Early Careers L&D Advisor - 12 month FTC

The role

The Early Careers (EC) L&D Advisor is responsible for the provision of proactive and seamless learning and development experience for all new trainees and line managers (including Partners) within the firm. The role reports to the EC L&D Team Lead.

This role closely collaborates with the EC Talent Acquisition (TA) team to understand hiring numbers and profiles so they can plan accordingly.

The responsibilities

Ahead of our September and January trainee cohorts joining the firm, the L&D Advisor:

• Understands expected intake numbers in each office.
• Liaises with the relevant managers and partners in each office to agree study plans.
• Offers support and guidance with apprenticeship onboarding.
• Works with the TA team ahead of any part qualified trainee joining the firm, understanding exam history to date and advising on appropriate pathways.
• Once the planning with the TA team is done, this role works on creating a meaningful trainee experience, setting them up for as much success as possible as they study and train towards their qualifications.
• Delivers sessions around study with the firm at the trainee induction.
• Develops and ensures Saffery's study policies are up to date with sign off from EC L&D Team Lead.
• Reviews and develops existing and new processes and makes recommendations to the EC L&D Team Lead.
• Engages with the EC L&D Team Lead in relation to the apprenticeship levy to maximise usage.
• Collaborates with the EC L&D Team Lead during the budget process.
• Works closely with the EC L&D Team Lead to develop the Trainee Development Programme (TDP) - liaising with external and internal speakers etc.
• Works closely with the ED&I team and EC TA team to collect and analyse data to ensure the firm is fair and in line with current legislation and working towards the firm's ED&I goals.

Coordinates all deliverables for student results day process:

• Supports the Talent Management team in relation to resits etc. and advises on technical questions in relation to exam passes.
• Supports with decisions regarding amending any study plans due to resits etc.
• Manages and creatively develops the L&D student sections of the intranet.
• Manages the process of a trainee achieving their qualifications and handling any enquiries from our student population directly.
• Relationship management.

This role will work closely with external providers and will need to establish and maintain an effective working relationship, as well as with the Head of EDI to look at initiatives to encourage a fair and equitable experience for the whole trainee cohort.

This role has a good working relationship with the whole EC team, the broader People Experience team, and fee-earning line managers and partners delivering excellent client service. They will also engage with external suppliers and the internal L&D team.

It is expected that the EC team will work in an agile manner. This means that during peak periods of attraction and selection or learning and development (e.g. onboarding), the whole team supports, where feasible. It ensures opportunities for broadening exposure and learning for each member of the EC team, but also a more seamless and holistic experience for the applicants, trainees, and line managers.

The team

The role sits within the L&D Team which forms part of the wider People Experience Department. The department is made up of professionals across People Operations, Talent Acquisition, Reward and Benefits, Early Careers, and Learning and Development. It offers a friendly and supportive working environment. It is a very busy department where confidentiality, personality, and a proactive approach are essential.

You

• Strong knowledge of professional qualifications and apprenticeships gained from working within the Early Careers space.
• Experienced practitioner with relevant qualifications, likely to have a relevant degree or equivalent, and may be a part qualified or qualified professional within a discipline or have extensive equivalent experience.
• Experience of supervising colleagues, providing technical guidance, and ensuring compliance with policy and procedure.
• Experience within the area to handle most situations without supervision and provide advice and guidance to others.
• Experience of interpreting policy and developing procedures/systems.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex information/data and understand the impact on their discipline and wider firm.
• Able to establish and maintain strong and credible working relationships, influence others, and may be required to motivate a team.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including communicating with technical and non-technical clients and staff at all organisational levels.
• High levels of commitment and ability to act when necessary.
• Team-focused mentality, understanding that the function must work collaboratively to drive success.
• Strong presentation skills and ability to be persuasive.
• Able to use judgement/experience to tackle issues and seek advice on more complex problems.
• Strong analytical skills, based on systems and models relevant to the field of work.
• Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Provides direction, delegating, and removing obstacles to get work done effectively and efficiently.

About us

Saffery LLP is an adviser to individuals and businesses across a range of sectors, providing market-leading accountancy, audit, business advisory, tax, and VAT services. Founded in 1855, we are the UK's 15th largest accountancy firm.

When you work with us at Saffery, you work with people who know your name, not just a job title. We're a place shaped by friendly, intelligent people who are individually excellent and collectively exceptional. We're committed to our clients, but also to our greatest asset - our people.

As a proud member of Nexia, a leading international network of independent accounting and consulting firms, we've got access to local insight on a global scale.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Equality, diversity, and inclusion is a top priority for us. With our ED&I strategy, Everyone Belongs, we are building on our positive work culture and implementing initiatives to improve diversity and strengthen our equitable culture of inclusion, led from the top.

We hope you will apply to us, whatever your background, ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality, disability, or neurodivergence, because individual differences equal collective strength. Built on values of excellence, integrity, enthusiasm, and collegiality, Saffery is where Potential meets Personal.