Payroll and Benefits Assistant

Michael Page Finance; Newton-le-Willows; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Study support

Job summary

Michael Page Finance is seeking a Payroll Assistant / Analyst to support payroll for around 450 staff. You will manage end‑to‑end payroll, analyse variances vs budgets, and build reports for Finance and HR managers.

You’ll also handle onboarding/offboarding and administer employee benefits, with a focus on accuracy and compliance. Ideal candidates have 12 months’ experience in payroll support within accounts or HR, strong Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivot tables) and a proactive, detail‑oriented

Qualifications

• Accurate and detail oriented with strong organisational skills.
• Ability to work to tight timescales and meet deadlines.
• Flexibility to payroll processing schedules (4‑weekly or monthly).
• Strong Excel skills including VLOOKUPs and Pivot tables.
• Professionalism and respectful interaction with staff.

Responsibilities

• Full start to finish payroll processing for ~450 staff.
• Analyse key variances against budgets and forecasts.
• Develop reporting suite for Finance and Operational Managers.
• Collate payroll data from depots and perform data checks.
• Onboard/offboard staff and administer benefit schemes.
• Reconcile payroll using Excel and Sage.
• Process pension submissions and employee benefits.

Skills

VLOOKUPs

Pivot tables

Attention to detail

Time management

Tools

Sage

Excel

Job description

We're looking for an enthusiastic Payroll Assistant / Analyst to join our team. This Payroll & Benefits Assistant role provides an excellent opportunity for someone new to payroll who has recent experience in supporting either a finance or HR function for at least 12 months or is keen to develop a career in this area. This role has been created as a developmental role.

Client Details

The individual will become responsible for efficiently processing payroll for approx. 450 staff as well as analytical work into variances to budgets and forecast and trends within working patterns. The role will be conduit between HR and Finance with a dot lined to both areas. Other responsibilities will include the effective onboarding / offboarding of staff, in addition to administration of company benefit schemes such as private healthcare, life insurance, electric car scheme and cycle to work scheme.

Description

Full start to finish process for the Groups payroll.

Analysis of key trends and variance reports of actual staffing numbers and costs v's the budget.

Structured reporting and development of a suite of reports for Key Finance and Operational Managers to report on the employment cost base.

Collation of payroll data from depots, conducting relevant checks on time and attendance data received

Building a rapport with staff throughout the business, particularly managers responsible for payroll data

Completing relevant manual calculations

Reconciliation of payroll using excel and Sage

Administration of liability orders

Pension submissions

Administration of employee benefit packages

Onboarding staff from the point of offer to ensure all information is captured correctly for payroll and benefits purposes.

Profile

Accuracy and attention to detail is critical to this role

Organisational skills and ability to work to tight timescales

Flexibility to working hours when processing payroll (our payroll is processed on either a 4-weekly basis or monthly basis)

Excel IT skills including Vlookups and Pivot tables.

Ability to maintain professionalism and respect towards others

Ideally 1-year experience in either an accounts or HR support role

Job Offer

• Salary ranging from £28,000 to £31,000, dependent on the level of experience.
• Permanent position based in Newton-Le-Willows.
• Study support
• Opportunities to develop your payroll and benefits expertise in the retail industry.

People are at the heart of Michael Page.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

As an inclusive recruiter we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences.

If you require any adjustments or accommodations during the recruitment process, we'll work with you to ensure you can perform at your best.