Business Analyst (Payroll)

Primark; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 74,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

Primark is seeking a Business Analyst for a Global Payroll Transformation programme. You will define payroll requirements, map processes, and support a new payroll platform/provider across regions.

The role involves collaboration with global teams, vendors, and technical partners to ensure compliance and clear requirements. The role focuses on requirements engineering, data migration, testing support including parallel payroll testing, and detailed documentation.

Qualifications

• Experience defining payroll requirements for global programmes.
• Proven involvement in parallel payroll testing and UAT.
• Ability to map current and target payroll processes and data.

Responsibilities

• Capture statutory, regulatory, functional, operational, and integration needs.
• Build as-is and to-be payroll process flows; identify gaps and risks.
• Produce requirements, data definitions, validation rules, and acceptance criteria.
• Lead workshops with payroll SMEs, finance teams, and stakeholders.
• Ensure requirements remain traceable through design, config, testing, and deployment.
• Support configuration reviews, walkthroughs, and solution validation.
• Assist with data migration mapping, transformation, and reconciliation.
• Contribute to UAT, reconciliation, cutover activities, and parallel payroll testing.
• Maintain artefacts including user stories, test scenarios, and process flows.
• Identify and elevate risks related to timelines, compliance, or design.
• Engage confidently with global/local SMEs.

Skills

Requirements analysis

Process mapping

Stakeholder engagement

Data mapping

Testing support

Payroll testing

Tools

ADP

SD Worx

Ceridian

Alight

Workday Payroll

Job description

Business Analyst – Payroll Transformation (Global Programme)

Duration: Initial 6 Months

Location: Reading or Dublin (hybrid)

Contract Type: Day Rate (Inside IR35 if UK Based)

We’re hiring a Business Analyst to support a major global Payroll Transformation programme. This role is ideal for someone experienced in defining payroll requirements, implementing new payroll platforms/providers, and with proven involvement in parallel payroll testing.

You’ll work with global/local payroll teams, vendors, and technical partners to ensure requirements are clear, processes are mapped, and the solution meets business and compliance needs. The role reports into the Programme Lead.

Key Responsibilities

• Requirements capture - Document statutory, regulatory, functional, operational, and integration needs.
• Process mapping - Build detailed as‑is and to‑be payroll process flows, identifying gaps and risks.
• Solution delivery - Produce requirements, data definitions, validation rules, and acceptance criteria for a new payroll platform/provider.
• Workshop facilitation - Lead discussions with payroll SMEs, finance teams, and in‑market stakeholders.
• Traceability - Ensure payroll requirements remain traceable through design, configuration, testing, and deployment.
• Vendor collaboration - Support configuration reviews, functional walkthroughs, and solution validation.
• Data migration - Assist with mapping, transformation rules, and reconciliation.
• Testing support - Contribute to UAT, reconciliation, cutover activities, and parallel payroll testing.
• Documentation - Maintain high‑quality artefacts including user stories, test scenarios, and process flows.
• Risk management - Identify and elevate risks related to timelines, compliance, or solution design.
• Requirements engineering and strong analytical capability.
• Deep understanding of end‑to‑end payroll processes, compliance, and operating models.
• Experience implementing payroll platforms/providers (e.g., ADP, SD Worx, Ceridian, Alight, Workday Payroll).
• Proven involvement in parallel payroll testing and payroll UAT.
• Ability to engage confidently with global/local SMEs.
• Strong problem‑solving, communication, and organisational discipline.
• Experience in multi‑country payroll environments is highly desirable.