Reward Analyst

Department: Human Resources

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Manchester, UK

Description

The Reward Team forms part of the Central HR function. This role is part of the team responsible for the delivery of a competitive, commercially aligned reward offering across the UK & Centre, as well as supporting all international platforms. This involves managing key reward processes, working with third parties, and supporting strategic initiatives, including M&A and change projects.

About the role

• Own and deliver core reward cycles, including quarterly bonus accruals, annual benefits enrolment, and regular reward reporting activities.
• Produce, validate, reconcile, and maintain reward data, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and audit readiness.
• Develop and maintain reward models, calculations, and analytical tools to support bonus schemes, accruals, and reward decision-making.
• Provide insightful reward analytics and reporting to HR, Finance, and business leaders to support strategic and operational decisions.
• Maintain robust governance, controls, and documentation across all reward processes, ensuring compliance and data integrity.
• Leverage HR systems, including Anaplan, to support reward modelling, reporting, and process optimisation.
• Utilise market benchmarking and external reward data to inform compensation, benefits, and reward recommendations.
• Lead the annual benefits enrolment process and drive continuous improvements to the employee benefits experience.
• Manage and optimise benefits and pension programmes, delivering data-driven recommendations to enhance value and effectiveness.
• Oversee relationships with third-party reward, benefits, and pension providers, ensuring high-quality and cost-effective service delivery.
• Own the production, reporting, and integrity of bonus accruals, Long-Term Incentive (LTI) programmes, and Total Reward Statements.
• Act as a trusted reward subject matter expert, supporting policy development, organisational change, M&A activity, and reward integration initiatives.

About you

• Strong experience in a reward or compensation role with a clear analytical focus
• Proven track record of managing cyclical reward processes (e.g. bonus cycles, salary/benefits reviews, reporting)
• Advanced Excel skills, with experience building and maintaining complex models, reconciliations, and large datasets. Anaplan experience desirable.
• Strong knowledge of job evaluation and grading frameworks (WTW, AON McLagan)
• Exceptional attention to detail, with the ability to work with sensitive data accurately and consistently
• Strong understanding of data governance, controls, and audit requirements within reward processes
• Experience with incentive schemes, including bonus accruals and/or long-term incentives
• Good knowledge of reward regulation and market practice
• Ability to translate data into clear, commercially relevant insight
• Confident stakeholder engagement, including with senior leadership