Senior People Business Partner - Belgrade

Candescent is a forward-thinking technology company transforming how financial institutions deliver Intelligent Banking experiences. We unite digital banking, account opening, and branch solutions that power and connect digital banking, account opening, and branch solutions—creating seamless engagement across digital, remote, and in-person channels.

Our Experience-Led, Intelligence-Driven approach combines human-centered design with data, automation, and cloud-based innovation. Built on an API-first architecture, our extensible ecosystem enables institutions to adapt quickly, integrate easily, and unlock new opportunities for growth—turning every customer interaction into a moment of clarity, confidence, and connection.

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced Senior People Business Partner to serve as the sole onsite People resource in Serbia, supporting approximately 80 employees located in Belgrade, while also providing People partnership to approximately 50 employees across the UK, primarily based in Scotland.

This is a senior individual contributor role with Manager-level scope, responsible for independently owning the delivery of People partnership, People operations, and office management for Serbia, while acting as a trusted People advisor for UK employees. The role requires strong judgment, autonomy, and the ability to operate effectively without day-to-day supervision, while remaining aligned with global People strategy, policies, and leadership.

Core Scope & Impact

• Full ownership of People partnership and execution for defined geographies (Serbia and UK population).

• Operates independently with minimal supervision; escalates only complex, high-risk, or precedent-setting matters.

• Influences managers and leaders through expertise, data, and trusted relationships rather than formal authority.

• Leads local execution of global People programs and adapts them appropriately for regional context.

Key Responsibilities

People Business Partnering & Employee Relations

• Serve as the primary Senior People Business Partner for approximately 80 employees in Serbia (Belgrade) and 50 employees in the UK, providing expert guidance on employee relations, performance management, engagement, and workplace issues.

• Act as a trusted advisor to managers, coaching on performance conversations, development planning, employee feedback, and sensitive employee matters.

• Apply sound judgment to assess risk, recommend solutions, and resolve issues independently, escalating only where required.

• Support organizational change, workforce planning, and manager effectiveness initiatives at the local level.

UK Employee Support

• Own the end-to-end People experience for approximately 50 UK-based employees, primarily in Scotland, in close partnership with global People leadership.

• Ensure People practices align with UK employment law, internal policies, and company standards.

• Manage employee relations matters, absence management, flexible working requests, and ongoing employee support for the UK population.

People Operations & Administration

• Independently manage People operations for Serbia and UK employees, including onboarding, offboarding, employment contracts, documentation, and employee lifecycle changes.

• Ensure accuracy and integrity of employee data across People systems, maintaining compliance with GDPR and internal data privacy standards.

• Partner cross-functionally with Payroll, Finance, Legal, and external vendors to support payroll inputs, benefits administration, and employment changes.

• Provide People reporting, documentation, and audit support as needed.

Office Management & Onsite Leadership (Belgrade)

• Serve as the primary onsite People and office leader for the Belgrade location.

• Own office administration, facilities coordination, vendor management, and general operational needs for the site.

• Support employee experience initiatives, onsite engagement activities, and local events.

• Act as a key onsite partner for leadership visits, onboarding of new hires, and day-to-day employee questions related to the workplace.

Compliance & Policy Application

• Ensure ongoing compliance with Serbian and UK labor laws, employment standards, and internal People policies.

• Localize, communicate, and consistently apply People policies and procedures.

• Partner closely with Legal and People leadership on complex, sensitive, or high-risk cases.

Continuous Improvement & Projects

• Identify and implement practical improvements to People processes, employee experience, and operational efficiency.

• Lead or contribute to People initiatives and projects with regional or global impact, acting as a local subject-matter expert.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

• 6–10+ years of progressive People experience, including time in a People Business Partner or senior People Generalist role.

• Proven experience operating as a senior individual contributor with independent ownership of a population or geography.

• Strong working knowledge of Serbian labor law; experience supporting UK employees or UK employment practices strongly preferred

• Demonstrated depth in employee relations, People operations, and manager coaching.

• Experience balancing strategic advisory work with hands-on execution.

• Experience in a technology, SaaS, or multinational environment is a plus.

Skills & Attributes

• Exercises independent judgment in complex or ambiguous situations.

• Highly credible, trusted advisor to employees and managers.

• Strong organizational and prioritization skills; able to manage breadth without losing depth.

• Clear, professional communicator across cultures and geographies.

• Pragmatic, solution-oriented mindset suited to growth-stage environments.

• Strong commitment to confidentiality, discretion, and ethical People practices.

Statement to Third Party Agencies
To ALL recruitment agencies: Candescent only accepts resumes from agencies on the preferred supplier list. Please do not forward resumes to our applicant tracking system, Candescent employees, or any Candescent facility. Candescent is not responsible for any fees or charges associated with unsolicited resumes.