Payroll and Finance Executive

Whytematter; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Whytematter is seeking an experienced Payroll & Finance Officer for its Belfast-based team. The role focuses on payroll, pensions and project financial support, coordinating with Finance, HR and external providers across UK, European and US operations.

You will own month-end processes, ensure accuracy, and drive compliance while supporting a creative agency with diverse client projects and a busy, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• 3+ years' experience in UK payroll and pension administration.
• Strong knowledge of income tax and National Insurance.
• Commitment to data protection and confidentiality.
• Ability to stay updated with payroll rules and best practices.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Manage monthly payroll instructions for joiners and leavers with external providers.
• Reconcile payroll reports and meet deadlines.
• Support payroll across UK, Europe and the US.
• Administer UK and Netherlands pension schemes.
• Prepare year-end payroll and pension documentation.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance and project teams.

Skills

Payroll

Finance

UK payroll

Excel skills

Data confidentiality

Tools

Payroll systems

Accounting software

Job description

Belfast

We’re delighted to be recruiting for an experienced Payroll & Finance Officer on behalf of an established and highly regarded creative agency based in Belfast.

Operating within a fast-paced, creative environment and working with some brilliant brands and projects, this is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced payroll and finance professional who enjoys variety, takes pride in accuracy and would like to be part of a collaborative, people-focused business.

The role has an interesting international element, supporting payroll and finance activity across UK, European and US operations, while working closely with colleagues across Finance, HR and the wider business.

The Role

Reporting to the Financial Controller, you’ll take ownership of key areas across payroll, pensions and project financial support, helping ensure monthly processes run accurately and efficiently while remaining compliant with relevant regulations.

This is much more than simply processing payroll. You’ll become a key link between Finance, HR and the wider business, while also working closely with project leads across a large number of live client projects.

For someone who enjoys variety, problem-solving and getting the detail right, it offers a really nice mix of payroll expertise and broader finance responsibility.

What You'll Be Doing

• Managing monthly payroll instructions, including joiners, leavers, amendments and maternity leave, and liaising with external payroll providers.

• Reviewing and reconciling payroll reports to ensure accuracy and completion within required deadlines.

• Supporting payroll processes across UK, European and US operations.

• Managing monthly payroll and pension recharges across different business entities.

• Completing monthly and year-end reconciliations across payroll ledgers, pensions, PAYE and net wages.

• Administering UK and Netherlands pension schemes, ensuring accurate and timely payments and regulatory compliance.

• Keeping up to date with payroll and pension legislation, including salary sacrifice arrangements.

• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date payroll and pension procedures.

• Ensuring confidentiality and data protection standards are maintained when handling sensitive employee information.

• Preparing payroll and pension information for year-end audits.

• Collating information for annual P11D and PSA submissions.

• Analysing freelancer costs across the business and liaising with HR and Purchase Ledger.

• Working with project leads and Finance Managers to review monthly project closures, including budgets, billing and supplier invoices.

• Completing relevant statutory business surveys.

• Supporting the Financial Controller and Finance Managers with ad hoc projects and the day-to-day running of the finance function.

• Liaising with internal and external stakeholders including HR, HMRC, pension providers and regulatory bodies.

What We're Looking For

We’d love to speak with experienced payroll professionals who are confident taking ownership of their work and enjoy being part of a busy, collaborative environment.

Ideally, you'll bring:

• At least 3 years' experience across UK payroll, tax regulations and pension administration.

• A strong understanding of statutory deductions, including income tax and National Insurance contributions.

• Good knowledge of data protection and confidentiality requirements when handling employee information.

• An interest in keeping up to date with changes to payroll and pension regulations and best practice.

• Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.

• Strong Excel skills.

• Excellent organisation and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple payrolls and deadlines.

• A focused and methodical approach to your work.

• The ability to work effectively under pressure and to strict deadlines.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Confidence working independently while also enjoying being part of a wider team.

• Clear and confident written and verbal communication skills.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is a great opportunity to join a successful creative agency environment where Finance is seen as a genuine partner to the wider business rather than simply a back-office function.

You’ll work alongside talented and friendly colleagues across different areas of the organisation, including PR and creative content, while also gaining exposure to international payroll and finance operations.

It’s an ideal next move for someone with a strong payroll background who would like a role offering variety, responsibility and wider finance exposure within an interesting and creative business.

Location: Belfast

If you have strong payroll experience and this sounds like the type of opportunity you’d be interested in exploring, we’d love to hear from you.