Role purpose
Mercer & Hole is a Top 50 accountancy practice with a strong commitment to professional development and excellence in all our services. We provide comprehensive accounting, tax, and advisory services to a diverse clientele. As we continue to grow, we are seeking a dynamic and experienced Learning & Development professional, to join our team and play a pivotal role in nurturing the talents of our employees and helping to lead the development of our ‘Mercer & Hole Training Academy’.
Location
This is a firm wide role, however you will be based at one of our offices, preferably St. Albans. Travel expenses will be paid to the other offices when you attend them. As this is a new position, we need you to establish the role across the firm taking into account training from Graduates/Apprentices and professional staff to the strategic level supporting the business strategy.
Job Specification
As the lead Learning and Development professional in the firm, you will be responsible for driving the learning and development framework across the firm working closely with HR, departmental partner leads and the training managers in the different service lines.
Skills
You will have superb project management skills working and influence the training managers in the different departments to have a firmwide overarching Training Academy in line with our People Passport aspirations:
In time you will be have oversight of the design implementation, and management of our training programmes that enhance the skills and knowledge of our trainees and qualified employees.
You will also be key in implementing a framework for training resources including videos and presentations for the firm’s SharePoint platform.
Your goal is to ensure that our employees are equipped with the necessary skills and expertise to deliver excellent and consistent services to our clients. You will collaborate closely with department managers, HR, and external training providers to develop and deliver initiatives that align with our business goals and industry best practices. (Note: in addition to these functions employees are required to carry out such other duties as may reasonably be required).
The responsibility of training administration, as suggested by you or the training managers, will keep within the HR team as this role is expected to be operating and contributing at a strategic level. You will therefore work very closely with them.
Main duties
Training Programme Development
- Collaborate with partners, departmental managers, and HR to identify training needs and priorities.
- Design, develop, and update training programmes, materials, and resources where appropriate working with HR.
- Create and maintain a training calendar, ensuring timely delivery of training activities.
- Post qualification training – work with the Training Partner/Director to organise/source the technical training on behalf of departments and utilising the HR team to help with invites, tracking, CPD logging and invoicing.
Strategic input into the future of training
- Work across each service line to process map IT systems to enable the IT strategy to be realised.
- With all new implementations ensure that relevant technology training is rolled out.
- Establish key individuals within each service line to help create content of the People Passport, but you will be the overarching content architect of the People Passport.
Trainees and School Leavers
- All qualification training, is logged and managed by the Early Talent Team in HR who work closely with the Training Managers.
- Together you will ensure that our trainees and school leavers map into the People Passport and that they really feel the Training Academy within the firm they have joined.
Team Development
- Identify high-potential individuals across the firm and gain agreement with HR Director and The Management Committee to create personalised development plans for them to retain and develop them in the best way possible.
- Foster a culture of continuous learning and professional growth within the firm.
Training Evaluation and Improvement
- Gather feedback from participants on training to continuously improve content and delivery methods.
- Monitor and report on the effectiveness of training initiatives and communicate to HR Director.
Documentation and Reporting
Ensure that HR have accurate records of training activities, attendance, and outcomes.
Qualifications & Experience
- A level and Degree qualified.
- Professional qualification such as ACA or CTA an advantage to better understand service lines in the firm.
- Proven experience in a similar role within an accountancy practice or financial services firm.
- Demonstrable evidence of achieving results by working through others. This is a strategic role to have oversight of the training we offer, supporting those ‘on the ground’.
- Excellent influencing, presentation and communication skills.
- Strong organisational and project management skills.
- Ability to adapt to changing priorities and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Software used
MS Suite software, Outlook, PeopleHR, Teams, Zoom, Alphatax, CCH.
Values and behaviours
Our Values and behaviours are based on
We really want to attract and retain individuals who share our Values:
Together
The firm with the family feel. Express gratitude. Smile. Be humble and confident. Have fun.
Resilient
Change is imminent, and business is imperfect. Be open minded & agile. Assume positive intent and exercise the power of positive thinking.
Understanding
Each individual matters and will be heard and respected. Honesty, integrity, empathy and kindness are fundamental.
Supportive
We support what is important to you and show kindness in our behaviour to each other. We encourage each other to realise our potential.
Thrive!
We strive to be the best, innovate and always do exceptional work. That’s who we are and what our clients deserve.
