Payroll Associate

Cedar; Reading; On-site; GBP 28,350 - 29,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits

Job summary

A prominent accountancy practice is seeking a Payroll Associate in Reading or London. In this role, you will oversee end-to-end payroll processing for various clients, ensuring compliance and accuracy throughout. Ideal candidates will have proven payroll experience, familiarity with UK legislation, and skills in payroll software like Sage or BrightPay. This is an opportunity to join a collaborative team focusing on quality and client service, ensuring continuous improvement and a high standard of work.

Qualifications

• Proven payroll experience, ideally within an accountancy practice or bureau environment.
• Strong working knowledge of UK payroll legislation.
• Experience with payroll systems such as Sage or BrightPay.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Confident communication skills with a client-centric mindset.

Responsibilities

• Manage and process multiple client payrolls (weekly, fortnightly, monthly).
• Ensure compliance with HMRC regulations and RTI submissions.
• Administer starters, leavers, and payroll changes.
• Calculate statutory payments and pension contributions.
• Liaise directly with clients to resolve queries.
• Reconcile payroll reports and address discrepancies.

Skills

Proven payroll experience

Knowledge of UK payroll legislation

Experience with payroll systems (Sage, BrightPay)

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Client communication skills

Discretion in handling sensitive information

Tools

Sage

BrightPay

Job description

Payroll Associate
Location: London or Reading
Salary: £28,350 - £29,400 per annum + Benefits

Our client, a highly regarded and growing accountancy practice, has engaged us to identify a talented Payroll Associate to join their expanding team. This firm has built a strong reputation for delivering tailored, high-quality financial services to a diverse client base, ranging from SMEs to established businesses.

This opportunity is ideal for a payroll professional seeking a role within a collaborative and forward-thinking environment, where accuracy, client service, and continuous improvement are highly valued.

The Opportunity

As Payroll Associate, you will take ownership of end-to-end payroll processing for a portfolio of clients. You will work closely with both internal teams and external stakeholders, ensuring all payroll activities are delivered efficiently, accurately, and in full compliance with current legislation.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and process multiple client payrolls (weekly, fortnightly, monthly)
• Ensure compliance with HMRC regulations and RTI submissions
• Administer starters, leavers, and payroll changes
• Calculate statutory payments (SSP, SMP, etc.) and pension contributions
• Liaise directly with clients to resolve queries and provide payroll guidance
• Reconcile payroll reports and address discrepancies proactively
• Stay up to date with payroll legislation and best practice

Candidate Profile

We are keen to speak with individuals who can demonstrate:

• Proven payroll experience, ideally within an accountancy practice or bureau environment
• Strong working knowledge of UK payroll legislation
• Experience with payroll systems such as Sage, BrightPay, or equivalent
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Confident communication skills and a client‑centric mindset
• Discretion and professionalism in handling sensitive information
• Experience managing multiple payrolls across varied client sectors
• Knowledge of auto‑enrolment pension schemes