HR Associate (12 Month FTC)

At S&W, we help our clients thrive by simplifying the complex, illuminating new paths, and shaping solutions that make a difference. As one of the UK’s top 10 fastest-growing accountancy firms, we have been a trusted partner since 1881—helping businesses and individuals meet challenges and seize opportunities across generations.

Built on expertise and driven by ambition, we provide a comprehensive range of services, including tax and accountancy, advisory and assurance, corporate finance, and restructuring. We are defined by our purpose—to help navigate challenges, unlock potential, and achieve the extraordinary.

What will you be doing?

We’re seeking a talented individual to join our HR team in London on a 12 Month FTC, which is responsible for providing first‑line HR, payroll, and employee lifecycle support across the organisation, ensuring smooth operations and an excellent colleague experience.

As a HR Associate, your responsibilities will include:

• Delivering accurate, timely first‑line HR support to managers and colleagues, managing queries via the HR help centre across sickness, leave, onboarding, and general ER guidance.
• Handling all payroll‑related activity, including processing changes, submitting data to the payroll bureau, and supporting year‑end and tax requirements with strong attention to detail.
• Managing the full employee lifecycle, including issuing contracts/offers, conducting pre‑employment checks, processing starters and leavers on the HRIS, and overseeing the exit interview process and MI.
• Administering pensions and auto‑enrolment, liaising with providers and resolving colleague and financial queries on contributions.
• Overseeing comprehensive benefits administration, including PMI, risk benefits, childcare vouchers, Cycle to Work, season ticket loans, eye care vouchers and long‑service awards, ensuring timely joiner/leaver updates to providers.
• Support wider HR operations, including reward cycles (salary/bonus review), training coordination with L&D, general HRBP support, and contributing to process improvements and system enhancements.

Skills and Experience

To be successful in this role, you should have:

• HR administration experience with strong payroll knowledge and advanced Microsoft Office/Excel skills.
• Confident communication & strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively in a team-focused environment.
• Adaptability and able to work at pace while managing changing priorities and working independently when needed.
• Strong organisational skills with high attention to detail and solid administrative capability.
• Commercial awareness within an HR context; professional services or finance background desirable.
• CIPD study interest and project management experience desirable, with a willingness to learn and support team development.

As a colleague here at S&W you will have access to benefits that include:

• Competitive salary
• Private medical insurance
• Life assurance
• Pension contribution
• Hybrid working model (role dependent)
• Generous holiday package
• Option to purchase additional holiday
• Shared parental leave
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Eye care support

We are proud to value the differences that a diverse workforce brings, representative of society and our clients. At S&W we have a wide range of highly active employee resource groups and we’re delivering multiple diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the organisation. It is our commitment to provide a workplace where all colleagues, regardless of identity, background, or circumstance, feel respected as individuals and feel that they can achieve their full potential and work in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment.

We are happy to make any reasonable adjustments to accommodate for your needs throughout the application process. Please let your Recruiter know.