Lead In-House Payroll Manager | High-Volume UK Roles

Smiths (Gloucester) Ltd; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Smiths Gloucestershire is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead our in-house payroll operation. You will manage weekly and monthly payrolls for around 550 staff, ensure accurate processing, and maintain HMRC and pension compliance.

In this maternity cover role, you’ll drive process improvements, produce payroll reports, and provide guidance to employees, managers, HR and Finance teams while upholding strict deadlines and data confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing high-volume in-house payrolls.
• Experience handling weekly and monthly payroll cycles.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation and HMRC rules.
• Experience administering workplace pensions and auto-enrolment.
• Proficient in payroll reporting, reconciliations and audits.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines and manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Managing the end-to-end payroll process for approximately 350 weekly-paid and 200 monthly-paid employees.
• Ensuring payrolls are processed accurately and on time.
• Processing starters, leavers, salary changes, statutory payments, benefits and payroll deductions.
• Managing workplace pension administration, including auto-enrolment and pension reconciliations.
• Ensuring compliance with HMRC regulations, PAYE, National Insurance and statutory reporting requirements.
• Producing payroll reports, reconciliations and management information.
• Acting as the primary point of contact for payroll-related queries.
• Providing guidance and support to employees, managers, HR and Finance teams.
• Maintaining payroll policies, procedures and controls.
• Identifying opportunities to improve payroll processes and efficiencies.
• Supporting employee onboarding, including the preparation of offers, contracts and payroll setup for new starters.
• Liaising with HMRC, pension providers and auditors as required.

Skills

High-volume payrolls

Weekly payrolls

Monthly payrolls

UK payroll regulations

HMRC compliance

Pensions & auto-enrolment

Payroll reporting

Audit experience

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Time management

Deadline-driven

Stakeholder communication

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Smiths Gloucestershire is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead our in-house payroll operation. You will manage weekly and monthly payrolls for around 550 staff, ensure accurate processing, and maintain HMRC and pension compliance.

In this maternity cover role, you’ll drive process improvements, produce payroll reports, and provide guidance to employees, managers, HR and Finance teams while upholding strict deadlines and data confidentiality.