Andrew Ellis

I have over 19 years’ experience designing and implementing reward strategies for large global organisations. 

From analysing existing total reward approaches to proposing and implementing market leading solutions that provide clients with a competitive edge, generates savings and aids attraction and retention.

Rewards & Benefits Specialist (Contract) | ThermoFisher Pharmaceutical

May 2022 – Aug 2022

A contract position where my principal achievements were to benchmark a large number of roles across the EMEA region and to troubleshoot the flexible benefits platform; drawing up a number of administration processes for to align with the various providers and the internal payroll and HR teams.

Compensation & Benefits Specialist (Contract) | Alliance Healthcare

Jun 2021 – Dec 2021

A contract position where I was responsible ultimately for the companies pay and bonus review for that year. 

My principal duties included providing guidance and support material for senior managers to conduct job and salary evaluations in line with their allotted budgets which I had agreed with the CEO, also providing tools enabling them to assess the budgetary impact of compensation decisions and providing oversight of compliance with regulations. 

I conducted internal training with the wider HR team in how to operate the third-party software which we used; and oversaw the testing of this software and its integration with the payroll system. 

Ultimately, I oversaw the pay and bonus review in the timescales required – ensuring that all deadlines were met within the project plan that I had created and distributed to the executive team and signed the whole process off directly with the CEO and HR Director.

Benefits Manager UK & Ireland | Fidelity

FEB 2020 – May 2021

Reporting directly to the Global Rewards and Benefits Lead, I was responsible for the management, coordination, and development, through a cycle of enrolment and renewal, of benefit and reward activities including pensions, insurances, and wellness initiatives for 2500 employees in the UK and 500 in Ireland.

I managed all 3rd party consultancy provision, brokering activities and any other vendor management pertaining to reward by ensuring adherence to contractual obligations and agreed service levels. This also considered the ongoing management of the UK Medical Trust.

I oversaw the administration of the UK & Irish benefit provision for all employees. Identifying and implementing opportunities for process optimisation and improvement to streamline and enhance colleague experience particularly for onboarding. Furthermore, providing specific advice and guidance to senior staff, whilst also providing regular presentations to staff as part of the wider onboarding process concerning benefits.

I ensured appropriate pension governance is undertaken, working closely with the appointed pension advisors, particularly in the communication to employees concerning annual and lifetime allowances and the impact on their own circumstances (for example). Additionally, working closely with the Pension Trustees in terms of cyclical updates and impacts of any regulatory changes that came into effect. 

Additional activities included overseeing the bereavement process for the company benefits. Assisting in the end-to-end process for salary and bonus review. Process mapping and process flows for all employee benefit requirements and interaction with the payroll and benefits system. Preparing and auditing all MI reporting for Senior Stakeholders and cost analysis. Sourcing, pricing and implementing new benefit or reward activities.

Rewards Lead | Southern Water

Jul 2018 – Feb 2020

I was responsible for developing attractive, strategic, compensation packages in a highly competitive and specialist environment. I was responsible for evolving the reward strategy, designing and implementing effective and efficient reward programmes and processes (across both compensation and benefits), e.g., ownership of annual salary budget planning, performance and merit review and annual compensation cycle processes.

Management of survey and benefits partners and vendors, including identifying best fit suppliers and managing the procurement process working closely with commercial colleagues. I also designed new policies for reward and retention bringing parity across the organisation. 

Management of work streams related to organisation design projects, working closely with colleagues across HR and Finance at present developing a Job Architecture and Framework to account for 95% of the business.

I had ownership of diversity reporting such as the annual gender pay gap and executive pay gap reporting, the results of which have informed new strategies and initiatives to drive equality in the workplace, for example, the development of family friendly policies.

I was responsible for engaging with unions to agree changes to reward programme and have been responsible for major change in the organisation.

I was also responsible for ensuring all policies and information relating to pay and reward are clearly communicated throughout the organisation and have driven change across the intranet and internal communications strategy.

Senior Consultant | Benefex

Apr 2014 – May 2018

As a senior consultant I was responsible for working in collaboration with my clients to develop strategies that maximise value and choice for their employees, principally in the UK but taking into account EMEA operations and specific requirements such as those from the Channel Islands for example.

A Levels – Economics, History, Maths

9 GCSE’s

FPC1