--- title: 'Senior People Manager at Recognise Bank' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-people-manager-recognise-bank-london-bdpmcrmfrgww' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-10' --- # Senior People Manager at Recognise Bank - **Company:** Recognise Bank - **Location:** London, United Kingdom - **Compensation:** £65k–£85k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** hybrid - **Posted:** 2026-07-01 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/recognisebank/4c103c9f-cd35-4b7e-9bea-cbd4e9999184 ## Job description Hello, We are Recognise Bank; a modern business bank built to support the UK’s SMEs with tailored lending and savings solutions. Founded in 2017 by experienced business owners, we set out to challenge traditional banking by offering more flexibility, understanding, and practical support to help businesses thrive. Since receiving our banking licence in 2021, we’ve built a loyal customer base and a strong, diverse team that puts people first. Our vision is building stronger futures with bespoke financial solutions. We understand that no two financial needs are the same, which is why we work closely with UK SMEs and individuals to unlock potential others often overlook. Through smart, flexible lending and savings products, we’re here to build and grow stronger futures for lasting success. Our values shape how we work and grow together: 💪 Can do, will do: We take ownership, solve problems, and adapt as our customers’ needs evolve. ✨ Be brilliant: We show up with curiosity and energy, always striving for better. 🤝 Do the right thing: We act with integrity, responsibility, and care in everything we do. 💡Make a difference: We focus on impact, helping our customers, colleagues, and communities succeed. ## About the role This role will lead the People function operationally and translate the Bank’s People Strategy into delivery. The role owns and runs core people processes end-to-end, across the employee lifecycle, reward, resourcing, performance and engagement. The Senior People Manager will combine hands-on delivery with day-to-day leadership of the team. The SPM will support the COO, who owns and defines the People Strategy and holds policy accountability. ## Key Responsibilities Strategy, team and operating model: - Implement and deliver the People Strategy and DEI Strategy set by the COO, turning direction into delivered outcomes. - Lead and line manage the People team, allocating ownership of core areas and developing the team’s capabilities. - Own the People operating model, service SLAs and knowledge base; produce People MI and the Organisational Health Dashboard. Policy, governance and compliance: - Maintain and update People policies, the Employee Handbook, Code of Conduct (together with Compliance), People Standard Operating Procedures and the Employee Relations toolkit for the People team. - Own Health & Safety, DSE and risk assessment obligations and return-to-work processes. - Prepare committee and governance packs as required by the COO, support people-related governance under SMCR. Employee relations: - Own ER case management with the support of the COO and General Counsel, applying the ER toolkit and ensuring consistent, well-documented outcomes in line with applicable laws and regulations. Organisation design and resourcing: - Support organisational structure, role architecture, JDs, headcount, the skills library and competency framework. - Own the recruitment process, sourcing strategy and EVP, manage onboarding, induction, manager guidance, probation and offboarding. Performance, talent and development: - Run goal setting, performance management, calibration, underperformance and PIP processes. - Own career pathways, succession planning, leadership and next generation development and coaching. Reward and benefits: - Manage salary bands, pay structures, benchmarking, benefits, bonus and recognition processes. - Oversee payroll input, background checks, screening and RTW checks. Engagement and well-being: - Own employee engagement and listening, the wellbeing strategy, mental health first aiders and the social committee. Required Skills & Experience Essential: - CIPD qualified (Level 5 or above) - Experience operating at a People Manager level or equivalent (or performed a comparable generalist role) - Proven generalist HR experience across the full employee lifecycle - Track record owning ER case management end-to-end - Experience writing policies, SOPs and handbooks - Experience managing or supervising others - Strong UK employment law knowledge - Confident with HR systems and People MI - Policy and governance drafting - Experience running reward, benefits, benchmarking and performance management frameworks Desirable: - CIPD Level 7 - Bachelor’s degree in HR or business coaching qualification - Senior People Manager, Senior HR BP or HR Lead experience - Experience in similar-size or maturing organisation - Experience in regulated / financial services environment - Exposure to SMCR - Experience standing up or maturing an HR function - Experience in similar-size or maturing organisation - Experience in regulated / financial services environment - Exposure to SMCR - Experience standing up or maturing an HR function - Knowledge of H&S requirements - Organisation design and role architecture development or implementation experience - Competency framework design Why join? At Recognise Bank, we're building more than a bank — we’re creating a culture where people feel empowered to make a difference 💡, supported to be brilliant ✨ with a can do will do attitude, and trusted to do the right thing 🤝. We believe that when our people thrive, so do our customers. That’s why we invest in an environment that reflects our values and supports your growth, flexibility, and wellbeing. Here’s what you can look forward to: 🌴 Competitive Time Off – Generous annual leave plus bank holidays to rest, recharge, and enjoy life outside of work. 🌍 Work From Anywhere – Up to 6 weeks per year to work remotely from anywhere in the world.* 📚 Learning & Development – Tailored training and support to grow your skills and achieve your professional goals. 🏠 Hybrid Working – To support your work-life balance, we offer a hybrid working model with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.** 🩺 Private Medical Care with Vitality – Comprehensive healthcare coverage to keep you healthy. 💼 Enhanced Pension Scheme – Helping you plan and save for a secure future. 👶 Maternity, Paternity & Adoption Pay – Supporting you and your family during important life moments. 🎉 Discretionary Company Bonus – Rewarding your contribution to our shared success. If you're curious, driven, and ready to be part of something meaningful — where your ideas matter, your growth is supported, and your work makes a real impact — then we’d love to hear from you. *Subject to company policy. **This arrangement may vary during the induction period. ## About Recognise Bank ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Recognise Bank is a UK-based challenger bank offering tailored lending and FSCS-protected savings products to SMEs and individual savers. - **Entity Type**: Private (venture-backed, multiple funding rounds through 2024) - **Headquarters**: London, United Kingdom - **Founded**: 2017 - **Founders**: Not publicly available ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Banking / SME Lending - **Target customers**: B2B (UK SMEs seeking bridging loans, commercial mortgages, asset finance) and B2C (personal and business savers) - **Mission**: “To help the UK’s ambitious SMEs grow and thrive” [recognisebank.co.uk](https://recognisebank.co.uk/careers/) – also framed as “building futures – we are about people, progress and impact.” ## Products & Services - **Bridging Loans**: Fast, decisive financing for time-sensitive property purchases or business needs. - **Commercial Mortgages**: Flexible funding designed to support long-term business growth. - **Business & Personal Savings Accounts**: Competitive rates with award-winning service; includes easy-access and fixed-term deposits. - **Asset Finance** (via strategic partner): Entry into asset-based lending, contributing £31M to the loan book in 2024 [recognisebank.co.uk](https://recognisebank.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024-Annual-Report-Accounts.pdf). ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not disclosed (private company) - **Total Funding (disclosed)**: ~$85.8M equivalent across four venture rounds – most recent: £25M (November 2024) from largest shareholder Parasol V27 Limited [recognisebank.co.uk](https://recognisebank.