What you need to succeed… You will be an experienced, commercially aware, CIPD-qualified HR professional, with at least five years’ generalist HR experience and a proven track record in a financial services or blue-chip environment. You will be influential, able to build strong professional relationships, and will demonstrate personal credibility. Excellent communication and consultative skills are essential.
How to get into it… It is possible for a successful HR manager to move into a business partner role, but most financial services organisations will seek prior experience in a similar role, within a similar-sized organisation. You will need to prove your ability to work more strategically, rather than operationally.
What is involved… The HR business partner role is a key internal consulting position, focusing on strategic people issues. You will be responsible for turning business and HR strategy into specific HR policies and projects, and ensuring their effective delivery. Influencing and leading change will be a key part of the role.
Individual roles will vary between organisations. But you are likely to be involved in the development and delivery of organisational strategy, planning and overseeing the implementation of HR policies and projects, providing coaching and advice to relevant managers, supporting best practice people management and recruitment, and succession planning.
Prospects are… Good. Strong candidates with proven experience and a good track record will usually find their services in demand. In some cases, employers will be prepared to recruit such candidates even if they are not actively recruiting for such a position at that time. From such a commercially-focused base, you could develop opportunities to move into more senior management.
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