People Operations Senior Associate

Whitley Penn, a leading CPA and Consulting firm, is seek a Senior Associate to join our People Operations team. The People Operations Senior Associate is responsible for partnering with Firm leadership within designated line(s) of business (Tax, Audit, CAAS, Consulting, Operations).  The People Operations Senior Associate serves as a Firm representative and employee advocate for our people and our business in strategic decisions and day-to-day interactions. The ideal candidate possesses a keen ability to navigate difficult situations and add value as an extension of the People Team.  The People Operations Senior Associate is focused on the life cycle of the employee, creating positive connections with our employees and leaders as a trusted business partner.  The ideal candidate must be able to shift between hands on work and strategic thought leadership.

How We Work

Whitley Penn has become one of the region’s most distinguished and fastest growing public accounting firms by providing exceptional service that reaches far beyond traditional accounting. We believe in working in collaborative teams with an emphasis on open-door policy and encouraging entrepreneurial thinking. We learn, innovate, and succeed by sharing knowledge, embracing diversity, and working together. We are all part of the same family and each person matters. We are more than just a job.

How Will You Make an Impact?  

• Build and maintain relationships with employees and leaders across the Firm. Maintain a pulse on our people and relevant market dynamics.
• Collaborate and partner with People Team, Operations, and client serving departments to help support major processes/projects for their specific service lines, including processes such as onboarding/ offboarding, employee relations, performance management, employee compensation, and promotion processes for; propose solutions and influence expectations
• Evaluate current state processes for opportunities for improvement and application of best practices.
• Become a subject matter expert on our policies and protocols in order to guide employees and leaders through compliance and employee relations matters
• Serve as a go-to for employment law, remaining up to date on changes in federal, state, and local laws. Assist team with maintaining employee handbook and appropriate compliance postings.
• Consistently work with employees, leaders, and HR leadership to share feedback on the employee experience, including employee engagement, learning or talent gaps, department resource needs, and other opportunities.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition on creation of new roles to facilitate recruitment efforts.  
• Assisting coworkers with employee engagement and retention through existing programs and the creation of new programs focused on enhancing the employee experience.
• Advise and consult with leaders on proactive approaches to engagement and retention, equipping leaders to successfully own their team’s engagement and execute people-focused initiatives locally.  
• Consult with leaders and employees on concerns pertaining to values, performance, or other areas of significance and conduct investigations as necessary to advise on actions aligned with regulations and Firm culture.
• Own the execution of performance management processes and communication for assigned service lines, as well as follow-up items such as action or transition plans, and goal setting for the teams you support.  As needed, work with leaders and employees on the creation and management of action plans.
• Review and analyze data to identify trends and recommend innovative solutions to improve performance, retention, and employee experience.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

How Will You Get Here?  

• Bachelor’s degree with 4 years of HR generalist or HR Business Partner experience.
• Public Accounting or Professional Services experience preferred.
• HRCI or SHRM certification is preferred.
• Strong communication skills – verbal and written – with an innate ability to build rapport and trust quickly.  The ability to maintain confidentiality is critical.
• High sense of urgency and ability to execute. Strong project management skills. Attention to detail with discipline to follow-through on commitments.
• Collaborative, team-oriented mindset. Willingness to be flexible and adaptable.
• Well-versed in all relevant employment law; a strong ability to research and attain information for managing employee relations situations.
• Strong technology skills, including HRIS, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and other HR applications.
• Analytical and able to anticipate changes and needs in the employee life cycle and HR landscape.
• Keen ability to read and assess challenging situations and navigate them respectfully, calmly, and appropriately.
• Must be able to travel for Firmwide events and visit offices other than assigned office on a periodic basis.

Why Should You Apply?  

• Firm Paid Medical Insurance (Free Employee Only Coverage on 2 of 3 plans)
• Voluntary Dental and Vision Insurance
• 17 Annual Firm holidays, including extended breaks around July 4th and year-end
• 20 days PTO for Salaried Employees
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 401(k) with Profit Sharing
• Discretionary Bonus Program
• Health & Wellness Program
• Pet Insurance 

Whitley Penn is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to on age, race, creed, gender, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.  Whitley Penn is a participant in E-Verify please follow the link to review disclosure notifications: https://www.dropbox.com/s/olsr5xgsgxsntu3/E-Verify Notices.pdf?dl=0.  All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.