HR Lead

CBD, Cape Town, South Africa Posted on 12/02/2026

• Location Type Hybrid (Part office, Part remote)
• Job Type Permanent
• Salary R basic + benefits
• Remuneration Term Per Month
• Date Opened 12/02/2026
• State/Province Western Cape
• City/Town CBD, Cape Town
• Country South Africa

A growing global accountancy and taxadvisory firm is seeking a full-time, permanent Human Resource Lead. You will be the main point of contact for allpeoplematters locally, working closely with the Head of Operations in Cape Town and the People team in London.

You will manage all HR issues for the South African entity, and ensure the office has the right people,structureand support to grow in line with the wider firm.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all recruitment for the Cape Town office, working with the London People team where needed.
• Manage the full joining process for new hires, including contracts, checks, induction and early check-ins.
• Make sure the right people are in place to support planned growth.
• Run performance management and support learning and development activity.
• Handle employee relations issues fairly, calmly and in line with South African employment law.
• Ensure compliance with all local employment legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Provide regular people updates and data to the Head of HR.
• Put simple, effective HR processes and systems in place, using firm-wide tools where possible.
• Review and maintain local HR policies, aligning them with firm-wide policies and local legal requirements.

• Act as a trusted adviser to leaders in Cape Town and London.
• Support managers with hiring decisions, team structure, performance issues and people planning.
• Lead on sensitive HR and ER matters, using external legal advice when needed.
• Help protect and strengthen the culture of the Cape Town office as it grows.

• Work with L&D to ensure people have the right development opportunities.
• Identify skills gaps early and help address them through development or hiring.
• Support professional qualification requirements for employees in Cape Town.
• Work with the London recruitment team on graduate hiring in South Africa, managing the local delivery.

• Monitor engagement levels and lead practical actions to improve the employee experience.
• Lead on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in a way that makes sense locally.
• Ensure performance management supports clear goals, development and fair reward.
• Flag where firm-wide policies or processes need local adjustment for cultural or legal reasons.

• 5 - 10 years experience working in a senior or stand-alone HR role.
• Strong experience across employee relations and recruitment.
• Experience working for an international organisation.
• Good working knowledge of South African employment law, including the Employment Equity Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act and Labour Relations Act.
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders (international, would be advantageous) and the ability to challenge constructively.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities in a busy environment.
• A practical, solutions-focused approach.
• Sound knowledge of HR best practice in a corporate or professional services environment.
• Credibility and confidence when working with senior leaders.
• Clear and straightforward communication.
• Strong organisation and attention to detail.
• Confidence using Microsoft Teams, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with SAP SuccessFactors (helpful but not essential).
• A flexible, curious and improvement-focused mindset.
• This is a full-time, permanent position based in CBD, Cape Town.
• Work model: hybrid (3 days on-site).
• Working hours: 09:30 - 17:30 SAST.
• Medical aid and provident contributions.