Context and scopeGlobal Benefits Operations delivers benefits administration through consistent processes, reliable data, effective controls and responsive employee support. The Assistant Manager leads the assigned team across markets and time zones, translating approved benefit policies into accurate, timely and controlled operational delivery.
The scope includes annual benefit enrolment, joiner, mover and leaver administration, vendor data exchanges, purchase orders, invoice reconciliation, reporting and query management. Benefits may include health insurance, pensions, product allowances, car benefits and other locally approved arrangements, where assigned to the team.
Purpose of the roleOwn the day-to-day performance of the assigned benefits operations service, protecting employee benefit continuity and financial accuracy. Build a capable team, resolve operational escalations and improve processes through standardisation, simplification and automation in line with the global payroll and benefits strategy.
Financial responsibilities- Manage benefits purchase order creation, invoice validation and reconciliation within procurement requirements and delegated authority; coordinate timely payment with Finance and Accounts Payable.
- Reconcile vendor charges to approved rates, eligibility and enrolment data. Investigate discrepancies, recover or correct errors and escalate unresolved liabilities before service continuity is affected.
- Monitor assigned operational costs and spend against approved plans; provide variance insights and identify measurable efficiency opportunities.
Market complexity- Lead service delivery across the assigned markets, accommodating local benefit rules, enrolment calendars, currencies, languages, vendor arrangements and time zones.
- Coordinate accurate and timely joiner, mover and leaver data and benefit changes across Workday, benefit platforms, vendors and Payroll. Validate payroll-impacting deductions, allowances and taxable benefit inputs within agreed cut-offs.
- Partner with Reward, market HR, Payroll, Finance, Procurement, Tax and Digital teams to resolve dependencies and clarify ownership at process hand-offs.
- Implement approved policy and regulatory changes with guidance from Reward, HR, Tax and Legal; maintain market-specific procedures and operational evidence.
- Manage sensitive employee data through approved access, transfer and retention controls. Maintain service continuity during peak enrolment, organisational changes and vendor or system transitions.
Leadership responsibilities and capabilities- Lead Benefits Junior Managers and Case Specialists with clear accountabilities, work allocation, performance expectations and escalation routes.
- Plan capacity for routine activity and peak cycles; establish trained backups, maintain knowledge coverage and address capability gaps through coaching and development.
- Review service performance, aged cases, control exceptions and recurring failures. Hold team members and partners accountable for corrective actions and sustained results.
- Make timely operational decisions within delegated authority. Escalate material employee, financial, compliance and service risks with clear impact, options and recommended action.
- Build constructive relationships across functions and vendors; challenge missed commitments and resolve issues through evidence and clear ownership.
- Create an inclusive team environment where colleagues raise concerns early, learn from errors and take responsibility for employee outcomes.
- Deliver improvements with the Process Excellence and Transformation teams, ensuring implementation readiness, control integrity and measurable benefits.
Decision rights and governanceThe role owns operational work allocation, quality assurance, service escalations and improvement delivery within the agreed scope. Approvals for expenditure, benefit changes and vendor commitments must follow delegated authority. Reward and market HR retain benefit policy and plan design decisions; Tax and Legal provide specialist interpretation. Vendor governance, including pensions, follows the agreed ownership model for each market.
Top five accountabilities1. Benefits service delivery and employee experience
- Own accurate and timely delivery of assigned benefits administration, reporting, vendor data exchanges and annual enrolment activities against agreed service levels and calendars.
- Manage complex cases and escalations, prioritising employee impact and benefit continuity. Ensure timely updates, clear resolution ownership and follow-through.
- Maintain readiness plans for peak cycles, absence cover and service disruption; resolve upstream dependencies before deadlines are missed.
2. Financial control compliance and assurance- Ensure assigned CARM controls, reconciliations and quality checks are performed, evidenced and independently reviewed in line with control design.
- Oversee purchase orders, vendor invoices and reconciliation exceptions, maintaining clear audit trails and appropriate segregation of duties.
- Coordinate audit requests and close findings; investigate control failures, implement root-cause actions and escalate material risks promptly.
3. Vendor and stakeholder management- Manage operational performance of assigned benefits vendors through service reviews, action tracking and escalation of missed commitments.
- Work with Finance, Procurement and vendor owners to resolve billing and payment issues; support renewal and service improvement discussions with performance evidence.
- Agree responsibilities and cut-offs with Reward, HR and Payroll, ensuring unresolved issues have a named owner and escalation route.
4. Digital enablement and process excellence- Maintain accurate process maps, work instructions, benefits matrices, guides, factsheets and FAQs; ensure changes are approved, communicated and supported by training.
- Use Workday, benefits platforms and case management tools to improve data quality, reporting and workflow visibility.
- Deliver prioritised standardisation and automation initiatives with relevant partners, validating employee outcomes, controls and realised efficiency.
