Employee Relations Manager
Crete Professionals AllianceAbout the Company
Founded in 2023, Crete Professionals Alliance (Crete PA) delivers big four firepower to local American firms. Our rapid growth has made us a magnet for leading firms nationwide, eager to join our revolution in accounting. We empower small to mid-market firms with PE-backed capital, strategic technology partnerships, and innovative workforce solutions—including national recruiting and offshore support—while preserving a personal, local touch. With a presence in over half the US, 30+ regional offices, 2,000+ dedicated professionals, and offshore operations in Asia, we're one of the fastest-growing accounting firms in the nation and well on our way to the top 20. At Crete PA, our culture and relationships are the cornerstone of our success, and we’re always looking for talented, ambitious people to join our team.
Since founding, Crete has partnered with 45+ leading accounting firms to date, with significant growth anticipated through the remainder of the year. Our co-founders from ZBS Partners have a track record of launching four past successful companies, with combined enterprise value exceeding $3 billion, several now majority-owned by respected private equity firms. We plan to invest $500 million in the next two years to acquire accounting firms and equip them with artificial intelligence. In addition to ZBS, Crete is backed by leading technology investors Thrive Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners. Our partnership with Thrive and their recently launched Thrive Holdings strategy is accelerating our deployment of artificial intelligence, process automation, and advanced software into our partners companies.
About the Role
The Employee Relations Manager serves as Crete’s subject matter expert for employee relations, performance management, discipline, investigations, and termination support across partner firms and internal HQ teams. This role partners closely with People/HR, Legal, Compliance, Integration, and business leaders to ensure consistent, fair, and timely handling of concerns while aligning to Crete standards, local employment laws, and partner-firm operating realities.
Key Responsibilities
Performance management & discipline
Consult with leaders and HR partners on performance concerns, corrective action planning, and documentation.
Guide managers through progressive discipline practices, including coaching plans, written warnings, performance improvement plans (PIPs), and final actions.
Review performance and discipline documentation for completeness, consistency, and risk mitigation.
Support partner firms with “Crete standard” approaches while honoring local policies and regulatory requirements.
Manager coaching & capability building
Coach managers on difficult conversations, feedback delivery, and managing behavior/performance concerns.
Develop practical ER guidance, toolkits, templates, and manager talking points.
Deliver trainings (live and/or recorded) on core ER topics (performance management, documentation, investigations basics, respectful workplace).
Investigations & issue resolution
Plan and conduct investigations for allegations including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, ethics violations, workplace conflict, misconduct, and policy violations.
Establish investigation scope, interview plans, evidence collection approach, and documentation standards.
Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
Produce clear investigation summaries and findings; partner with Legal/Compliance as appropriate.
Recommend corrective actions and support leaders with follow-through.
Termination & separation support
Advise on separation decisions, risk assessment, and documentation readiness.
Coordinate termination logistics and messaging with managers, HR, Payroll/Benefits, IT/Security, and Legal when applicable.
Support involuntary separations, including severance considerations, final pay timing, and unemployment response coordination (as applicable by entity/state).
Partner-firm support & standardization
Act as a centralized ER escalation point for partner firms and HQ.
Translate Crete expectations into scalable guidance across diverse partner-firm environments.
Identify recurring patterns (e.g., leadership capability, policy gaps, hotspots) and recommend systemic improvements.
Program, process, and reporting
Maintain case management processes and records (including intake, triage, documentation, investigation files, and outcomes).
Track ER metrics and trends (case volume, types, cycle time, repeat issues, manager coaching topics) and present insights to People leadership.
Support policy development and updates (code of conduct, respectful workplace, investigations, discipline, workplace violence, etc.).
Participate in audits, diligence requests, and internal reviews related to ER matters.
Scope & relationships
Supports: Partner firm leaders and HR/People contacts; internal HQ leaders and employees.
Partners closely with: People Operations/HRBPs, Talent Acquisition (as needed), Total Rewards/Benefits, Payroll, Legal, Compliance, Integration, IT/Security, and Finance (as needed for severance/costing).
May manage external vendors as needed (investigation counsel, outside investigators, employment counsel).
Required qualifications
5+ years of progressive employee relations experience, including investigations and performance management support (multi-site and/or multi-entity environments strongly preferred).
Demonstrated expertise in conducting workplace investigations end-to-end and documenting findings.
Strong working knowledge of US employment law basics (e.g., discrimination/harassment/retaliation concepts, wage/hour considerations, leave protections) and risk-aware ER practices.
Proven ability to coach managers and influence decisions with a calm, credible, solutions-oriented approach.
Exceptional written documentation skills (case notes, summaries, recommendations).
High discretion, strong judgment, and ability to manage sensitive matters.
Preferred qualifications
Experience supporting professional services, accounting, or PE-backed multi-entity environments.
SHRM-CP/SCP, HRCI (PHR/SPHR), or equivalent credential.
Experience with HRIS/case management systems and building ER reporting dashboards.
Experience supporting M&A integration environments and harmonizing practices across acquired firms.
Skills & competencies
Investigation mastery: interviewing, evidence evaluation, documentation, and findings.
Manager coaching and facilitation; strong conflict resolution skills.
Executive presence with ability to navigate ambiguity and competing priorities.
Detail-oriented with strong organizational and case management discipline.
Comfort balancing consistency with practical flexibility across partner firms.
Ability to travel occasionally as needed (partner-firm visits, complex investigations).
Working conditions
Confidential, sensitive work; requires secure handling of records and communications.
May require occasional evening availability to support urgent employee relations matters.
Equal opportunity
Crete is committed to creating a workplace where all people feel respected and can do their best work. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.