Payroll Specialist

Key Responsibilities Support Payroll Team Leadership in delivering a high-quality payroll and pensions service across the business. Process end-to-end payroll, pensions and employee expenses accurately and within agreed deadlines. Ensure payroll activities meet agreed SLAs and KPIs , supporting wider departmental and business objectives. Maintain compliance with HMRC requirements, pensions legislation, internal controls and audit standards . Act as a key contact for internal and external stakeholders, including Finance, People/HR, wider business teams and third-party providers. Take ownership of assigned payroll and pensions responsibilities, proactively resolving queries and issues. Provide knowledgeable support on payroll and pensions administration . Identify opportunities to improve processes through standardisation, automation and reduced manual intervention . Support the testing and implementation of new payroll functionality, technology and system changes . Share knowledge and provide training/support to other members of the team. Contribute to a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. Maintain a high level of confidentiality and professionalism when handling sensitive employee and payroll information. Experience & Qualifications The ideal candidate will have: A minimum of 3 years' experience in end-to-end payroll and pensions processing . Strong knowledge of UK and Republic of Ireland payroll and pensions . A good understanding of payroll legislation, regulatory requirements, financial controls and compliance. Experience supporting payroll system implementations, upgrades or technology changes . Experience testing new system functionality and supporting/training colleagues. Strong cross-functional stakeholder management experience. Experience working with payroll, expenses and pensions platforms . Good working knowledge of Microsoft and Google Workspace applications . Experience using MHR iTrent and Standard Life platforms would be advantageous. A CIPP Payroll Technician qualification or Level 3 Payroll Administrator Apprenticeship , or equivalent, would be desirable. Key Skills Strong end-to-end payroll and pensions knowledge. Excellent attention to detail and commitment to accuracy. Strong understanding of payroll controls and best practice. Ability to identify and implement opportunities for continuous improvement . Confident stakeholder management and relationship-building skills. Clear and professional written and verbal communication. Strong organisation and time-management skills. Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage tight payroll deadlines. Self-motivated with the ability to manage responsibilities with moderate supervision. High levels of integrity when handling confidential and sensitive information. A collaborative approach and willingness to contribute to the ongoing development of the wider payroll function.

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