5. Team leadership and capability building- Set individual objectives, review performance and coach the team in benefits administration, financial controls, problem-solving and stakeholder communication.
- Maintain skills assessments, training plans and backup coverage for critical processes; address underperformance with clear expectations and support.
- Embed ownership, respectful challenge and continuous learning; ensure delivery quality is sustained during staffing and scope changes.
Measures of successPerformance will be assessed against agreed annual targets for service accuracy, timeliness and case SLAs; enrolment and benefit continuity; invoice and reconciliation completion; control execution and audit closure; vendor performance; backup coverage; and verified improvement benefits.
Core skills required- Benefits operations expertise - understand eligibility, enrolment, lifecycle changes and links to payroll, finance and employee experience.
- People leadership - plan work, coach colleagues, manage performance and build capability and backup coverage.
- Stakeholder management and communication - explain issues clearly, manage expectations and influence resolution across markets and functions.
- Analytical problem-solving and business acumen - investigate data and cost discrepancies, assess employee and financial impact and act on root causes.
- Governance and ethical judgement - apply controls, protect confidentiality and make proportionate decisions within delegated authority.
- Change agility and resilience - maintain operational discipline through competing priorities, peak cycles and process changes.
Digital and technical skills required- Practical experience with Workday or comparable HRIS, benefits administration platforms and case management systems.
- Advanced Excel capability, including formulas, pivot tables and reconciliation of data from multiple sources.
- Working knowledge of purchase order and invoice workflows, vendor reconciliation, access controls and secure employee data handling.
- Ability to produce service dashboards, maintain process documentation and validate interfaces and payroll-impacting benefit data.
Advanced skills preferred- Exposure to European and multi-country benefits administration, including insurance and pensions operations.
- Experience with workflow automation, Power BI or equivalent reporting tools and structured process improvement methods.
- Experience supporting annual enrolment, vendor transitions, system changes or shared services transformation.
Qualifications and experience required- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Typically 8-10 years of progressive experience in benefits, HR operations or related payroll service delivery, including at least 2 years of team supervision or operational leadership.
- Demonstrated experience in benefits administration, vendor coordination, financial reconciliations and control execution in a multi-country or shared services environment.
- Proven ability to lead a team, resolve complex operational issues and deliver measurable service or process improvements.
- Strong analytical capability, attention to detail and professional English communication. Payroll knowledge and relevant HR, benefits or process improvement qualifications are advantageous.
Barriers to success in the role- Managing activity without taking ownership of employee outcomes, deadlines and unresolved exceptions.
- Weak capacity planning, insufficient backup coverage or failure to address capability and performance gaps.
- Late escalation of benefit interruptions, billing discrepancies, control failures or vendor issues.
- Inaccurate data, incomplete reconciliations or weak documentation and audit evidence.
- Poor collaboration across Reward, HR, Payroll, Finance and vendors, leaving process hand-offs unowned.
- Resistance to simplification, or implementing changes without validating operational readiness and controls.
- Discouraging constructive challenge, withholding concerns or disengaging when decisions are made.
Flexible working statementFlexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you are supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one. Working arrangements should support the agreed service model, market time zones and critical benefits delivery periods.
Diversity statementOur purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. Creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels valued and belongs is central to this purpose. We welcome people of different genders, ethnicities, abilities, ages, sexual orientations, social backgrounds, educational backgrounds and experiences. The role holder will help build a team that values different perspectives, provides equitable development opportunities and delivers respectful service to employees across our markets.
About usWith over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, Diageo is home to some of the world's most iconic drinks. From Johnnie Walker and Guinness to Tanqueray, Smirnoff and Don Julio, we craft brands chosen for life's moments - from everyday connections to landmark celebrations.
Bring your talent, curiosity and ambition, and strive for your personal best alongside people who challenge, support and learn from each other. Together, as one outstanding team, we keep learning, improving and raising the bar for our brands, our business and each other.
Join us and play your part in making life's moments mean a little more.
About the Function:About the role: Experience / skills required:Working with usFlexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you, so that you're supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.
We recognise and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package including:
Our purpose is crafting iconic drinks chosen for life's moments. And it's our people, with their different experiences, perspectives and talents, who make that possible.
We value diversity in its broadest sense and want everyone to feel they can belong, contribute and strive for their personal best. You'll work alongside people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives - challenging, supporting and learning from one another as one outstanding team.
Together, we're constantly learning and improving, combining the strength of our people, capabilities and iconic brands to raise the bar, grow and win. Wherever you join us, you'll have the opportunity to contribute, make an impact and play your part in making life's moments mean a little more.
Ready to bring your best? This could be your opportunity.
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Recruitment Scam WarningProtecting candidates is very important to us. All communications regarding your application will come from an email address ending in @diageo.com. In our recruitment process, we'll never ask for money.
