Payroll Associate

Premier Foods; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Benefits & wellbeing support

Job summary

Premier Foods in Manchester is seeking a Payroll Associate to join our payroll team. You will support weekly and monthly payrolls for around 4,000 colleagues, ensuring accuracy and timely payments while partnering with HR and Finance.

We value detail-oriented professionals with strong Excel skills (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP) and experience with payroll legislation. A CIPP qualification or progress towards it is preferred, and SAP Payroll experience is a plus.

Qualifications

• Experience with weekly and monthly payroll processing.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritise effectively and remain calm under pressure.
• Excellent communication and collaboration.
• Proficient Excel skills with Pivot Tables and lookup functions.
• CIPP qualification or studying towards it.
• SAP Payroll experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Process weekly and monthly payrolls accurately and within deadlines.
• Investigate and resolve payroll queries from colleagues and stakeholders.
• Support compliance with payroll legislation, HMRC requirements and internal controls.
• Reconcile third-party vendor payments and payroll-related data.
• Support payroll audits, testing and system enhancements.
• Maintain payroll process documentation and controls.
• Work collaboratively with HR, Finance and wider business stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, systems and ways of working.
• Escalate complex payroll issues when appropriate and support their resolution.
• Contribute to team objectives, KPIs and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Weekly & monthly payrolls

Attention to detail

Prioritisation

Communication

Excel Pivot Tables

Excel VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP

Stakeholder management

Education

CIPP qualification

Tools

SAP Payroll

Job description

Role purpose

At Premier Foods, we're proud of the food brands that millions of people love. Behind every successful product, site and team is a payroll function that ensures our colleagues are supported and rewarded correctly.

We're looking for a Payroll Associate to join our Payroll team in Manchester. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with payroll experience who enjoys working with detail, solving problems and collaborating with stakeholders across the business.

You'll play a key role in processing payroll for approximately 4,000 colleagues, helping us deliver an accurate, efficient and trusted payroll service.

What you'll be doing

As a Payroll Associate, you'll support the delivery of weekly and monthly payrolls, ensuring colleagues are paid accurately and on time. Working closely with HR, Finance and other stakeholders, you'll help maintain high standards of payroll compliance, data quality and customer service.

• Process weekly and monthly payrolls accurately and within agreed deadlines
• Investigate and resolve payroll queries from colleagues and stakeholders
• Support compliance with payroll legislation, HMRC requirements and internal controls
• Reconcile third-party vendor payments and payroll-related data
• Support payroll audits, testing and system enhancements where required
• Maintain payroll process documentation and controls
• Work collaboratively with HR, Finance and wider business stakeholders
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, systems and ways of working
• Escalate complex payroll issues when appropriate and support their resolution
• Contribute to team objectives, KPIs and continuous improvement initiatives

What we need from you

You'll be someone who enjoys working with numbers and information, takes pride in accuracy and can manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience working with weekly and monthly payrolls
• Strong organisational skills and excellent attention to detail
• The ability to prioritise effectively and remain calm under pressure
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach
• Good Excel skills, including Pivot Tables and VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP functionality
• A proactive mindset and a desire to continually improve processes

It would be great if you also have:

• CIPP qualification (or are studying towards this)
• SAP Payroll experience

What we offer in return:

• You'll be part of a supportive environment where ideas are welcomed, voices are heard, and teamwork drives success.
• This role offers a pathway towards opportunities such as Payroll Specialist or Reporting & Compliance Specialist
• Access to a range of colleague benefits and wellbeing support
• Hybrid working, with two days per week based in our Manchester office.

If you're looking for a role where your accuracy, expertise and commitment to great service can make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.