Kelly Smart

Contracts and Compliance professional with over 10 years of experience in the recruitment sector, working across public sector frameworks, private corporate accounts, and international markets. Experienced in reviewing complex contracts, tracking risks, and ensuring business compliance is flow down to necessary stakeholders. Proven track record of building compliance workflows from scratch, training recruitment staff, and acting as the subject matter expert to build compliance requirements directly into company software.

A practical, detail-oriented professional who understands the commercial realities of the full recruitment lifecycle.

Contracts Operations Specialist - Rethink Digital Gurus

(2025-07)

• Contract Review & Risk Tracking: Complete end-to-end reviews of all contracts. Created and managed a live company risk register to log and triage high, medium, and low-risk clauses to prevent commercial issues.
• Framework Compliance: Managed complex public sector frameworks, ensuring all candidate and consultant compliance requirements were met perfectly to ensure 100% successful audits.
• System & Platform Logic: Served as the main advisory link for the technology team during the build of our new company platform, dictating the exact compliance rules, workflows, and automated logic needed in the system.
• Internal Flowdowns: Worked closely with operations, consultants, and finance to flow down framework obligations, making sure billing cycles, payment terms, and rebate rules were accurately followed.
• Training & Standardisation: Wrote new compliance guidelines and ran hands-on training sessions for consultants and staff to standardise processes and reduce placement errors.

Operations Executive - 5Values Consulting Group Ltd

(2024-06)

• Manage end-to-end contractor payroll, using self-billing through the timesheet portal to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely payments.
• Handle the “Others” contract book, ensuring contractor satisfaction, timely extensions, and contract continuity.
• Maintain and update the margin tracker, providing accurate and actionable financial data to support decision-making.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of the CRM system (Bullhorn), maintaining accurate contractor and client records and supporting seamless collaboration across teams.
• Lead onboarding processes for contractors across the UK, EU, and USA, ensuring compliance and smooth integration into the business.
• Act as the main point of contact for IT services and supplier authorisations, streamlining communication and aligning operations with technology requirements.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with umbrella companies, bringing on new providers to ensure compliance and high service quality.
• Review and refine client terms of business from initial discussions through to finalisation, working closely with client legal teams to mitigate risk and ensure effective contract flow-downs to contractors.
• Conduct credit checks on new clients and negotiate payment terms to support cash flow, mitigate risk, and maintain positive working relationships.
• Maintain and update standard terms of business templates, ensuring alignment with legal, compliance, and operational requirements.
• Streamline and improve processes across legal, compliance, and operations functions, making them more effective and efficient to support the business’s growth.
• Manage multiple shared inboxes (legal, contractors, finance, operations), ensuring timely responses and adherence to SLAs to maintain high service standards.
• Lead employee onboarding, HR portal maintenance, and compliance processes, including negotiating benefit quotes to enhance employee experience and well-being.
• Manage all business operation suppliers, ensuring vendor compliance, risk mitigation, and alignment with operational goals.

Contractor Care Team Lead - Opus Recruitment Solutions

(2015-12 - 2024-06)

• Led daily activities of the Contractor Care team, ensuring performance met SLAs and prioritising workload effectively.
• Collaborated with sales consultants to deliver seamless contractor onboarding and contract management.
• Administered payroll for 500+ contractors across the UK and EU.
• Managed the full contract lifecycle: reviewing, negotiating, and finalising agreements; liaising with legal teams and contractors.
• Maintained standard terms templates, ensuring updates aligned with UK and EU legislation.
• Provided expert guidance on legal and compliance matters, including IR35 and AWR.
• Maintained and updated CRM data to ensure accuracy.
• Managed multiple shared inboxes to ensure timely responses and high-quality service delivery.

Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) Support Officer - Avon and Somerset Constabulary

(2014-01 - 2015-12)

As an experienced administrator, I have provided comprehensive support to the MARAC Coordinator by planning and organising conferences and meetings, ensuring all deadlines are met and documentation is accurate and timely. I have liaised effectively with multi-partner agencies, maintained meticulous records in both digital and paper formats, and handled all incoming communications with professionalism and discretion. My responsibilities have included conducting thorough risk assessments, safeguarding clients, and ensuring full compliance with confidentiality and data protection standards.

Additionally, I have delivered in-house and external training, contributing to a collaborative and supportive work environment.

Incident Manager - Property Consortium

(2012-09 - 2014-01)

• Maintain weekly contact with policyholders and ensure supplier SLAs are met.
• Handle complaints, queries, and maintain accurate policy information and records.

Administrator - Wessex Home Improvements Loans

(2010 - 2012)

Administrator - Vauxhall Rowcliffes

(2010 - 2012)

Production Line Operative - Numatic International

(2010 - 2012)

Summer work

Support Services Assistant - Foot Anstey Solicitors

(2010 - 2012)

BA (Hons) - Criminology - Southampton Solent University (2009 - 2012)

BTEC National Diploma - Business - Bridgwater College (2006 - 2008)

10 GCSEs (A–D) - Holyrood Community School (2001 - 2006)