Payroll Assistant

Sirius Search HR Recruitment; Gillingham; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Sirius Search HR Recruitment is seeking a Payroll Assistant to support the HR and Payroll function on an ongoing temporary basis. You will process the monthly payroll for 500+ employees, ensuring accuracy and timely payments, while handling confidential information with discretion.

The role requires immediate availability, strong numerical skills, and experience with payroll systems. Office-based in Medway with typical 37.5-hour week and potential flexibility around hours.

Qualifications

• Experience in payroll administration.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills.
• Proficient Excel; Sage 50 knowledge advantageous.
• Organised and deadline-driven.

Responsibilities

• Process monthly payroll for 500+ employees.
• Submit payroll payments via BACS.
• Handle starters, leavers and changes; keep payroll records up to date.
• Complete HMRC RTI submissions.
• Administer pension auto-enrolment and manage opt-outs.
• Resolve payroll queries and liaise with HMRC and providers.

Skills

Payroll administration

Numerical accuracy

Excel skills

Confidentiality

Tools

Sage 50

Job description

Job: Payroll Assistant

Location: Medway, office-based

Employment type: Temporary, ongoing

Hours: 8.30 am - 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday (other hours and 4 days could be considered)

Pay rate: £30,000 - £35,000 FTE equivalent, paid at the equivalent temporary hourly rate

START DATE ASAP

Are you an immediately available payroll professional who takes pride in getting every payment right, on time, every time? Do you enjoy working with numbers and have an eye for detail that catches the things other people miss? Would you like to join a well-established HR and Payroll team where your accuracy and professionalism are valued?

We are working exclusively with an established and successful business to appoint a temporary Payroll Assistant into their HR and Payroll function on an ongoing temporary basis to cover a period of long-term sickness. Reporting to the Payroll Manager, you will support the accurate and timely processing of a monthly payroll for over 500 employees, making sure everyone is paid correctly and on time. This is a hands-on role for someone who can step in quickly, work to strict deadlines and handle sensitive information with complete discretion.

There is some flexibility around the responsibilities depending on your experience, but immediate availability is essential. The role may include:

• Processing the monthly payroll, ensuring all payments and deductions are calculated accurately and within strict deadlines
• Preparing and submitting payroll payments via BACS
• Processing starters, leavers and contractual changes, and keeping payroll records accurate and up to date
• Handling P45s, new starter checklists and other statutory payroll documentation
• Completing HMRC submissions, including Real Time Information (RTI) reporting
• Administering workplace pension auto-enrolment, including enrolments, opt-outs and re-enrolments
• Reconciling monthly pension contributions and resolving any discrepancies
• Processing statutory and other authorised deductions, including court orders, attachment of earnings and child maintenance
• Supporting payroll year-end procedures, including reconciliations and statutory reporting
• Investigating and resolving payroll queries from employees and managers
• Liaising with HMRC, pension providers and banks to resolve payroll issues
• Helping to review and improve payroll processes to support accuracy, efficiency and compliance

About you:

• Previous experience in payroll administration, with knowledge of some or all of the responsibilities outlined above.
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Strong Excel skills and confidence with payroll systems; knowledge of Sage 50 would be an advantage
• Well organised, able to prioritise your workload and meet strict deadlines
• Discreet and professional when handling confidential information

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we may not be able to respond to every applicant individually. Please know that we carefully review each application and will reach out if your qualifications align with the vacancy. Salary banding - To achieve the top end of the salary range, candidates must meet the minimum experience/qualification level required for the role as set out in the job description.

To evaluate your suitability for the position, we'll process your CV and personal data. Should we find potential matches for other roles, we will seek your consent before registering your details in our database. For more information on how we handle personal data, please refer to our privacy policy at: Sirius Search Privacy Policy