Lead Payroll Specialist

Global Payments Inc.; Manchester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Global Payments Inc. is seeking an experienced Lead Payroll Specialist to manage UK and European payroll operations. You will partner with in-house and outsourced vendors to ensure regulatory compliance and a high-quality employee experience.

Join a global organisation and help shape the future of payroll excellence across multiple jurisdictions. Strong analytical skills and attention to detail are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience as a payroll administrator/specialist/analyst.
• Knowledge of UK payroll legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent attention to detail and numeracy.
• Strong written and oral communication skills at all levels.
• Proficient with Excel: VLOOKUPs, pivots; data analytics experience.

Responsibilities

• Execute UK & European payroll processing ensuring deadlines and high-quality standards.
• Manage relationships with external payroll vendors; monitor SLAs and service delivery.
• Perform final payroll data audits: gross calculations, tax withholdings, deductions.
• Ensure timely filing of statutory and year-end returns; stay updated on local laws.
• Maintain payroll data integrity in HRIS/Payroll systems; reconcile regularly.
• Produce reports for management and other stakeholders; handle payroll queries.

Skills

UK payroll legislation

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Numeracy

Excel (Vlookup, Pivot)

Deadline driven

Job description

Ready to take your career global?

Make your mark at one of the biggest names in payments. We’re looking for an experienced Lead Payroll Specialist to join our ever evolving payroll team and help shape the future of global commerce.

Summary Of This Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced individual to fulfil this diverse role.

You will ensure the smooth operation of multiple UK and European payrolls through partnering with in-house and outsourced payroll vendors. You will ensure that all regulatory and legal requirements are met and the end user experience is of high standard.

This is an excellent opportunity at a global organisation.

What You’ll Own

• Execute the preparation and processing of UK & European Payrolls ensuring deadlines are met and high-quality standards are consistently delivered leading to a good employee experience
• Manage the relationship with external payroll vendors and ensure adherence to agreed SLA’s and expected service delivery standards
• Perform final audits of payroll data for each pay run to ensure accuracy of gross to calculations, verifying calculations of wages, tax withholdings and deductions.
• Ensure the accurate and timely filing of statutory and year-end returns
• Stay current with local legislation changes to ensure payroll compliance
• Ensure data integrity within the HRIS/Payroll systems through regular reconciliation
• Maintain relevant Payroll policies, procedures and manuals
• Evaluate existing payroll workflows for efficiencies
• Assist with internal and external audits as required
• Maintain the payroll inbox and actively respond to queries from payroll vendors, HR Business Partners, employees, and external agencies as required.
• Act as a contact point for complex queries regarding pay, taxes and deductions and communicate payroll information to various stakeholders
• Conduct payroll reconciliations as needed
• Provide information and prepare reports for various areas of the organization and managers as required.
• Manage and/or participate in payroll projects as required
• Maintain confidentiality at all levels and protect payroll operations by adhering to GDPR regulations or any other local data protection laws

What you’ll bring

The essential skills for this role include:

• Minimum 3 years previous experience as a payroll administrator/specialist/analyst, preferably within professional services.
• Knowledge of UK payroll legislation
• Excellent attention to detail
• Good written and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively, succinctly and professionally at all levels
• Good numeracy skills
• Experience of working to tight deadlines and the ability to handle competing demands for service
• Problem analysis and resolution
• Strong excel skills (Vlookups, Pivots) essential
• Commitment to maintaining good standards within payroll
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced environment and to meet all deadlines
• Sensitivity and discretion in providing advice
• Ability to work well in a team
• Able to process large volumes of data quickly and accurately

About The Team

Our inclusive and global teams win together every day. We’re proud to have the best minds in the industry, who you can learn from as you grow your career. The people, the energy, the connections – it’s unmatched. Come and be part of an ever-evolving company and get dynamic opportunities that go beyond borders.

What makes a Globalpayer?

Globalpayers think like a client, act like an owner and win as one team. We’re curious and innovative – always finding better ways to deliver impact. We empower each other to make decisions, and it’s our passion that drives excellence in everything we set out to do.