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  • From Classroom to Conference room: How HSO's graduate program is shaping Sam's career

From Classroom to Conference room: How HSO's graduate program is shaping Sam's career

Sam Yeo began his journey with HSO through a graduate program, earning certifications and looking to work on various projects across a wide range of industries. Let's see what the future holds for Sam.

Meet
Sam Yeo
Graduate Consultant

What made you join HSO?

I think when doing my research prior to applying, you get the vibe that HSO does care about its people and the work that they do.

...also, the assessment day was a really big thing for me. Walking in and meeting directors, and really senior people like managing directors, who would give you their time and wanted to be there that day to meet people like myself, who had very little prior experience, was great.

How did you find the onboarding process?

I really enjoyed it - talking to people, getting to understand their backgrounds, and understanding ourselves as well. Being able to understand myself with insights to see where my strengths and weaknesses are, and which areas I am stronger in, was something I really enjoyed.

What were the challenges you faced?

Things that I was challenged by were, of course, the technical aspects. With my experience lacking a little bit in Dynamics, being able to understand the system and really drill down into it was something challenging, but enjoyable.

How did you find your initial foray into the business?

Yeah, I think what I’ve enjoyed is being able to talk to people at various levels and understand their experiences and expertise. Path sessions with Peter Sharpe, Director of Enterprise Architecture, HSO and Mike Stanbridge, Enterprise Architect, HSO recently have been great; they've been able to share so much about their expertise and give us so much time.

They have said, "If you need us, just book a meeting in the diary. We are always happy to take that time," and that is what I have loved. Being able to talk to people of different levels and everyone having time for you, even though we are brand new graduates with very little experience, is wonderful.

Even though we aren’t valuable to them at the moment in terms of a business perspective, they always wanted to give their time to help us develop, which is so lovely. It really makes you feel at home.

The best thing I can say for new starters is just talk to people.
Everyone is willing to give you their time, instead of saying they do not have the time at all, they’ll simply say right look at my calendar, find a time that works for us both, set it up and I will be there, and that’s great.

So being able to utilise that and make the most of it, if people are willing to give you their time, try and take it and learn from these skilled people in their expert areas and prospective people looking to join HSO.

Sam Yeo Graduate Consultant

What advice would you give yourself?

Personally, I have a little bit of a lack of experience in the working world, and that was something about which I was slightly worried.

Of course, having met people who are on the graduate scheme on the assessment day and seeing their experience, I understood that everyone is on a level playing field with the graduates.

We have not worked with Dynamics before, so being able to give yourself that confidence and say that you can do this, and knowing that you will be able to learn this, is important. Just have confidence in your abilities and your skills.

What are you looking forward to over the next few months?

Going into projects. I have now completed two certifications and have one left, so I am really looking forward to being able to work on projects in a different capacity.

Looking at things from a supply chain perspective or in various other ways, and being able to develop those skills in these different projects and areas, is something I am excited about.

HSO Graduate Programs

We have been running our graduate scheme for the past seven years recruiting and developing our graduates into business associates who have a real impact on the business and for our customers. Get to know how.

Graduate Programs

Want to join our HSO family?

