Interim Payroll Specialist

Lockton; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance brokerage in the UK seeks a Senior Payroll Advisor to oversee payroll functions. This hybrid role requires management of payroll processing for approximately 2,400 employees, along with reviewing processes to implement improvements. Ideal candidates will have experience in a busy payroll environment, excellent organizational skills, and be prepared to handle both in-office and remote tasks, engaging with various stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate payroll delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience of payroll processing, data entry through to reconciliation and reporting.
• Attention to detail and ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines.
• Customer-service oriented with superb organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to prioritise effectively and remain organised while supporting a team.

Responsibilities

• Manage accurate and timely processing of 3 UK payrolls.
• Handle BAU benefit activity for approximately 2,400 headcount.
• Review and improve UK payroll processes.
• Provide advice and guidance to payroll, HR & finance stakeholders.

Skills

Payroll processing

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Team leadership

Job description

Overview

Lockton is the world's largest privately held independent insurance brokerage. At Lockton, we are all about unlocking potential—your potential, our clients' potential, and ultimately our potential to deliver world‑class service. If you're passionate about making a real impact and thriving in a culture where you truly belong, join us to make a difference. This is an excellent opportunity to join Lockton's People Team in a newly created role. As Senior Payroll Advisor you will oversee the day‑to‑day running of key aspects of the payroll function, supporting the Senior Payroll and Benefits Manager and working with key stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Work with 2 senior payroll advisors to manage accurate and timely end‑to‑end processing of 3 UK payrolls.
• Handle BAU benefit activity for a headcount of approximately 2,400.
• Review UK payroll processes and implement improvements.
• Act as backup to the Senior Manager of Benefit provider management and for overseas payroll BAU processing and approvals.
• Work closely with colleagues to harmonise payroll processes and documentation across Europe.
• Maintain and develop payroll statistics.
• Manage invoice processing.
• Act as a senior member of the Payroll Advisor team, providing advice and guidance to payroll, HR & finance stakeholders.
• Monitor workflows to ensure the team remains focused and on target to close payroll within the given timetable.
• Monitor the payroll email inbox to ensure queries are responded to in a timely manner.
• Perform exception reporting and auditing of payroll data to ensure audit compliance.
• Manage and execute day‑to‑day processing of the UK payrolls, including input, reconciliation, and report running.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience of payroll processing, data entry through to reconciliation and reporting.
• Attention to detail and ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines.
• Customer‑service oriented with superb organisational and time‑management skills.
• Ability to prioritise effectively and remain organised while supporting a team.
• Able to take the lead, assign tasks, and request updates while supporting team members.

Pre‑Requisites

• Experienced in‑house payroller having worked in a busy payroll environment.
• Experience overseeing other team members and ensuring work delivery.

Working Arrangements

Role is hybrid based; the individual must attend the office 3 days per week. Some payroll system functions need to run out of hours; the individual must be prepared to run reports and updates prior to 8 am/after 6 pm (these can be done on working from home days).

Team & Systems

Current Team Size: 1 Senior Payroll Manager, 2 Senior Payroll Advisors.

Payroll System: Zellis Resource Link, outsourced providers. Payrolls include 1 PAYE payroll (~2,200) and 2 LLP (non‑PAYE) payrolls in Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden and Malta via local bureau.