Core HR Due Dilligence Specialist (6 Months contract, Outside IR35)
Posted 1 day ago by Azets
Negotiable
Outside
Undetermined
London, England, United Kingdom
Summary: The Core HR Due Diligence Specialist role at Azets involves leading comprehensive people due diligence processes, analyzing HR data, and developing actionable integration plans. The position requires collaboration with various internal stakeholders to ensure alignment with deal priorities and effective communication of findings. The specialist will also be responsible for preparing detailed reports and identifying risks and opportunities related to workforce integration. This is a six-month contract position based in London, classified as outside IR35.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead full people due diligence end-to-end, independently gathering, analysing, and interpreting all HR data and documentation.
- Assess workforce structure, demographics, pay, benefits, contracts, policies, training pathways, and key talent risks.
- Identify critical risks, liabilities, synergies, and integration hotspots early and clearly.
- Produce concise, insight-driven DD summaries with clear risks, mitigation recommendations, and integration implications.
- Benchmark target workforce profile against current operating model, highlighting alignment gaps.
- Validate cost drivers and potential savings opportunities relating to people, structure, and contracts.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders (M&A, Finance, Legal, HRBPs) to ensure DD findings are aligned to deal priorities and timelines.
- Escalate concerns swiftly and transparently to support decision-making.
- Translate DD insights into a practical, actionable first-stage integration plan across the people workstream.
- Identify short-term priorities for Day 1 readiness (contracts, comms, onboarding, systems data).
- Highlight dependencies, resourcing needs, and any regulatory or compliance considerations.
- Prepare clear, structured DD reports, risk matrices, and recommendations for senior stakeholders.
- Prepare initial communication templates or briefing materials for key internal audiences.
- Assess quality and completeness of HR data and flag data dependencies for systems onboarding.
- Ensure templates and required people-related data are captured accurately for integration.
Key Skills:
- Strong M&A people due diligence experience.
- Able to work autonomously, prioritise, and deliver under tight timelines.
- Comfortable analysing incomplete or imperfect data and drawing clear conclusions.
- Excellent communicator — concise, structured, and commercially aware.
- Pragmatic problem solver, able to balance risk with deal value and business realities.
- Operates with discretion and confidentiality.
- Comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders and challenging assumptions when necessary.
- Hands-on, detail-focused, and outcomes-driven.
Salary (Rate): undetermined
City: London
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: undetermined
IR35 Status: outside IR35
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: Other
About Us Azets is an international advisory group, with 9,000 local experts in 190 locations across eight countries, backed by progressive technology. We are united by one clear purpose: to improve the lives of our clients, colleagues and communities, in a sustainable way.100,000+ clients on unique journeys trust us to meet their immediate and evolving needs, remove barriers, and deliver sustained outcomes so they can move forward with confidence. Azets is a partner of choice for businesses and private clients seeking a safe, supportive, and growth-focused future. With more than 100 successful acquisitions to date, we are the fastest-growing mid-tier advisory group.
The role Core Responsibilities Due Diligence Execution (Hands-On) Lead full people due diligence end-to-end, independently gathering, analysing, and interpreting all HR data and documentation. Assess workforce structure, demographics, pay, benefits, contracts, policies, training pathways, and key talent risks. Identify critical risks, liabilities, synergies, and integration hotspots early and clearly.
Key accountabilities Analysis & Insight Development Produce concise, insight-driven DD summaries with clear risks, mitigation recommendations, and integration implications. Benchmark target workforce profile against current operating model, highlighting alignment gaps. Validate cost drivers and potential savings opportunities relating to people, structure, and contracts.
Stakeholder Engagement Collaborate with internal stakeholders (M&A, Finance, Legal, HRBPs) to ensure DD findings are aligned to deal priorities and timelines. Escalate concerns swiftly and transparently to support decision-making.
Integration Planning Translate DD insights into a practical, actionable first-stage integration plan across the people workstream. Identify short-term priorities for Day 1 readiness (contracts, comms, onboarding, systems data). Highlight dependencies, resourcing needs, and any regulatory or compliance considerations.
Documentation & Reporting Prepare clear, structured DD reports, risk matrices, and recommendations for senior stakeholders. Prepare initial communication templates or briefing materials for key internal audiences.
Data & Systems Preparedness Assess quality and completeness of HR data and flag data dependencies for systems onboarding. Ensure templates and required people-related data are captured accurately for integration.
Skills & Experience Desired Profile – Contractor Capabilities Strong M&A people due diligence experience. Able to work autonomously, prioritise, and deliver under tight timelines. Comfortable analysing incomplete or imperfect data and drawing clear conclusions. Excellent communicator — concise, structured, and commercially aware. Pragmatic problem solver, able to balance risk with deal value and business realities. Operates with discretion and confidentiality. Comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders and challenging assumptions when necessary. Hands-on, detail-focused, and outcomes-driven.