See our vacancies below

US Remote

Cloud & Infrastructure

Azure Cloud Architect

HSO is seeking an Azure Cloud Architect to lead solution design and drive hands-on delivery of complex Microsoft Azure engagements for our clients. This role owns the architecture from discovery through implementation—spanning landing zones, migrations, identity & security, IaC, and cloud governance—while staying grounded in the platform and working directly alongside engineers and clients. A key part of the role is leading large-scale migrations and deployments, mentoring delivery teams, and building reusable assets. As an Azure Cloud Architect, you can expect to… Azure Architecture & Platform Engineering  Architect enterprise-scale Azure Landing Zones aligned to CAF and Well-Architected principles: management groups, subscriptions, Azure Policy, RBAC, and platform automation.  Define compute and PaaS patterns: VM/VMSS sizing, AKS, App Service/Functions, and Container Registry as appropriate.  Architect Azure Virtual Desktop solutions: host pool design, FSLogix profile strategy on Azure Files or Azure NetApp Files, Scaling Plans, and AVD Insights monitoring.  Lead design sessions, produce Architecture Decision Records (ADRs), and validate approaches through hands-on proof-of-concept builds.  Azure Migration  Lead cloud migration programs across a range of scenarios: on-premises-to-Azure, cloud-to-cloud (e.g., AWS to Azure), and application modernization and refactoring efforts.  Drive discovery and assessment: dependency mapping, workload inventory, rehost/replatform/refactor recommendations, and wave planning.  Manage cutover execution and hypercare: tooling selection, replication monitoring, test migrations, rollback procedures, and stakeholder communication throughout.  Identity & Security  Architect Zero Trust models with Microsoft Entra ID: Conditional Access, PIM role patterns, hybrid identity (Entra Connect/Cloud Sync), and app registration governance.  Define security blueprints: Azure Policy, Defender for Cloud, Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR integrations, and Key Vault design.  Map controls to compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS as applicable) and drive Secure Score improvements.  Automation, IaC & CI/CD  Build modular IaC frameworks in Terraform and/or Bicep: reusable landing zone modules, policy-as-code, and coding standards for delivery teams.  Design CI/CD pipelines in Azure DevOps and/or GitHub Actions: environment gates, drift detection, and pre-deployment compliance checks.  Author automation in PowerShell, Azure CLI, and Python: bootstrap scripts, governance tooling, and operational runbooks.  Observability, Resilience & FinOps  Design observability platforms: Log Analytics workspace architecture, Azure Monitor, Workbook/dashboard frameworks, and alerting.  Architect BCDR solutions with Azure Backup, Site Recovery, and cross-region topologies; validate against RTO/RPO targets.  Lead FinOps efforts: tagging standards, Cost Management reporting, reservation/Savings Plans strategy, and optimization roadmaps.  Consulting & Client Engagement  Lead discovery workshops, design sessions, and Well-Architected Reviews; present architecture options with clear trade-offs to technical and business stakeholders.  Stay hands-on throughout delivery: validate designs through working code and demonstrate patterns directly alongside client teams.  Mentor delivery engineers through design reviews, pairing on complex problems, and code reviews.  Architect enterprise-scale Azure Landing Zones aligned to CAF and Well-Architected principles: management groups, subscriptions, Azure Policy, RBAC, and platform automation.  Design network topologies (hub-and-spoke or Virtual WAN): Azure Firewall, Application Gateway/WAF, Private Link, ExpressRoute/VPN, and DDoS Protection.  Contribute to pre-sales: solution scoping, proposal authoring, SOW definition, and engagement estimates.  You’re great at… Architecting enterprise-scale Azure Landing Zones aligned to Cloud Adoption Framework and Well-Architected principles. Leading cloud migration programs across various scenarios, including discovery and assessment. Defining security blueprints and architecting Zero Trust models with Microsoft Entra ID and Defender for Cloud. Building modular Infrastructure as Code frameworks (Terraform/Bicep) and designing CI/CD pipelines. Leading FinOps efforts, designing observability platforms, and architecting robust business continuity solutions. Packaging, deploying, and maintaining applications using Intune Managing escalated technical issues while remaining calm, professional, and client-focused Learning new technologies quickly and applying them in real-world scenarios Providing technical thought leadership in Modern Workplace, system integration, and automation Communicating complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders Working independently while owning deliverables and collaborating effectively with team members Promoting the mission and shared values of the company Sound interesting? If so, you’ll have… 8+ years of hands-on experience architecting and delivering Azure solutions across networking, compute, storage, identity, and security.  Proven experience leading Azure migration programs—on-premises, cloud-to-cloud, or application modernization—including assessment, wave planning, cutover, and stabilization.  Proven delivery of enterprise Azure Landing Zones: management group design, Azure Policy, RBAC frameworks, and platform automation.  Solid IaC experience in Terraform and/or Bicep with Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions CI/CD pipelines.  Strong Azure networking fundamentals: hub-and-spoke or Virtual WAN, Azure Firewall, Application Gateway/WAF, Private Link, and ExpressRoute/VPN.  Microsoft Entra ID experience: Conditional Access, PIM, hybrid identity, and Zero Trust concepts.  Familiarity with Azure security services: Defender for Cloud, Microsoft Sentinel, Key Vault, and compliance frameworks.  AVD experience: host pool design, FSLogix profiles, Scaling Plans, and monitoring.  Proficiency in PowerShell and Azure CLI; Python is a plus.  Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills Strong client-facing skills, empathy, and the ability to guide clients through complex technical challenges Ability to work independently, take ownership, and translate goals into actionable outcomes Preferred qualifications include:  Experience with tenant-to-tenant Microsoft 365 migrations: Exchange Online, SharePoint/OneDrive, Teams, and Entra ID coexistence and cutover.  Microsoft 365 platform: Intune, Exchange Online, SharePoint/OneDrive, Teams, and Purview.  Copilot readiness/governance, Copilot Studio development, and Microsoft Foundry experience.  AKS/Kubernetes and cloud data platform experience (SQL MI, Cosmos DB, Synapse Analytics, or Fabric).  Pre-sales and consulting delivery: scoping workshops, SOW authoring, and client relationship management.  Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)  Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)  Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) or Cybersecurity Architect Expert (SC-100)  Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400)  Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700)  Microsoft 365 Certified (e.g., Enterprise Administrator Expert) The Perks We offer competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, flexibility, and long-term success. Benefits include generous paid time off, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending accounts, a health reimbursement account, and a 401(k) plan with company match. You’ll also work alongside collaborative, driven teammates in a dynamic and growing professional services environment. HSO is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  

