Payroll & Benefits Lead

FINN Partners; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous time-off policy

Private medical and dental insurance

Parental leave accommodations

6% employer pension contributions

Annual wellness subsidy

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

A leading public relations agency in Greater London is seeking a Payroll & Benefits Lead to oversee payroll operations across the UK and Ireland. This hybrid role allows for full ownership of payroll for 175 employees, providing opportunities for career growth. The ideal candidate will have 4+ years of payroll experience, preferably as a Senior Payroll Specialist, and extensive knowledge of payroll legislation. Competitive compensation is offered, along with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 4+ years’ experience in payroll, ideally as a Senior Payroll Specialist.
• Confident with UK payroll operations end-to-end.
• Strong understanding of UK payroll legislation.

Responsibilities

• Run end-to-end monthly payroll for 175 employees.
• Ensure payroll is processed accurately and on time.
• Manage private medical and dental insurance schemes.

Skills

Payroll management

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Tools

Dayforce

Job description

This position is a hybrid role with no set requirement for specific days or number of days in office; the role can be fully remote for the right candidate.

TheOpportunity

We’re looking for an experienced payroll professional ready to take the next step in their career.

As our Payroll & Benefits Lead, you’ll take ownership of payroll operations across the UK and Ireland, while coordinating with external providers in Europe. This is an excellent opportunity for a Senior Payroll Specialist who is confident running payroll end-to-end and is now looking to step into a broader role with greater visibility, autonomy, and responsibility.

You’ll manage payroll for 160 employees in the UK and 15 employees in Ireland using Dayforce, and act as the key point of contact for our payroll providers in Germany (15 employees) and France (15 employees).

In addition to payroll, you’ll oversee core employee benefits including private medical, dental insurance, and an annual wellness allowance.

This is a fully remote role offering real ownership and the opportunity to shape and improve processes.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Run end-to-end monthly payroll for 175 employees across the UK and Ireland.
• Ensure payroll is processed accurately and on time using Dayforce.
• Maintain payroll data including starters, leavers, salary changes, bonuses, commissions, and deductions.
• Manage pension contributions and auto‑enrolment compliance.
• Process statutory payments (SSP, SMP, etc.).
• Submit RTI filings and statutory reporting.
• Support year‑end activities including P60s and P11Ds.
• Reconcile payroll reports and ensure accuracy with HMRC PAYE portal.
• Assistance with annual payroll and accounting audits.

European Payroll Coordination

• Act as the internal point of contact for external payroll providers in Germany and France.
• Coordinate monthly payroll inputs and review outputs for accuracy.
• Ensure deadlines are met and queries are resolved promptly.

Benefits Administration

• Manage private medical and dental insurance schemes.
• Oversee enrolment, changes, and leavers within benefit plans.
• Administer the annual wellness benefit.
• Ensure payroll deductions and benefits‑in‑kind reporting are accurate.
• Reconcile benefit invoices and liaise with Finance.
• Respond to employee benefit queries.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll and benefits processes.
• Support system enhancements and testing within Dayforce.
• Help maintain compliance with payroll legislation and internal controls.

About You

• 4+ years’ payroll experience, ideally in a Senior Payroll Specialist role.
• Confident running UK payroll end-to-end with minimal supervision.
• Experience with Irish, German and French payroll is desirable.
• Exposure to multi‑country payroll (or working with external providers) is advantageous.
• Experience administering employee benefits.
• Strong understanding of UK payroll legislation, pensions, and statutory payments.
• High attention to detail and strong reconciliation skills.
• Experience with Dayforce payroll application highly desirable.
• Comfortable working independently in a remote/hybrid environment.
• Proactive, organized, and keen to take ownership.

Why This Role?

• A genuine step up in scope and responsibility.
• Full ownership of payroll operations.
• Opportunity to broaden experience across multiple countries.
• Exposure to benefits management and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Hybrid/Fully remote working.

As a FINN team member, you will have access to:

• A generous time‑off policy with extra time off during the summer, and office closure between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Comprehensive, opt‑in private medical and dental insurance
• Parental leave and flexible accommodations for working parents
• 6% employer pension contributions
• An annual Wellness subsidy
• Hybrid WFH model with possibility of fully remote work.
• Career growth opportunities

The compensation range for this role is £45,000 – £50,000 commensurate with experience.

Please upload your resume and cover letter detailing your prior work experience and indicate your desired salary in GBP.

About FINN Partners
Founded in 2011 on the core principles of innovation and collaborative partnership, FINN Partners has grown from about $24 million in fees to nearly $200 million in fees over ten years, becoming one of the fastest growing independent public relations agencies in the world. The full-service marketing and communications company's record setting pace is a result of organic growth and integrating new companies and new people into the FINN world through a common philosophy. With more than 1,300 professionals across 35 offices, FINN provides clients with global access and capabilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. FINN Partners clients are also supported through longstanding partner agencies and its membership in the PROI network of leading agencies around the world. Headquartered in New York, FINN has offices in: Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Bangalore, Bangkok, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Delhi, Denver, Detroit, Dublin, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Jerusalem, Kuala Lumpur, London, Los Angeles, Madison, Manila, Mumbai, Munich, Nashville, Orange County, Paris, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, Washington D.C. and Yangon.