Payroll Assistant

Reed; Devon and Torbay; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

Employee discount

Cycle to Work scheme

Long service awards

Career development

Job summary

Reed is seeking a Payroll Assistant in Plymouth, Devon, for a permanent, full-time role. The position focuses on payroll system administration, data accuracy, and process improvement within a growing national business.

You will work with Payroll, HR, Finance and operations to maximise the effectiveness of systems such as Zellis Payroll and UKG Workforce Management, plus Microsoft reporting tools. Compliance and data quality are key responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Experience working with payroll, HR systems, workforce management, or related systems.
• Strong understanding of payroll processes and data management principles.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, data manipulation, and analysis.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work with large data sets.
• Experience producing reports and presenting findings to stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain technical information clearly.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional and confidential approach to handling sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Support the administration, optimisation, and continuous improvement of payroll and workforce management systems.
• Collaborate with Payroll, HR, Finance, and operational stakeholders to maximise system effectiveness (Zellis Payroll, UKG Workforce Management, MS reporting).
• Assist with system upgrades, testing, enhancements, and rollout of new functionality.
• Monitor system integrations, performance, and data quality, identifying and resolving issues.
• Produce, analyse, and interpret payroll and workforce reports to support business decisions.
• Manage data imports, reconciliations, validations, and audits to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Provide first-line systems support and guidance to payroll colleagues and business users.
• Support payroll projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with payroll legislation, GDPR, internal controls and audits.
• Identify opportunities to automate processes and improve user experience and reporting.

Skills

Payroll systems

Excel

Analytical thinking

Data management

Reporting to stakeholders

Attention to detail

Communication

Multi-tasking

Confidential handling

Data imports/interfaces

Job description

Payroll Assistant

• Location: Plymouth, Devon


• Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time


• Salary: Competitive

Day-to-day of the role:

• Support the administration, optimisation, and continuous improvement of payroll and workforce management systems to ensure data accuracy, system efficiency, and excellent service delivery across the business.


• Work closely with Payroll, HR, Finance, and operational stakeholders to maximise the effectiveness of key systems including Zellis Payroll, UKG Workforce Management, and Microsoft reporting tools.


• Assist with system upgrades, testing, enhancements, and the rollout of new functionality.


• Monitor system integrations, performance, and data quality, identifying and resolving issues proactively.


• Produce, analyse, and interpret payroll and workforce reports to support business decision-making.


• Manage data imports, reconciliations, validations, and audits to ensure accuracy and compliance.


• Provide first-line systems support and guidance to payroll colleagues and business users.


• Support payroll projects, process improvements, and efficiency initiatives.


• Ensure compliance with payroll legislation, GDPR requirements, internal controls, and audit standards.


• Identify opportunities to automate processes and improve user experience, reporting capability, and payroll accuracy.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Experience working within a payroll, HR systems, workforce management, or related systems environment.


• Strong understanding of payroll processes and data management principles.


• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, data manipulation, and analysis.


• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.


• Strong attention to detail and the ability to work confidently with large data sets.


• Experience producing reports and presenting findings to stakeholders.


• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain technical information clearly.


• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.


• Professional and confidential approach to handling sensitive information.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience using Zellis Payroll and/or UKG Workforce Management (Kronos).


• Previous experience within an in-house payroll function.


• Knowledge of UK payroll legislation and best practice.


• Experience with data imports, CSV files, interfaces, and system integrations.


• Involvement in payroll testing, upgrades, or implementation projects.


• Knowledge of SQL, reporting tools, or data extraction techniques.


• Experience supporting business change and continuous improvement initiatives.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary


• Pension scheme


• Employee discount


• Cycle to Work scheme


• Long service awards


• Career development opportunities within a growing national business

If you're looking to combine your payroll systems knowledge with data analysis and process improvement in a growing and forward-thinking organisation, we'd love to hear from you.