International assignment management

Want to better manage, decrease the burden or find cost efficiencies in your relocation and assignment management?

Need to buy in specialist expertise for part of the process to complement your in-house HR functions or outsource the full service?

Perhaps you are looking to buy-in specialist expertise for part of the process to complement your in-house HR functions or outsource the full service?

At Harbour HR we understand that expatriate assignments can be expensive, complex and stressful. An employee on assignment can cost two to three times as much as a local hire. A large number of resources need to be mobilised to get the assignment underway – shippers, tax advisors, immigration consultants, accommodation services, international schooling, home and host country human resources and payroll and more. And with a foreign move, the additional challenges of a new culture, a different language and family considerations can also be involved. It can be an ongoing task that touches on a multitude of areas and doesn’t simply stop when your employee arrives in their new location. It is therefore vital to plan with precision and get it right first time.

Following our successful merger with K2 Corporate Mobility, a leading independent global mobility company that offers bespoke relocation and assignment management services, we can now offer a complete package that gives you and your employee peace of mind. We manage the assignment process from start to finish via a dedicated assignment manager, giving you a single point of accountability and seamless business partnering for the move.

Our expert teams advise on expatriate policy design and development, drawing up assignment agreements and highlighting the various issues that need to be addressed for any potential foreign assignment. Organisations can either outsource their expatriate administration to us or our specialist teams can provide support in specific areas such as sourcing accommodation, schooling, medical insurance, destination services, language training, cultural orientation and shipping agents. Our assessment of your needs will also take into account financial considerations such as cost of living adjustments, home/host reward structures, tax regimes and inflation differences.

We can process UK, US and foreign tax returns, assist with tax planning and can advise on the employee’s payroll obligations at home and abroad. We can also help with compensation and benefits planning, and advise on cross-border immigration, tax and social security issues.

Our specialist consultants have worked in expatriate tax and immigration departments of major accountancy firms dealing with the technical aspects of foreign moves. They have also worked in HR departments of multinational investment banks and energy companies dealing with day-to-day HR issues, compensation and benefits and the practical side of foreign assignments. Many have also been expatriates themselves. This combination of technical and practical experience provides us with unique insight in to the complexities of international assignments at every level.

Our aim is deliver a burden-free service to your organisation and to ensure your employee is productive in role at their new location from day one without distraction – including ensuring their family needs are met. Our focus on service excellence, means we will also manage ongoing support and costs, proactively reviewing services and managing vendor performance to ensure you and your employee are enjoying consistent, quality support.

The range of services we offer includes:

Expatriate policy design and development
Drawing up assignment agreements
Pinpointing the various issues that need to be addressed for any potential foreign assignment
Compensation and benefits planning
Advising on cross-border immigration, tax and social security issues
Applying for social security certificates of coverage
UK work permit and employment related applications
Outsourced expatriate administration
Help with sourcing accommodation, schooling, medical insurance, destination services, language training, cultural orientation, shipping agents
UK, US and foreign tax return preparation and planning
Advice on the assignee’s payroll obligations at home and abroad