Payroll Assistant

Confidential; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave

Company pension 5%

Sick pay

Additional leave

Employee discount

Health & wellbeing programme

On-site parking

Referral programme

Job summary

Zenith Advisory Partners is assisting a reputable Carlisle employer to recruit a Payroll Assistant. You will join a busy payroll team, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time, and support processing across a diverse workforce.

The role suits someone with payroll experience who is highly organized, accurate and proactive, with a focus on delivering excellent service, compliance with PAYE, NI and pensions, and opportunities to develop within payroll.

Qualifications

• Experience in payroll administration, ideally in a high-volume environment.
• Excellent attention to detail and highly organized.
• Comfortable working with numbers and identifying discrepancies.
• Able to meet tight deadlines and handle confidential information.
• Strong communication and customer service skills.
• Proficient in Excel and payroll systems.

Responsibilities

• Process and maintain monthly payroll and Time and Attendance software accurately.
• Maintain employee payroll records including starters, leavers and amendments.
• Process overtime, allowances, deductions, and other payroll adjustments.
• Manage payroll queries from employees and managers with timely responses.
• Complete statutory payroll requirements including PAYE, National Insurance, pensions and statutory payments.
• Ensure all payroll changes are supported by appropriate authorisation.
• Reconcile payroll reports and investigate discrepancies.
• Liaise with HR, Finance and operational teams to resolve payroll issues.
• Support year-end processes, including P60s and other statutory reporting.
• Assist with payroll audits and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Payroll administration

Attention to detail

Numerical accuracy

Deadline-driven

Confidentiality

Customer service

Excel

Payroll systems

Team player

Tools

Payroll software

Job description

Overview

Zenith Advisory Partners are working with a reputable and established business in Carlisle that are seeking an organised, accurate and proactive Payroll Assistant to join a busy payroll team within a leading business. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with payroll experience who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and wants to develop their career within payroll. You will play a key role in ensuring their employees are paid accurately and on time, supporting payroll processing across a diverse workforce.

Key Responsibilities

• Process, manage and maintain both the monthly payroll and Time and Attendance software accurately and within agreed deadlines.
• Maintain accurate employee payroll records, including starters, leavers and amendments.
• Process overtime, allowances, deductions, and other payroll adjustments.
• Manage payroll queries from employees and managers, providing professional and timely responses.
• Complete statutory payroll requirements, including PAYE, National Insurance, pensions and statutory payments.
• Ensure all payroll changes are supported by appropriate authorisation.
• Reconcile payroll reports and investigate discrepancies.
• Liaise with HR, Finance and operational teams to resolve payroll issues.
• Support year-end processes, including P60s and other statutory reporting.
• Assist with payroll audits and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills & Experience Required

• Experienced in payroll administration, ideally within a high-volume payroll environment.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Confident working with numbers and identifying discrepancies.
• Comfortable working to tight deadlines.
• Able to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
• A strong communicator with excellent customer service skills.
• Competent using Microsoft Excel and payroll systems.
• Able to work independently while also being a strong team player.
• Keen to develop their knowledge and career within payroll.

What’s on Offer

• Salary up to £30,000, depending on experience.
• 33 days of annual leave (including bank holidays)
• Company pension - 5%
• Sick pay
• Additional leave
• Employee discount
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Referral programme