Director, Human Resources Business Partner M&A

Location: Encino

Kestra Holdings offers industry-leading wealth management platforms for independent wealth management professionals nationwide. Kestra is dedicated to empowering independent financial professionals-including traditional and hybrid RIAs-to grow their businesses and deliver exceptional client service. We combine advanced business management technology with personalized consulting to provide unmatched scale, efficiency, and support. Our advisor-focused culture is built on innovation and advocacy, enabling advisors to offer comprehensive securities and investment advisory solutions to their clients.

This role sits within Kestra's HR organization and supports acquisitions completed by Blue spring Wealth Partners, Kestra's growth platform focused on partnering with entrepreneurial wealth management firms. Blue spring completes a steady volume of acquisitions each year requiring disciplined execution and close coordination across HR, M&A, Technology, Payroll, and Benefits teams to support employee onboarding and transition.

The HR M&A Manager is responsible for executing the HR onboarding and integration workstream for acquisitions. This role focuses on employee onboarding, HR system readiness, payroll and benefits setup, and post-close stabilization activities.

The HR M&A Manager works hands-on to ensure employees are onboarded accurately and on time, while coordinating closely with the Blue spring M&A team and internal HR, Technology, Payroll, and Operations partners. This role supports multiple acquisitions per year and plays a key role in maintaining consistency, accuracy, and a positive employee experience.

What You'll Do:

• Own the end-to-end HR onboarding and integration checklist for each acquisition (from acquisition planning through post-close hypercare), driving milestones, dependencies, and issue resolution.
• Partner closely with the Blue spring M&A team, HRBPs, and acquired firm leaders to align on close timing, people risks, communications, and escalation paths pre- and post-close.
• Collect, validate, and reconcile employee data and required documentation; ensure onboarding compliance (e.g., background checks, I-9) and appropriate employee file creation/retention.
• Coordinate with Recruiting and Legal to support offer letter and employment agreement execution as needed for the transaction.
• Coordinate with HRIS and payroll on employee setup, data quality controls, and validation of accurate first payroll execution.
• Coordinate with benefits on enrollment/eligibility timing, required data collection, and handoffs for administration and billing.
• Plan and deliver day-one onboarding communications and employee orientation sessions to support a consistent, positive employee experience.
• Support org and role harmonization for acquired firms in partnership with HRBPs and leaders (e.g., org structure, reporting lines, role/title alignment), including coordinating job classification inputs and FLSA exemption review support as applicable.
• Support post-close stabilization and HR operations harmonization (e.g., onboarding processes, timekeeping/pay practices, HR policies, manager/employee communications), ensuring clear handoffs to steady-state HRBP/HR Operations ownership.

What You Bring:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in HR operations, HR program/project management, onboarding, and/or M&A integration support.
• Proven ability to manage detailed checklists, timelines, and dependencies across multiple work streams in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Experience partnering cross-functionally with HRBPs, business leaders (including acquired firm leadership), Payroll, Benefits, Technology, Legal, and M&A teams to drive alignment and resolve issues.
• HRBP-style consultative skills to navigate employee transition issues, support day-one communications/orientation, and deliver a consistent employee experience through change.
• Working knowledge of job classification and job documentation fundamentals, including exposure to FLSA exemption review support and partnership with HR/Legal as needed.
• Strong attention to detail and comfort working with employee data, audits, onboarding compliance, and system validations.
• Advanced Excel skills with the ability to track, reconcile, and validate large data sets for HRIS/payroll/benefits onboarding.
• Hands-on experience supporting HRIS and/or payroll and benefits onboarding processes (data inputs, validations, and partner coordination).
• Clear, direct communicator with the ability to keep multiple stakeholders aligned and drive timely decisions.

Internal Application Policy:

Internal applicants must be in good standing and have a minimum of 1 year of service with Kestra. Internal applicants must also have a minimum of 1 year service in current role unless approved by EVP.

Benefits to support you:

• Competitive pay and benefits with a large employer (over 1600 employees nationwide)
• 401(k), health insurance, and a competitive benefits package
• Work in a supportive, collaborative environment committed to professional…