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US Remote

Human Resources & Talent

Manager, Total Rewards

Position Summary At HSO, how we pay and support our people reflects how much we value them. As Manager, Total Rewards, you will own the strategy behind our compensation, benefits, and payroll programs, ensuring they are competitive, compliant, and aligned with our business goals. This is a hands-on leadership role. In the near term, you'll also personally manage payroll and benefits operations for our 400+ person remote workforce, while building the case for - and hiring - a Coordinator to support you. Once that hire is in place, you'll shift fully into a strategic total rewards leadership role. We're looking for someone who can operate at both altitudes: comfortable owning compensation strategy and compliance at the executive level, and equally comfortable rolling up their sleeves to keep payroll and benefits running accurately in the meantime. Key Responsibilities Total Rewards Strategy Own the design, competitiveness, and compliance of compensation and benefits programs across the organization. Conduct market benchmarking and internal equity analyses; recommend pay structures, incentives, and benefits offerings that support retention and business goals. Lead annual compensation review cycles, Variable Compensation Plan (VCP) administration, and compensation modeling for leadership. Lead self-funded health plan strategy, vendor and carrier negotiations, and annual renewal and open enrollment strategy. Monitor and interpret pay transparency, ERISA, ACA, FMLA, and related regulations, translating requirements into policy and process. Lead pay equity analyses and FLSA classification reviews. Payroll & Benefits Leadership (Near Term) Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for 400+ remote employees, ensuring accuracy and compliance across jurisdictions. Manage day-to-day benefits administration: enrollments, changes, terminations, and carrier updates. Serve as the primary point of contact for employee payroll and benefits questions. Prepare ACA reporting and 401(k) audit documentation. Process and reconcile expense reimbursements, including audits for policy violations or duplicate submissions Building the Function Define and hire for the future Payroll & Benefits Coordinator role. Transition operational work to the Coordinator once hired, retaining strategic oversight. Build a scalable total rewards function positioned for HSO's long-term growth. What You'll Bring to the Team 7-10 years of progressive experience in compensation, benefits, or total rewards, including hands-on payroll experience. Proficiency with payroll systems (ADP, Paylocity) and HRIS platforms; BambooHR experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated experience with multi-state payroll tax compliance. Deep knowledge of ERISA, ACA, FMLA, and pay transparency law. Comfort operating at both a strategic and hands-on level — this role requires both, especially early on. CPP, CEBS, or SHRM-SCP/SPHR is a plus. Why You'll Succeed You see total rewards as a lever for business performance, not just administration. You're comfortable building something from the ground up, including your own future team. You bring rigor and precision to compliance work without losing sight of the bigger strategic picture. Why join HSO? HSO is a global Microsoft partner and business transformation leader, helping organizations modernize operations through Dynamics 365, Azure, Data & AI, and the Power Platform ecosystem. Internally, we invest just as intentionally in building scalable people operations that support growth, clarity, and a strong employee experience. If you enjoy building reliable systems behind the scenes that make organizations run better, you’ll feel at home here.

