Carla Foster

People, Operations and Business Management professional with extensive experience supporting senior leadership, managing people operations and overseeing the day-to-day running of small and mid-sized organisations. A trusted partner to senior leaders, with a strong track record of providing executive support, coordinating business operations, leading teams and managing sensitive employee and commercial matters. Experienced in business process improvement, systems implementation, financial administration and management reporting, combining commercial awareness, sound judgement and a proactive, hands on approach to improving efficiency and supporting business growth.

People and Talent Manager at Make Real Ltd (2022-03 – Present)

• Own end-to-end people operations overseeing the employee lifecycle from recruitment and onboarding, through employee management, support and offboarding.
• Act as a trusted point of contact between employees and senior leadership, building strong working relationships, handling sensitive matters with discretion and providing practical support across the business.
• Partner with senior leadership on business planning, organisational change, employment matters and people related risks, balancing employee wellbeing with commercial requirements.
• Sourced, implemented and manage the company's Sage HR system, introducing a centralised HR platform. Improved employee data visibility, reduced administrative effort and created more efficient workflows.
• Oversee outsourced payroll coordination, validating employee data, preparing reports, and resolving queries.
• Work closely with the Finance Director on wider financial operations, including invoice processing, payment runs, bank reconciliations, credit control, expense management and order forms.
• Maintain accurate employee records, contracts and HR documentation, supporting compliance, confidentiality and effective people data management.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of internal policies, procedures and operational processes, improving consistency, efficiency and compliance.
• Deliver management training and briefings on employment law, employee engagement, equality, neurodiversity and sensitive employee matters.
• Lead employee wellbeing, inclusion and engagement initiatives, supporting a positive and inclusive working environment.
• Manage permanent and contract recruitment, including specialist technical appointments, and maintain relationships with freelance talent pools.

Operations Manager at ARC IT Recruitment Ltd (2012-05 – 2022-03)

• Oversaw the day-to-day running of business operations, with responsibility for office management, facilities, HR administration, finance, systems and wider business support.
• Built and directly managed a small team of operations employees, allocating workloads, coordinating priorities, supporting development and ensuring effective delivery across operational functions.
• Acted as the Managing Director's trusted right hand person, providing comprehensive executive and operational support, including diary management, appointments, travel arrangements, meetings, reports, presentations and general business administration.
• Worked closely with the Managing Director on business strategy, operational priorities, company growth and commercial decision making, providing proactive support.
• Prepared management and business performance reports, analysing revenue, profitability, operational KPIs and workforce information to support leadership decisions.
• Researched and prepared tenders for new client opportunities, bringing together company history, market research, business performance data, statistics and visual presentations to support commercial proposals.
• Developed and maintained strong relationships across the organisation, providing a trusted point of contact for employees and managers, handling confidential information and sensitive personal and business matters with discretion.
• Managed employee recruitment, onboarding, training and ongoing support, alongside employee relations and general people management across the wider organisation.
• Worked with the Managing Director to develop commission structures and introduce collaborative team incentives linked to shared business targets, supporting collective performance and engagement.
• Introduced an employee recognition programme, including wellbeing days, gift boxes and other rewards to recognise achievements and strengthen team morale.
• Led the implementation and ongoing management of operational systems, including Bullhorn, improving information management, workflows and GDPR practices.
• Oversaw financial operations, including payroll, bank transactions, credit control, commission calculations and revenue analysis, supporting financial accuracy and business performance reporting.
• Managed suppliers, purchasing, contracts, company insurance, IT and equipment arrangements, ensuring the smooth running of business operations.
• Project managed the purchase and complete refurbishment of new office premises, coordinating licensing, facilities, contractors, decoration, IT infrastructure and office setup through to completion.

Operations Manager at Trojan Management Search Ltd (2011-03 – 2011-09)

• Managed executive search assignments from proposal through delivery and invoicing and coordinating workflows.
• Collated and analysed assignment data, producing progress reports and performance insights for senior stakeholders.
• Supported the Board with operational oversight, reporting, planning and workflow coordination.

Operations Manager at Strategic Partners Middle East (2009-06 – 2010-07)

• Led the implementation and customisation of a new CRM system, Filefinder, including configuration, team training and rollout to improve data integrity and workflow efficiency.
• Oversaw executive search projects, maintaining structured processes and delivery timelines.
• Produced client activity reports and market research to support recruitment strategies within the financial sector.

Office Manager at MRL Group Ltd (2004-08 – 2009-06)

• Promoted internally and relocated to Dubai to establish and manage the company's new office within the Dubai International Financial Centre.
• Led the operational setup of the Dubai office, liaising with the DIFC and external stakeholders on premises, regulatory, legal and business requirements.
• Coordinated international onboarding and employee relocation, including contracts, visa processing, transfer documentation, flights and accommodation.
• Acted as the operational link between the Dubai office and UK headquarters, coordinating HR, finance, IT and procedural updates.

Recruitment Administrator at MRL Group Ltd

• Supported international recruitment operations, including candidate tracking, job postings and interview coordination.
• Organised international interview conferences on behalf of major clients.
• Provided operational support to the German office, building relationships across international teams.

Managing people, resources, premises and working environment in Facilities Management – Newbury College

RSA Business Administration in Business Administration – Abingdon College