Payroll Specialist

Job Title: Payroll Specialist

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare, validate, and submit payroll input to the external payroll provider.
• Review payroll calculations and reports to identify and resolve discrepancies before payroll approval.
• Process employee changes, including new hires, leavers, salary changes, absence data, overtime, bonuses, and other variable payments.
• Support statutory payroll activities, including PAYE, National Insurance, statutory payments, pension contributions, and Real Time Information reporting.
• Perform payroll reconciliations and support month-end, year-end, and post-payroll activities.
• Respond to employee and stakeholder payroll queries clearly and within agreed service levels.
• Coordinate with HR Operations, Finance, external providers, and other relevant teams to resolve payroll issues.
• Maintain accurate payroll records, support audits, and ensure required payroll controls are completed and documented.
• Identify recurring errors, support root-cause analysis, and contribute to improvements in payroll processes and controls.
• Prepare payroll reports and support additional payroll-related activities and projects as required.
• Process off-cycle and manual payments to employees and third-party entities.

Qualifications & Experience

• Previous payroll experience is essential.
• Experience in UK payroll would be an advantage.
• A degree or professional qualification in Payroll, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or a related field would be beneficial.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability for assigned payroll activities.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work accurately with payroll data.
• Ability to manage priorities and meet strict payroll deadlines.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working with HR or payroll systems.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential employee information appropriately.
• Proactive and collaborative approach to working with internal stakeholders and external payroll providers.