Human Resources Controller

About us

Zara offers the latest fashion trends for all. An international brand with stores in the main cities of the world and online. Our business model is centered in our customers, constantly adapting to their needs. We love what we do. Teamwork, passion, curiosity, diversity, sustainability, creativity and humility are our daily motivation. Does it sound like you? Maybe you are a Zara person.

Purpose

The HR Controller is a strategic and operational partner to the Head of HR, responsible for overseeing the financial governance, planning, insights, and operational control of the HR function. This role provides the analytical foundation and strategic support needed to drive people decisions aligned with business goals. As the right hand to the Head of HR, the HR Controller ensures accuracy, compliance, data integrity, and forward-looking insights that strengthen organizational performance.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Partnership

- Act as a strategic advisor and right hand to the Head of HR, supporting decision-making with financial modeling, organizational insights, and people strategy analysis.

- Lead the annual HR strategic planning cycle, translating people strategy into forecasts, multi-year workforce plans, and financial scenarios.

- Provide thought leadership on organizational design, talent planning, and cost optimization to support business growth across U.S. and Puerto Rico.

- Represent HR in senior leadership meetings, business reviews, and cross-functional forums, presenting data-driven insights and recommendations.

HR Financial Management & Budget Control

- Generate and own HR budget proposals, including headcount planning, compensation costs, training, recruitment, and store labor budgets.

- Partner with HR, Retail, Finance, and Operations to ensure alignment between people investments and business strategy.

- Prepare accurate monthly accruals and ensure proper P&L control across all HR cost centers.

- Monitor actuals vs. forecast performance, providing variance explanations, risks, opportunities, and action plans.

- Manage forecasting and scenario modeling for wage changes, minimum wage updates, benefits plans, and labor impacts.

HR Governance, Compliance & Controls

- Establish and maintain strong internal controls across HR processes, compensation, payroll interfaces, and workforce systems.

- Oversee HR data governance, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with Finance and Payroll.

People Analytics, Insights & Reporting

- Lead the development of HR KPI reporting frameworks (turnover, absenteeism, productivity, overtime, labor planning, holiday staffing, etc.).

- Build predictive analytics and insights to identify workforce risks, trends, and opportunities.

- Drive the proactive development of HR dashboards and organizational health reporting.

HR System Ownership & Digital Transformation

- Oversee HRIS data integrity, system enhancements, and integration with Finance and Payroll.

- Identify opportunities for automation and process improvement across HR operations.

- Lead HR digital transformation initiatives, partnering with IT, HR Ops, Operations and Health & Safety to streamline processes and improve data visibility.

Operational Excellence & Workforce Planning

- Support pre-new store opening analysis, workforce structures, staffing needs, and compensation impact.

- Perform labor modeling and cost analysis for new markets, expansions, and brand growth.

- Constantly analyze data to identify ways to improve efficiency, cost optimization, and overall people performance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Work closely with Total Rewards, Payroll, Operations, Finance, Legal, and Retail leaders to ensure HR initiatives are financially sound and operationally executable.

- Partner with Total Rewards on compensation governance, annual compensation cycles, and cost modeling.

- Serve as the HR liaison to Finance, aligning all HR financials with corporate guidelines.

Qualifications

- At least 5+ years in HR Controlling, FP&A, People Analytics, or an equivalent analytical HR role.

- Experience in payroll, compensation modeling, or HR systems is a strong plus.

- Advanced proficiency in Excel (including macros) and strong skills in Power BI or other reporting tools.

- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

- Ability to clearly communicate insights to senior leaders and influence decision-making.

- Flexible, adaptable, and able to manage changing priorities in a fast-paced retail environment.

- Self-driven, collaborative, and able to work autonomously as well as within a high-performing team.

- Broader understanding of HR processes, compensation, payroll, or HR operations highly beneficial.

What we offer

In addition to a competitive salary, you will also receive 25% discount to buy the latest trends in any of our brands and a variety benefit package where you can find a wide range of discounts.

Our internal talent is our greatest asset, and we are proud of offering internal promotion programs where you will find opportunities to grow, e-learning and training programs as well as social projects to get involved and contribute to a better society, and much more!

Annual compensation range:

$150,000 - $170,000 + discretionary bonus

* Zara, in good faith, believes that this posted rate of compensation is the accurate range for this role at this location at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future. Actual compensation within that range will be dependent upon the individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, and applicable laws.

Zara USA, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, age, citizenship status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

EOE/DFW