Payroll Specialist

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end UK payroll operations for approximately 700 employees across 2 entities with monthly cycles, ensuring 99.5% accuracy, on-time processing, and full compliance with UK legislation, GDPR, and company policies.
• Oversee the outsourced payroll provider relationship (Strada), preparing and reviewing payroll data, monitoring KPIs, validating calculations, and escalating operational issues to ensure seamless delivery.
• Process compensation and benefits including salary changes, bonuses, pension administration and reporting, benefit deductions, share scheme processing, and expatriate/immigrant payroll for international mobility.
• Deliver accurate and timely reporting to third‑party administrators (pensions, share schemes), Finance, and business stakeholders, including ad-hoc reports and statutory returns.
• Provide Level 2 payroll support by responding to queries via Service Now within agreed SLAs, maintaining the Knowledge Database, and resolving issues in a professional and timely manner.
• Lead audit preparation and compliance activities, including payroll control checklists, control evidence documentation, sign‑off processes, and responding to internal and external audit requests.
• Maintain payroll documentation and governance, ensuring all policies, SOPs, change requests, and control evidence are current and stored appropriately on SharePoint.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, staying current with UK payroll legislation, monitoring and refining processes to meet statutory requirements while supporting corporate projects and the Global Core Model.

• Proven UK payroll expertise with a thorough understanding of payroll processes, UK legislation, and compliance requirements (GDPR);
  Ireland payroll knowledge is a plus.
• Relevant qualification and experience:
  Graduate/Master's degree in Finance, HR, or Business Administration, or CIPP qualification (or working towards it), with hands‑on payroll experience ideally in an international, multicultural environment.
• Strong technical proficiency with payroll/HRIS systems (Workday experience advantageous) and advanced Excel skills to manage data, reporting, and analysis effectively.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities to address operational issues, interpret complex payroll data, and drive resolution in a timely and effective manner.
• Detail‑oriented and precise with the ability to organize, prioritize, and structure tasks to meet tight deadlines while maintaining 99.5%+ accuracy standards.
• Collaborative team player who works effectively across teams (People Services, Finance, P&C, Legal) and with external providers, bringing an end‑to‑end mindset to service delivery.
• Professional communicator able to interact confidently with internal and external stakeholders, providing clear support and building strong working relationships.
• Action‑oriented and change‑ready, with a delivery‑driven approach and enthusiasm for continuous improvement initiatives within the payroll function.

As a Payroll Specialist within Sanofi Business Operations, People Services team, you will manage the complete payroll lifecycle for approximately 700 employees across two UK entities, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and on-time processing while supporting our global mission to simplify and harmonize people processes. You will collaborate with cross‑functional teams including Finance, P&C, and Legal, taking ownership of compensation and benefits processing, continuous improvement initiatives, and delivering exceptional support that directly impacts our employee experience.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to offering interviews to candidates who request consideration under the Scheme and meet the minimum requirements for this role. If you have a disability and require adjustments for the interview process, please email us at diversi

We are dedicated to ensuring an inclusive and supportive experience for all applicants.