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. We are happy to provide application and/or accessibility support, please contact your Marks Sattin or Grafton consultant directly to discuss your needs. We're committed to protecting the privacy of all our candidates and clients, please visit and for our privacy policy.