Learn more
US Remote

Human Resources & Talent

Manager, Total Rewards

Position Summary At HSO, how we pay and support our people reflects how much we value them. As Manager, Total Rewards, you will own the strategy behind our compensation, benefits, and payroll programs, ensuring they are competitive, compliant, and aligned with our business goals. This is a hands-on leadership role. In the near term, you'll also personally manage payroll and benefits operations for our 400+ person remote workforce, while building the case for - and hiring - a Coordinator to support you. Once that hire is in place, you'll shift fully into a strategic total rewards leadership role. We're looking for someone who can operate at both altitudes: comfortable owning compensation strategy and compliance at the executive level, and equally comfortable rolling up their sleeves to keep payroll and benefits running accurately in the meantime. Key Responsibilities Total Rewards Strategy Own the design, competitiveness, and compliance of compensation and benefits programs across the organization. Conduct market benchmarking and internal equity analyses; recommend pay structures, incentives, and benefits offerings that support retention and business goals. Lead annual compensation review cycles, Variable Compensation Plan (VCP) administration, and compensation modeling for leadership. Lead self-funded health plan strategy, vendor and carrier negotiations, and annual renewal and open enrollment strategy. Monitor and interpret pay transparency, ERISA, ACA, FMLA, and related regulations, translating requirements into policy and process. Lead pay equity analyses and FLSA classification reviews. Payroll & Benefits Leadership (Near Term) Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for 400+ remote employees, ensuring accuracy and compliance across jurisdictions. Manage day-to-day benefits administration: enrollments, changes, terminations, and carrier updates. Serve as the primary point of contact for employee payroll and benefits questions. Prepare ACA reporting and 401(k) audit documentation. Process and reconcile expense reimbursements, including audits for policy violations or duplicate submissions Building the Function Define and hire for the future Payroll & Benefits Coordinator role. Transition operational work to the Coordinator once hired, retaining strategic oversight. Build a scalable total rewards function positioned for HSO's long-term growth. What You'll Bring to the Team 7-10 years of progressive experience in compensation, benefits, or total rewards, including hands-on payroll experience. Proficiency with payroll systems (ADP, Paylocity) and HRIS platforms; BambooHR experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated experience with multi-state payroll tax compliance. Deep knowledge of ERISA, ACA, FMLA, and pay transparency law. Comfort operating at both a strategic and hands-on level — this role requires both, especially early on. CPP, CEBS, or SHRM-SCP/SPHR is a plus. Why You'll Succeed You see total rewards as a lever for business performance, not just administration. You're comfortable building something from the ground up, including your own future team. You bring rigor and precision to compliance work without losing sight of the bigger strategic picture. Why join HSO? HSO is a global Microsoft partner and business transformation leader, helping organizations modernize operations through Dynamics 365, Azure, Data & AI, and the Power Platform ecosystem. Internally, we invest just as intentionally in building scalable people operations that support growth, clarity, and a strong employee experience. If you enjoy building reliable systems behind the scenes that make organizations run better, you’ll feel at home here.

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US Remote

Data & AI

Data Solution Architect

As a Data Architect at HSO, you will design, govern, and implement modern data architectures that empower our clients to leverage their data for analytics, reporting, AI, and business transformation. You will define data models, integration patterns, governance standards, and architectural best practices while collaborating closely with Data Engineers, Consultants, and client technical and business stakeholders. As a Data Architect you can expect to… Design scalable, secure, cloud-based data architectures using Azure Data Lake, Azure SQL, Synapse, Fabric, Databricks, and related Microsoft data services. Define enterprise-ready data models, data flows, integration patterns, governance frameworks, and development standards. Lead discovery and design workshops with client stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical data solutions. Oversee and guide data engineering teams during the build phase to ensure alignment with architectural standards. Establish and maintain metadata, lineage, data quality, and governance processes leveraging Microsoft Purview or similar tools. Conduct architectural reviews, performance tuning, and optimization of data systems. Communicate design decisions, risks, tradeoffs, and solution approaches clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Stay current with emerging data technologies, architectural patterns, and Microsoft cloud advancements. You're great at... Structuring complex data challenges into clear, scalable architectural approaches. Explaining technical concepts simply and effectively to business stakeholders. Designing with both long-term scalability and real-world delivery constraints in mind. Bringing order to ambiguity — defining frameworks, standards, and processes where none exist. Collaborating with cross‑functional teams and guiding technical contributors. Identifying inefficiencies and recommending strategic improvements. Balancing innovation with practicality in solution design. Seeing both the “big picture” and the technical details that make it possible. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science 5+ years of experience designing and implementing enterprise data architectures. Strong proficiency with Azure data services (Synapse, ADF, Fabric, Databricks, ADLS, Azure SQL, etc.). Deep understanding of data modeling methodologies (Kimball, Inmon, Data Vault). Experience implementing governance frameworks, including metadata, lineage, quality, and security. Proficiency in SQL and familiarity with Python or Scala. Experience delivering data modernization, cloud migration, or analytics platform projects. Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally with engineering and business teams. Benefits:We offer competitive pay with and performance-based bonus. Our employees also enjoy unlimited paid time off and a flexible and affordable benefits program designed to help you be and stay well, including: medical, dental & vision coverage, flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement account, and a 401(k) plan with a company match. Additionally, you’ll have the benefit of working alongside enthusiastic and energetic teammates in a dynamic and thriving environment. HSO is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Salary: $166,754/yr. Please email resume to: HSO Enterprise Solutions at kramerini@hso.com

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