Reward And Governance Manager

Reward and Governance Manager

Reports to: Head of People Operations

Location: West London – currently operating an agile working policy with two core days (Mon and Weds) in the office

Contract: FTC (12 months-maternity cover)

Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm)

Closing date: 10/04/2024 at 10am

Interviews: w/c 15/04/2024

Salary: £55,000 to £65,000 (depending on experience)

About the role:

The Reward and Governance Manager plays a pivotal role in ensuring that all aspects of compliance and regulatory requirements pertaining to People processes, Tax, Pensions, workforce are thoroughly met.

As the Reward and Governance Manager, you will be responsible for monitoring and implementing necessary adjustments to policies and procedures to ensure alignment with regulatory standards and best practices. Additionally, you will play a key role in assessing and mitigating risks associated with Reward and Governance matters.

This is an exciting opportunity to not only ensure regulatory compliance but also to contribute significantly to the strategic objectives of Ark Central. As a maternity cover fixed-term contract, you will have the chance to make a meaningful impact during your time, with an anticipated start date of May 2024 and an expected end date of June 2025.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Provide expert advice and guidance on UK Tax and Pension (knowledge of TPS and LGPS schemes is desirable)
• Periodically reassess the operational risks in the business, legal and regulatory requirements, operating procedures, and practices
• Overseeing the monitoring and identification of regulatory developments, including enforcement actions, and new laws, regulations, rules, and interpretations
• Monitor Payroll Service Levels with payroll vendor across all Ark entities, tracking payroll issues and solutions
• Lead and Manage on People regulatory obligations, e.g., IR35, GDPR, DBS, Immigration and Sponsorship
• Embed risk management; performing risk assessments and audits (specifically around compliance with key people processes), designing controls, evaluating controls, measuring the state of compliance, and prioritising risk
• Support on data, payroll and pension projects, e.g. Auto enrolment, Single Central Record data migration for Central Office and payroll audit work

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience of HR processes, controls, and systems
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills including large data sets - experience with using data sheets, formula, reporting and error handling
• Strong track record of working in a fast-paced dynamic HR function
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively convey complex information to various internal stakeholders
• Extensive understanding and application of payroll and pension management
• High attention to detail to improve and develop HR processes and procedures
• Ability to plan, prioritise workload ensuring service and deadlines
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive information 

About Ark

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 30,000 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

You’ll be joining a group of like-minded, ambitious individuals who work collaboratively and are all committed to our core mission, that every child has the potential to succeed. Having just celebrated our 20^th anniversary, we are shaping our goals for the next 20 and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Hybrid working, with currently two days a week in our state-of-the-art office in West London working alongside colleagues
• Regular social events, monthly free breakfast, and daily fruit
• A flexible approach to working with understanding and consideration for work life balance and personal commitments
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests 

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and cover letter on our online recruitment portal. Applications to be submitted by Wednesday 10^th April 2024 at 10am but please note: we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.

This ATS application form should take no longer 20 minutes to complete. At any time, you can pause, save, and log back in. If you have any difficulty with meeting the deadline for application, please contact recruitment@arkonline.org

 Interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.  

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link. 

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.