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024-Annual-Report-Accounts.pdf). - **Key Metrics** (FY2024, year-end October 2024): - Loan book: £303M (+148% YoY) - Deposits: £412M (grew to £436.6M shortly after year-end, +106% YoY) - Net operating income: £12.7M (+98% YoY) - Headcount: 69 (excluding directors) at year-end; LinkedIn reports 66 employees with +28.4% YoY growth. [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/recognisebank) - **Notable Investors & Partners**: Parasol International (majority shareholder, led £30.7M round in 2023), Insignis Cash (deposit aggregator partner), strategic partner for asset finance. - **Growth Signals**: Loan book nearly tripled; deposits doubled; entered asset finance market; restructuring plan to target higher-margin property finance; headcount growing rapidly; multiple recent awards for savings products. ## Competitive Advantages - **FSCS Protection**: Eligible deposits protected up to £120,000 per individual – a critical trust factor for savers. - **Award-Winning Service**: Winner of “Best Monthly Interest Savings Provider” (MoneyComms 2024, 2025, 2026), “Most Transparent Savings Provider” (MoneyNet 2026), and “Commended for Best Business Variable Rate Deposit Account” (Business Moneyfacts 2024). - **Relationship-Led Model**: Customised lending solutions rather than off-the-shelf products, supporting SMEs that may be underserved by big high-street banks. - **Strong Capital Backing**: Regular capital injections from major shareholder, enabling aggressive growth. ## Strategic Focus - **12–18 Month Restructuring**: Pivot toward structured property finance (higher margin lending), with a longer-term aim of building a broader SME proposition. Target return on equity of ≥10%. - **Operational Efficiency**: Strict cost control (opex up only 4% despite rapid loan book growth) and continued investment in technology and people [recognisebank.co.uk](https://recognisebank.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024-Annual-Report-Accounts.pdf). - **Diversification**: Expand funding channels (e.g., Insignis Cash partnership) and product range (asset finance, term deposits). ## Why Work Here - **Hybrid Work Model**: 3 days in office, 2 days remote; offices in London (City) and Milton Keynes. - **Flexibility**: Up to 4 weeks per year to work from anywhere in the world. - **Time Off**: Generous annual leave plus your birthday off. - **Benefits**: Private Medical Care (Vitality, covering optical and dental), enhanced pension scheme, discretionary company bonus. - **Learning & Development**: Training and support budget for skill growth. - **Culture**: Described as “people, progress and impact” – a pioneering environment where employees shape the future of a growing challenger bank. Diverse team with backgrounds from Nationwide, HSBC, Santander, Deloitte, and other major institutions. - **Open Roles**: Currently hiring for Lending Support Associates and other roles (contract and permanent) [jobs.lever.co](https://jobs.lever.co/recognisebank). ## Sources 1. [recognisebank.co.uk](https://recognisebank.co.uk/careers/) – Careers page with perks and culture 2. [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/recognisebank) – LinkedIn company profile and employee data 3. [recognisebank.co.uk](https://recognisebank.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024-Annual-Report-Accounts.pdf) – 2024 Annual Report & Accounts 4. [recognisebank.co.uk](https://recognisebank.co.uk/meet-the-team/) – Leadership team page 5. [jobs.lever.co](https://jobs.lever.co/recognisebank) – Current job openings ## Other roles at Recognise Bank - [Core Banking SME](https://feeny.ai/job/core-banking-sme-recognise-bank-london-50fn1afv6vsy) — London, United Kingdom - [Senior Salesforce Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-salesforce-engineer-recognise-bank-london-6qw7c177gc93) — London, United Kingdom - [Product Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/product-manager-recognise-bank-london-gc4re8xe47p5) — London, United Kingdom - [Junior Completions Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/junior-completions-manager-recognise-bank-milton-keynes-dwzarbdfd6a4) — Milton Keynes, United Kingdom - [Junior Portfolio Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/junior-portfolio-manager-recognise-bank-milton-keynes-6f5qsbfvqgnv) — Milton Keynes, United Kingdom - [Information Security Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/information-security-manager-recognise-bank-london-zt062yjwc8t4) — London, United Kingdom - [Lending Support Associate](https://feeny.ai/job/lending-support-associate-recognise-bank-milton-keynes-2wg0er4daega) — Milton Keynes, United Kingdom - [Business Analyst](https://feeny.ai/job/business-analyst-recognise-bank-milton-keynes-9cw6rxqw05gk) — Milton Keynes, United Kingdom - [Information Security Officer](https://feeny.ai/job/information-security-officer-recognise-bank-london-b5prxnhe71w1) — London, United Kingdom