Payroll Officer

Overview

Payroll Officer at Avara Foods, a leading UK food business that supplies chicken and turkey to major supermarkets and restaurants. Avara owns and manages its entire supply chain, from farms to factory to customer door, supporting a fast‑paced FMCG environment.

• Administer and process weekly and monthly payrolls for multiple employee groups, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Maintain payroll records, input data, and reconcile information within the payroll system.
• Calculate and process statutory deductions (PAYE, NI, pensions, SSP, SMP, etc.) in line with current legislation.
• Manage starters, leavers, and contractual changes, ensuring data integrity across HR and payroll systems.
• Liaise with HR, Finance, and departmental managers to resolve payroll queries promptly.
• Support year‑end processes, including P60s, P11
  
  Ds, and audit requirements.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR and confidentiality of employee information.
• Contribute to continuous improvement in payroll processes and systems.

• Proven experience in end‑to‑end payroll processing within a fast‑moving, high‑volume environment, ideally FMCG or manufacturing.
• Demonstrated ability to manage both weekly and monthly payrolls.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation and statutory compliance.
• Excellent attention to detail, numerical accuracy, and organisational skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and general payroll reporting tools.
• Experience using Midland HR iTrent software is a strong advantage.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• From £30,000 per annum DOE
• 31 days holiday allowance
• 5% pension
• Life assurance/insurance
• Various lifestyle benefits, such as cashback perks, exclusive shopping discounts from well‑known retailers, and discounted cinema tickets
• Wellbeing resources, including free online health advice & support, and wellbeing assessments

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.