Payroll and Benefits Coordinator – Temp to Perm

Department:
People and Culture

Reports to:
People and Culture Director

Salary: up to £30,000 - £35,000 DOE

Location:
Manchester / Hybrid

We are looking for an accurate, detail-oriented Payroll & Benefits Coordinator to take ownership of the smooth, compliant coordination of our monthly payroll and employee benefits. Although our payroll is processed by an outsourced provider, you will be the key point of contact and the person responsible for ensuring it is delivered correctly, on time and in line with all statutory requirements for our c.150 employees.

Alongside payroll and benefits, you will support a range of HR coordination and people-reporting activities, produce management information and contribute towards board reporting. This is a varied role that combines hands‑on payroll administration, benefits and pensions coordination, data accuracy and reporting, ideally suited to someone who enjoys both detail and the bigger picture.

• Coordinate the accurate and timely delivery of the monthly payroll for c.150 employees, acting as the primary point of contact between the business and the outsourced payroll provider.
• Compile, validate and submit all monthly payroll input – including starters, leavers, contractual changes, overtime, bonuses, expenses and statutory payments – ensuring all provider deadlines and cut‑off dates are met.
• Review and reconcile the provider’s output and gross‑to‑net reports ahead of sign‑off, investigating and resolving any variances so that every employee is paid correctly and on time.
• Ensure payroll is processed in full compliance with HMRC requirements, including RTI/FPS submissions, PAYE, National Insurance and statutory payments such as SMP, SPP and SSP.
• Administer the workplace pension scheme, re‑enrolment and provider liaison.
• Coordinate payroll year‑end activities with the provider, including P60s, P11
  
  Ds and benefit‑in‑kind reporting.
• Administer employee benefits and salary sacrifice schemes (such as pension, health cash plan, holiday buying and cycle‑to‑work), managing enrolments, changes and provider relationships.
• Act as the first point of contact for employee payroll, pension and benefits queries, resolving them professionally, accurately and with discretion.
• Maintain accurate, up‑to‑date employee records, ensuring data integrity between the HR system (Cezanne) and the outsourced payroll provider.
• Support core HR coordination activities across the employee lifecycle, including processing starters, leavers and contractual changes.
• Produce regular and ad‑hoc people and payroll management information – including headcount, absence, turnover, pay and cost reporting – using Excel to a high standard.
• Prepare and collate people‑related management information and board reporting packs, ensuring data is accurate, clearly presented and delivered to deadline.
• Ensure sensitive payroll, pension and personal data is handled in line with GDPR and data protection requirements, and support continuous improvement across payroll, benefits and HR administration.

• At least three years’ experience in a similar payroll and/or benefits role.
• Strong working knowledge of UK payroll legislation and processes, including PAYE, National Insurance, RTI, statutory payments and pension auto‑enrolment.
• Experience coordinating, or working closely with, an outsourced payroll provider.
• Proficient Excel skills, including formulas, pivot tables and data reconciliation, with the ability to turn data into clear, accurate reporting.
• Excellent organisational skills and a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Ability to communicate and display professionalism at all levels.
• Ability to adjust priorities when urgent matters arise.
• Experience of using Cezanne HR, or a comparable HR/payroll system, would be advantageous.
• We are looking for an experienced, detail‑oriented payroll and benefits professional who takes real ownership of accuracy and compliance. You will be confident coordinating an outsourced payroll, comfortable working with HR systems and data, and able to turn payroll and people…