Payroll Manager

Simpkins Edwards LLP; Exeter; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Simpkins Edwards LLP, a Devon-based Chartered Accountants and Payroll specialists, seeks a Payroll Manager to lead our payroll team and deliver accurate, timely payroll services for clients across the UK.

The role requires experience in payroll leadership, familiarity with NHS pensions and pension schemes, and proficiency in Sage 50, QuickBooks and Xero. Exeter meetings are required as part of flexible location arrangements.

Qualifications

• Solid payroll knowledge and experience with senior responsibilities.
• Team management experience in a payroll capacity.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Excellent numerical skills for payroll calculations and reconciliations.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Experience of working in an accountancy practice.
• Good organisation and communication skills.
• Professional, confident telephone manner.
• Knowledge of Sage 50 payroll.
• Knowledge of NHS, NEST & SMART Pensions.
• Advanced knowledge of Excel (V-Lookups and pivot tables).
• Discreet/confidential.
• Self-motivated.
• Efficient & well organized.
• Happy to assist with ad-hoc duties when needed.
• Flexibility to suit needs of the department.

Responsibilities

• Lead the payroll team and manage performance.
• Coordinate with the practice manager and partner on team performance.
• Process a portfolio of client payrolls.
• Manage workload and cover annual leave and deadlines.
• Process multiple pay frequencies, reports and RTI.
• Complete month end and year end duties (P60s, P45s).
• Develop and follow internal processes.
• Maintain payroll records accurately and timely.
• Process Auto Enrolment pensions to meet legal obligations.
• Prepare CIS returns and verify subcontractors.
• Assist clients with payroll software queries.
• Set up payroll, CIS & Pension schemes.
• Prepare payroll calculations (holiday pay, statutory payments, redundancy).
• Answer client and staff queries.

Skills

Payroll knowledge

Team management

Numerical skills

Attention to detail

Organisation

Communication skills

Confidentiality

Excel proficiency

Sage 50 payroll

QuickBooks

Xero

Education

Tools

Sage 50 payroll

Excel

QuickBooks

Xero

Job description

Location: Flexible on location but will need to attend our Exeter office for meetings

About Us

Simpkins Edwards is a leading firm of Chartered Accountants, Tax Consultants and Business Advisers based in Devon with clients across the UK. Alongside traditional accounting services, we provide tax advice, detailed management accounts, and strategy meetings, to a wide range of business and individual clients. Our almost 60 years of heritage and expert team affords us strong and lasting relationships with our clients, employees, and the community we work within. Our core values of reputation, commerciality and sustainability are at the heart of every decision we make.

We foster a workplace culture built on trust, teamwork, and continuous development. We give you the tools, support, and opportunities to shape your career while helping our clients and communities succeed. We’re particularly proud that this commitment to our team was recognised by the Accounting Excellence Awards, where we won Employer of the Year in 2025.

The Role and you

We are excited to be seeking a payroll manager to lead our growing team.

You'll be an experienced payroll manager, or a senior payroll advisor wanting to progress, and ideally will have working knowledge of NHS pension schemes (desirable).

You'll be well versed in QuickBooks and XERO and have knowledge of Sage 50 (desirable).

Purpose of the role

Leading our established payroll team, supporting them to meet all payroll deadlines and client expectations in an accurate, timely and professional manner.

Main Duties and responsibilities

Lead our experienced team of payroll advisors and seniors

Liaise with our practice manager and managing partner on team performance

Assist with processing a portfolio of client payrolls.

Manage and allocate the team’s workload, redirecting where required to cover annual leave and deadlines

Process multiple pay frequencies, reports and RTI.

Complete the month end and year end duties, P60's, P45’s.

Develop and follow internal processes.

Manage the maintenance of all payroll records ensuring that records are filed in an accurate and timely manner.

Process Auto Enrolment pensions to meet legal obligations including enrolment, re enrolment and completion of the declaration

Prepare and submit CIS returns including verifying subcontractors, calculating CIS due to HMRC and preparing CIS Vouchers

Assist clients who prepare their own payrolls with software queries and other payroll queries.

Setting up payroll, CIS & Pension schemes

Prepare payroll calculations such as holiday pay, statutory payments and redundancy pay.

Answering client queries and internal staff queries

Person Specifications Essential

• Solid Payroll knowledge and experience and thorough understanding of senior responsibilities
• Team management experience (ideally in a payroll capacity)
• Ability to work under pressure and complete tasks in a timely manner
• Excellent numerical skills to enable & perform payroll calculations & reconciliations
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to work in a sole capacity at times using own initiative and able to make decisions with confidence
• Experience of working in an accountancy practice
• Good organisation & communication skills
• Professional, confident telephone manner
• Knowledge of Sage 50 payroll
• Knowledge of NHS, NEST & SMART Pensions
• Advanced knowledge of Excel for V-Look ups and pivot tables needed for report reconciliations
• Discreet/confidential
• Self-motivated
• Efficient & very well organised
• Happy to assist with ad-hoc duties when needed
• Flexibility to suit needs of the department

Any personal data collected during the recruitment process will be handled confidentially and in accordance with data protection legislation. Information provided will only be used for recruitment purposes and retained in line with our data retention policy.