senior Reward Manager is the Group's subject matter expert on reward.

Reporting to the Group Head of People Operations, who is accountable for reward strategy and governance, the role leads the design and delivery of reward across the Group: the annual pay review and bonus cycle, market benchmarking, Partner and incentive design, executive reward analysis and reward analytics. Working with Finance, People Directors and business leaders, the role ensures reward decisions are data-led and balance business performance, affordability, market competitiveness and internal equity. It also remains responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Group's benefits platform, pensions and insured benefits: an essential service to colleagues, which the role will streamline through automation and technology.

DIMENSIONS OF ROLE

• Group subject matter expert on compensation, benefits and reward, reporting to the Group Head of People Operations.
• Leads the Group annual pay review and bonus allocation across all business units.
• Leads the review, design and convergence of c.34 Partner and incentive schemes.
• Leads Group benchmarking using WTW and other market data.
• Provides reward modelling for the Executive Committee, Remuneration Committee and Board.
• Responsible for benefits platform, pension and insured benefits administration, and for pay gap and EU Pay Transparency reporting.

GOVERNANCE AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS Governance

• Pay, bonus, incentive and benefit recommendations are approved by the Group Head of People Operations, with the Chief People Officer and Group CFO as appropriate.
• Executive and Partner reward is taken to the Executive and Remuneration Committees by the Group Head of People Operations and Chief People Officer.

Key stakeholders

• Group Head of People Operations (line manager) and Chief People Officer
• People Directors, People Business Partners and the Group People Advisory & Policy Lead
• Group CFO, Group FP&A and business unit finance leads
• Group HRIS systems teams, People Analytics and the Group Shared Services Centre
• Payroll and Pensions, Legal, Group M&A and Group DE&I
• External benefit and pension providers, insurers, brokers and WTW

Key Responsibilities REWARD STRATEGY AND GOVERNANCE

• Contribute expert analysis and recommendations to the Group Reward Strategy, owned by the Group Head of People Operations.
• Operate the Group reward governance framework, covering decision rights, approvals, controls and reporting.
• Develop costed proposals for reward initiatives and lead the implementation of reward policy changes across the Group.
• Maintain the annual reward calendar of pay, bonus, renewal and statutory reporting deadlines.

ANNUAL PAY REVIEW AND BONUS

• Lead the end-to-end planning and delivery of the Group annual salary review and bonus allocation, with final approval by the Group Head of People Operations.
• Provide modelling, cost analysis, challenge and calibration so that outcomes are affordable, competitive, consistent and fair.
• Oversee accurate processing of approved outcomes with the Group HRIS systems teams and Payroll.

PARTNER AND INCENTIVE SCHEMES

• Lead the review, design and governance of Partner and incentive schemes, presenting recommendations for approval.
• Establish and maintain a central inventory of all bonus, commission and incentive arrangements.
• Support the design and implementation of a new AUK Partner bonus scheme, drawing on best practice across the Group.
• Recommend simplification and convergence towards fewer, consistent schemes and, longer term, a common Partner incentive framework.

BENCHMARKING, JOB ARCHITECTURE AND EXECUTIVE REWARD

• Lead the Group benchmarking approach using WTW and other market data, including survey submissions.
• Provide market-based recommendations on salary ranges, offers, promotions and key appointments.
• Maintain the reward elements of the Azets Job Architecture and Reward Framework, including market pricing of levels and pay ranges.
• Produce reward modelling and market analysis for Executive Committee, Remuneration Committee and Board discussions.

REWARD ANALYTICS, AI AND AUTOMATION

• Use analytics and AI-enabled insight to track reward competitiveness, retention risk, workforce cost and pay outcomes.
• Lead gender and ethnicity pay gap reporting, and support local People teams with EU Pay Transparency reporting.
• Work with the Group HRIS systems teams and People Analytics to automate administration and improve reward data and reporting.

Benefits Platform, Pensions And Administration This is an essential, ongoing accountability of the role.

• Own the day-to-day administration of the Group benefits platform, including enrolment, eligibility, renewals, data feeds and reporting.
• Act as the main liaison with benefit, pension and market data providers, resolving queries and securing service quality and value for money.
• Manage insured benefit and pension renewals, including DIS, PMI and Income Protection, working with insurers and brokers.
• Maintain the Group benefits blueprint, manage supplier invoicing and purchase orders, and lead benefits and financial wellbeing communications, including YuLife.

COMPLIANCE, M&A AND CAPABILITY

• Ensure reward practices comply with employment law, GDPR and internal policies, and maintain audit-ready controls.
• Integrate reward and benefits for new acquisitions, mapping roles and pay to the Job Architecture and aligning incentive arrangements.
• Build reward capability across the People function.
• Keep abreast of market trends and good practice, bringing relevant ideas into Azets.

KPIs

• Pay review and bonus cycle delivered on time, within budget and with calibrated outcomes.
• Measurable progress in reducing and harmonising incentive schemes.
• Accurate, timely reward, pay gap and EU Pay Transparency reporting.
• Benefits, pension and insured benefit administration delivered accurately, with no missed renewals.
• Reduced manual administration through automation.
• Positive stakeholder feedback and audit-ready controls.

Person Specification Qualifications/Technical Knowledge

• Degree in HR, Business, Finance or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• CIPD qualified (desirable).
• Strong understanding of benchmarking, market pricing, job architecture and pay transparency requirements.
• Working knowledge of employment legislation across Azets' markets and GDPR as they apply to reward.
• Advanced Excel and confident use of HRIS, benefits platforms and reporting tools.

Experience

• Significant compensation and benefits experience in a complex, multi-country organisation, ideally professional services or a partnership.
• Leading an annual pay review and bonus allocation end to end.
• Designing or governing incentive schemes; Partner reward experience is a strong advantage.
• Applying WTW or equivalent market data.
• Supporting executive reward and Remuneration Committee governance.
• Hands-on benefits platform, pension and insured benefit administration.
• Using automation and technology to improve reward processes.

Skills

• Strong commercial, analytical and reward modelling capability, with high attention to detail.
• Translates complex data into clear recommendations for senior audiences.
• Influences and challenges senior stakeholders with confidence.
• Manages competing priorities and cross-functional projects effectively.

BEHAVIOURS

• Trusted expert: credible, pragmatic and solutions-oriented. Commercially minded: balances affordability, market position and fairness.
• Growth mindset: drives continuous improvement and embraces new technology.
• Collaborative: works across functions to deliver shared goals.

LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOURS Our Leaders Are Accountable For Shaping Our Culture, Driving Performance, And Ensuring Sustainable Growth. Our Leadership Behaviours Are The Foundation Of This, And As a Leader, You Are Expected To Uphold Them

• Communicate with clarity – Share knowledge and listen actively.
• Lead by example – Set high standards and act ethically.
• Do what’s best for the business – Be commercially aware and performance-driven.
• Be creative – Encourage innovation and forward-thinking.
• Keep your promises – Deliver on commitments to colleagues and clients.