Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Now Student Living; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Now Student Living in London is looking for a Payroll & Benefits Administrator to provide confidential payroll and benefits support across the business. You will manage monthly payroll processes, auto-enrolment where relevant, and related data accuracy in Bob Payroll, HiBob, and other systems.

The role demands strong numeracy, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate with Finance and HR teams. Flexibility to travel to residences and work from a London office part of the week is

Qualifications

• Professional payroll experience with the ability to handle multiple cycles.
• Experience with statutory regulations and payroll compliance.
• Proficient in Excel and payroll systems.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and provide the monthly payroll across Now Student Living and partners.
• Ensure timesheets (casual and overtime) are accurate and on time.
• Process overtime payments and deductions; liaise with finance as needed.
• Input starters/leavers and calculate holiday pay accurately.
• Maintain and format payroll reports for authorisation and audits.
• Assist with payroll queries and ad hoc payments.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Excel proficiency

Education

CIPP Level 3

Accounting/Finance degree

Tools

LivePay

Xero

HiBob

Job description

Job Description

About us

Being a member of the Now Student Living team requires an appreciation for the dedication our core vison to be the best choice for our students and our clients, as an innovative industry leader, to inspire them and grow together. Our Vision and Values are fundamental to Now Student Living’s ultimate mission to provide a safe and welcoming environment for our residents, colleagues and visitors.

Vision and Values

At Now Student Living, we stand for core brand values of Community, Accessibility and Sustainability. Three pillars that inspire our brand name through everything we do.

Our Residence Teams help shape and contribute to our community, giving back in the most environmentally friendly way, whilst being on hand with 1-2-1 support our students with their studies, accommodation maintenance or something more personal. Our Head Office team support our residence teams to achieve their goal.

The Role

Reporting to the HR & People Director, this is a highly administrative role providing support across Payroll and Benefits. The Payroll & Benefits Administrator will have previous payroll administrative experience with a professional qualification or willing to work towards CIPP Level 3 or above.

They must demonstrate excellent eye for detail, organisation and communication skills, with strong excel and numerical skills and experience of using Payroll systems. The job holder will be expected to provide an efficient, confidential and professional support service to the finance and HR teams, and to develop strong working relationships across all levels of the organisation.

This is a busy and varied role requiring a flexible and proactive individual with the ability to work well as part of a team, use their own initiative, work independently and manage their own workload, whilst supporting the wider team wider business as it grows.

Core Objectives – Specific Expectations of the role Expectations of the Role

Payroll Administration & Support

• Prepare and provide the monthly payroll across Now Student Living, Here! And Generation Partners.
• Ensure all (casual and overtime) timesheets are received from each site, on time, and that they are completed correctly.
• Ensure any overtime payments are processed and inputted accurately.
• Review absences to ensure that appropriate deductions in relation to company sick pay, SSP and Bradford Factor
• Ensure starters and leavers are inputted and that holiday pay is calculated accurately
• Maintain timesheets and propose amendments to facilitate easy completion by Operations Managers.
• Assist with internal and external auditors as required.
• Deal with any ad hoc payroll queries
• Make any out of payroll payments if necessary, with the help of finance
• Assist with calculation of maternity and holiday figures
• Ensure P45’s are issued to leavers through the payroll system
• Ensure P60s are completed and uploaded to HiBob.
• Ensure monthly payroll reports are formatted from Bob Payroll and distributed for authorisation
• Liaise with finance team to ensure timely payments are made on a monthly basis to employees, HMRC and pension providers.
• Review archived payroll files for sensitive personal data and delete where appropriate
• Stay updated with payroll regulations, tax laws, and compliance requirements to ensure accurate payroll processing.

Benefits Administration & Support

• Administering and updating the various benefits platforms, ensuring that starters and leavers are processed in a timely manner;
• Assist employees with auto enrolment queries and ensure that deferment and auto enrolment letters are sent to new joiners via the Bob Payroll system
• Assist the HR & People Director with tracking and monitoring training spend alongside ensuring alignment to budget.
• Capturing and analysing key data of benefit initiatives where requested;
• Compile data for production of P11d
• Assist with the annual review of online benefit providers for renewal and updating data files as required
• General administrative and ad hoc duties to support HR & Payroll function;
• Communicate with employees regarding related enquiries, benefits enrolment, and changes.
• Stay updated with industry best practices and emerging trends in benefits management.

Person Specification and Role Specific Skills and Abilities

Education and Experience

• CIPP level 3 or above, a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in accounting, finance, or a related field.
• Proven experience as a Payroll Specialist, Benefits Specialist, or similar role.
• In‑depth knowledge of payroll processes, tax regulations, and compliance requirements.
• Proficiency in using payroll software or systems for end‑to‑end payroll processing.
• Familiarity with benefits management principles and employee benefits programs.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in processing payroll and administering benefits.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills to manage multiple payroll cycles and deadlines.
• Knowledge of relevant employment laws, regulations, and data protection requirements.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Proficient in using MS Office applications, particularly Excel, for data analysis and reporting.
• Experience with HRIS systems and payroll software, such as LivePay, Xero and HiBob is advantageous.
• Strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to identify and resolve payroll‑related issues.
• Continuous learning mindset to stay updated with changes in payroll and benefits management practices.

Circumstances

• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours as determined by the needs of the business.
• Ability to travel to residences across the UK when required.
• Ability to work out of a London office for 1-2 days per week

IT

• IT literate with good Excel skills.
• Ability to manipulate data from HRIS and benefit databases and report accordingly.

Customer Focus

• Continually demonstrating enthusiasm and drive to “go the extra mile” coupled with strong client focus.
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the business and the requirement for excellent customer service at all times.

Organisational Skills

• Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail and an understanding that high levels of confidentiality are required and able to act appropriately with sensitive information.
• Possesses a high attention to detail.

Teamwork

• Able to work collaboratively with stakeholders at all levels.

Communication (verbal & written)

• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• A good communicator with a direct and open style.
• Able to communicate with stakeholders at all levels and exchange information in a clear, concise and articulate manner with the ability to influence and inspire others.

Innovation

• Regularly searching for and recommending new approaches to improve quality and efficiency.

Analytical thinking

• Excellent ability to problem‑solve.
• Able to identify and assess key issues and suggest best course of action.

Flexibility

• Able to manage change and remain flexible to individual situations and personalities and have the ability to deal with ambiguity.
• Able to handle challenging situations effectively.
• Proactive and able to work effectively on a remote basis with the internal customer.

Planning & Organising

• Demonstrates excellent prioritising, and organisational skills.
• Capability to re‑plan and re‑prioritise work taking into account resources and contingency in response to the business priorities.
• Self‑motivated and able to work independently.
• Able to operate effectively in a complex organisation where there are conflicting demands on time and resources.

Salary

38000 - 42000 GBP (yearly)