HR Operations Manager

About 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 HR Operations Manager will play a critical role in scaling and supporting a fast-growing professional services organization. This individual will oversee core HR operations, ensuring consistent, compliant, and high-quality execution across the employee lifecycle. The role will be responsible for leading key functional areas including immigration, the HR Generalist POD, and office management/HR administration.

This position requires a strong operator who can balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution, build structure in a dynamic environment, and lead a distributed team with clarity and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

HR Operations Leadership

• Own and continuously improve HR operational processes across onboarding, employee changes, and offboarding

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations

• Develop and maintain scalable systems, workflows, and documentation to support company growth

• Partner with leadership to implement and manage HR initiatives and projects aligned with business objectives

Immigration Management

• Oversee all employment-based immigration processes (e.g., H-1B, PERM, green cards)

• Partner with external counsel to ensure timely filings and compliance

• Serve as the internal subject matter expert on immigration policies and employee communications

• Track and manage immigration timelines, renewals, and documentation

HR Generalist POD Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of HR Generalists supporting multiple business units or portfolio companies

• Establish service delivery standards and ensure consistent, high-quality HR support

• Coach and mentor team members to strengthen HR capabilities and business partnership skills

• Manage workload distribution and prioritize initiatives across the POD

Office Management & HR Administration

• Oversee Office Manager and administrative HR functions, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations

• Manage internal policies, document management, etc.

• Ensure a high-quality employee experience through effective coordination of workplace and HR services

Process Improvement & Systems

• Identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements to increase scalability and effectiveness

• Partner with internal teams to optimize HR systems and reporting capabilities

• Use data and metrics to drive decision-making and operational improvements

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive HR experience, with a strong focus on HR operations

• Experience managing immigration processes in a corporate or professional services environment

• Proven experience leading and developing HR teams

• Strong knowledge of employment laws and HR best practices

• Experience working in a multi-entity, high-growth, or private equity-backed environment preferred

• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills

• Ability to operate both strategically and tactically in a fast-paced environment

Key Competencies

• Operational excellence and attention to detail

• Strong Project Management experience

• Leadership and team development

• Process design and continuous improvement

• Strong judgment and decision-making

• Ability to manage complexity and ambiguity

Reporting Structure

This role will report to senior HR leadership and manage:

• HR Generalist POD

• Immigration function (internal coordination and external partners)

• Office Manager / HR Administrative staff

Why This Role Matters

This role is essential to building a scalable HR infrastructure that supports the organization’s continued growth. The HR Operations Manager will ensure that foundational people processes are efficient, compliant, and aligned with the company’s standards, enabling the broader HR team to focus on strategic impact.