Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Project People; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Project People is seeking a detail-oriented Payroll & Benefits Specialist for a client in Cambridge. In this role you will manage end-to-end UK payroll, pension, and benefits administration, support local compensation activities, and ensure strict statutory compliance.

You will act as a bridge between local operations and global headquarters, handle employee pay and tax queries, manage external vendors, and support expatriate tax filings and mobility payroll.

Qualifications

• 3+ years’ experience in UK payroll operations.
• Fluent in English with working knowledge of Mandarin.
• Strong understanding of UK payroll legislation and pension administration.
• Advanced Excel skills and hands-on experience with HRIS/payroll systems.

Responsibilities

• UK payroll management: end-to-end monthly payroll, attendance, leave, taxable benefits, leavers, and funding.
• Pensions & Benefits: administer auto-enrolment pensions and insurance schemes; renewals and claims.
• Compensation & Incentives: support salary reviews, bonus payments, incentives, and framework evaluations.
• Expatriate Tax: coordinate expatriate filings, accounting processes, and payments.
• Statutory Compliance & Reporting: ensure PAYE, RTI, NI compliance; manage P60, P45, PSA, Gender Pay Gap, GDPR filings.
• HQ Coordination: liaison with headquarter stakeholders for reporting and cross-border projects.
• Vendor & Employee Support: handle pay/tax queries and manage vendor contracts and invoices.

Skills

UK payroll operations

English

Mandarin

UK payroll legislation

Pension administration

Expatriate tax filings

International mobility payroll

Incentive and bonus administration

Gender Pay Gap reporting

PSA/NSR filings

Audit support

Workday

SAP SuccessFactors

Tools

Excel (Advanced)

HRIS/payroll systems

Job description

We are seeking a detail-oriented Payroll & Benefits Specialist on behalf of our client in Cambridge. In this role, you will manage end-to-end UK payroll, pension, and benefits administration, support local compensation activities, and ensure strict statutory compliance.

Serving as a key bridge between local operations and global headquarters, you will also handle employee pay and tax queries, manage external vendors, and support international mobility frameworks.

What You Will Be Doing

• UK Payroll management: Oversee end-to-end monthly payroll, attendance, leave, taxable benefits, leavers, and funding
• Pensions & Benefits: Administer auto-enrolment pensions and insurance schemes (medical, Group Life, travel, Employer’s Liability), including renewals and claims
• Compensation & Incentives: Support salary reviews, bonus payment, incentives, and compensation framework evaluations.
• Expatriate Tax: Coordinate end-to-end expatriate tax filings, accounting processes, and payments.
• Statutory Compliance & Reporting: Ensure adherence to UK payroll laws (PAYE, RTI, NI) and manage filings (P60, P45, P11D(B), PSA, Gender Pay Gap) and GDPR
• HQ Coordination: Liaison with headquarter stakeholders for reporting, cross-border projects, and documentation
• Vendor & Employee Support: Handle employee pay/tax queries and manage third-party vendor contracts, POs, and invoices

What We Are Looking For

• 3+ years’ experience in UK payroll operations experience
• Professional working proficiency in both English and Mandarin
• Solid understanding of UK payroll legislation and pension administration.
• Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables) and hands-on experience with HRIS/payroll systems.
• High numerical accuracy, exceptional attention to detail, discretion with confidential data, and strong cross-cultural communication skills.
• Desirable - Experience with expatriate tax filing or international mobility payroll
• Desirable - Experience with incentive and bonus administration
• Desirable - Familiarity with Gender Pay Gap reporting, PSA/NSR filings, and audit support.
• Desirable - Experience with HR platforms such as Workday / SAP SuccessFactors / similar HR systems.