Average Reward Manager salary in Manchester

Are you an experienced Reward leader who thrives in a commercially focused, people-centric environment? This is a rare opportunity to join a high-performing professional services organisation in a pivotal role shaping the firm's reward strategy, governance, and operational delivery across the full reward life-cycle.As the business continues to evolve, they are seeking a reward lead who can bring insight, challenge, and strategic thinking - while remaining hands-on enough to deliver critical annual reward processes.The OpportunityYou'll play a central role in helping the organisation attract, retain, and reward top talent, owning and leading key reward cycles and frameworks. This is not a back-office role - you'll be highly visible across the firm, partnering closely with HR Business Partners and senior leaders to influence decision-making and elevate reward capability.You will lead on:Salary & bonus cycles end-to-end, including April salary review and annual bonus review.Preparing and presenting REMCO packs, including investment modelling and recommendationsCompensation benchmarking and market insightsPay transparency initiatives and governanceGender Pay Gap reporting and submissionsOversight of employee benefits, trainee reward frameworks, and Workday-based processesIdentifying pay risks, outliers, and trends across service linesUpskilling HRBP's to confidently discuss reward with leadersBuilding and maintaining a strong external reward networkEnsuring operational excellence across the wider reward life-cycle.You'll be supported by a small team, including one direct report, two senior reward managers, and a junior benefits team, with scope for this role to take broader ownership as the function evolves.About YouWe're looking for a Reward professional who brings:Strong experience in professional services (PE-backed exposure advantageous)Proven experience leading salary, bonus, and governance cyclesConfidence operating with senior stakeholders and presenting to REMCO.A proactive, connected, commercially minded approachA collaborative style - someone who enjoys being out in the business, not behind a spreadsheet.This role would suit someone stepping into a Head of Reward remit or an established Reward leader seeking a broader, more commercially impactful position.Location & Working PatternManchester or Liverpool (travel between multiple sites initially to build relationships)Hybrid: 2-3 days per week in the officeFull-time hours with flexibility availableBenefitsA highly competitive package including:Pension matched up to 8%27 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday offFlexible bank holidays (choose how you use the 8 days)Discretionary bonusPrivate medical & health coverDeath in serviceMedical screeningsEmployee Benefits Trust (EBT)Flexible working policiesWhat you need to do now.If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk

Our client, a leading independent, full-service tax advisory firm, is seeking an experienced tax professional to join their high-performing Equity Reward team. This strategic hire is due to continued growth and increasing demand across a broad client base, including OMB, listed groups, PE backed companies, and family-owned enterprises.The role is open to Assistant Manager, Manager, and Senior Manager (acting or ready to take the next step), where you'll play a pivotal role in helping clients attract, retain, and incentivise top talent through equity-based reward solutions, from executive-level incentives to company-wide plans.The important work you will be doing:Advise on the design and implementation of a wide range of equity incentives, including EMI, CSOP, growth shares, freezer shares, ratchet shares, joint interests, and nil-paid arrangements.Provide tax-technical input across the entire lifecycle of share plans, including implementation, secondary awards, restructuring, and transaction-related activity.Lead due diligence reviews from an employment-related securities (ERS) perspective.Work closely with clients to deliver high-quality, commercially driven advice.Project manage complex engagements, supervise team members, and provide mentoring and on-the-job training.Maintain high standards under time-sensitive or transaction-driven pressures, ensuring technical excellence and service delivery.The skills and experience you will bring:Ideally a minimum of six years' experience in equity reward/share plans and incentives.Deep knowledge of relevant tax implications, including employment taxes and capital gains tax.Strong grasp of related disciplines including tax valuation, accounting, company law, and employment law.Proven ability to manage client relationships and deliver work to a market-leading standard.Professional qualification such as ATT, CTA, ACA.Why Join Our Client?Our client is one of the UK's fastest-growing independent tax advisory firms, with a bold national growth strategy and a reputation for delivering high-quality work across all areas of tax. No timesheets.Work/life balance, and a hybrid working model (home and office).Inclusion in an All-Employee Share Reward Scheme-offering a share of firm profits above a set threshold.A competitive salary, benchmarked regularly against the rest of the market (Big-4 included).A generous and flexible benefits package.At our client, you'll work alongside some of the UK's top tax professionals in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment-without the bureaucracy of larger firms.

Reward Process LeadShape the future of reward. Make it smarter, simpler and more impactful.We are looking for a Reward Process Lead who is excited by improving how things work and making reward and benefits easier, faster and better for everyone involved. If you enjoy combining people insight, process excellence and smart technology, especially Workday, this role puts you right at the centre of change.You will play a key role in how reward operates globally, driving meaningful improvements while ensuring processes are efficient, compliant and user friendly.What you will be doingOwning and evolving reward and benefits processes, with Workday Advanced Compensation at the core.Designing smarter, more automated solutions that meet real business needs.Leading testing, releases and smooth rollouts of compensation changes.Acting as the go to expert for Reward process and system queries.Partnering closely with HR, Analytics, programme teams and external vendors.Identifying opportunities to improve reporting, insight and ways of working.Ensuring reward processes remain robust, compliant and fit for a global organisation.What makes you a great fitProven experience improving Reward and Benefits processes in a complex environment.Strong hands on knowledge of Workday Advanced Compensation.Confidence to take ideas from concept through to delivery.A collaborative approach with the ability to explain technical topics clearly.Curious, analytical and detail focused, with a drive to find better ways of working.What success looks likeReward enhancements delivered on time, on budget and to a high standard.Clear improvements in efficiency, accuracy and user experience.Positive feedback from Reward, HR and wider stakeholders.Strong compliance with internal policies and local regulatory requirements.Why this roleReal ownership and visibility across the reward agenda.The opportunity to shape how reward works across the organisation.A balance of innovation, governance and practical impact.A collaborative and forward thinking Reward team that values continuous improvement.