Payroll Manager

Smiths (Gloucester) Ltd; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Smiths Gloucestershire is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead our in-house payroll operation. You will manage weekly and monthly payrolls for around 550 staff, ensure accurate processing, and maintain HMRC and pension compliance.

In this maternity cover role, you’ll drive process improvements, produce payroll reports, and provide guidance to employees, managers, HR and Finance teams while upholding strict deadlines and data confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing high-volume in-house payrolls.
• Experience handling weekly and monthly payroll cycles.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation and HMRC rules.
• Experience administering workplace pensions and auto-enrolment.
• Proficient in payroll reporting, reconciliations and audits.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines and manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Managing the end-to-end payroll process for approximately 350 weekly-paid and 200 monthly-paid employees.
• Ensuring payrolls are processed accurately and on time.
• Processing starters, leavers, salary changes, statutory payments, benefits and payroll deductions.
• Managing workplace pension administration, including auto-enrolment and pension reconciliations.
• Ensuring compliance with HMRC regulations, PAYE, National Insurance and statutory reporting requirements.
• Producing payroll reports, reconciliations and management information.
• Acting as the primary point of contact for payroll-related queries.
• Providing guidance and support to employees, managers, HR and Finance teams.
• Maintaining payroll policies, procedures and controls.
• Identifying opportunities to improve payroll processes and efficiencies.
• Supporting employee onboarding, including the preparation of offers, contracts and payroll setup for new starters.
• Liaising with HMRC, pension providers and auditors as required.

Skills

High-volume payrolls

Weekly payrolls

Monthly payrolls

UK payroll regulations

HMRC compliance

Pensions & auto-enrolment

Payroll reporting

Audit experience

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Time management

Deadline-driven

Stakeholder communication

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Gloucestershire
Full-Time | Maternity Cover | Temp to Perm Contract for the right candidate

Lead Payroll Excellence at Smiths

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Payroll Manager to lead our in-house payroll function and ensure the accurate, compliant and timely payment of weekly and monthly payrolls.

This is a key role within the business, responsible for managing all aspects of payroll processing, maintaining compliance with HMRC and pension regulations, supporting employee lifecycle activities and driving continuous improvement across payroll systems and processes.

If you're a payroll professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and takes pride in delivering an exceptional payroll service, we'd love to hear from you.

Responsibilities:

• Managing the end-to-end payroll process for approximately 350 weekly-paid and 200 monthly-paid employees.

• Ensuring payrolls are processed accurately and on time.

• Processing starters, leavers, salary changes, statutory payments, benefits and payroll deductions.

• Managing workplace pension administration, including auto-enrolment and pension reconciliations.

• Ensuring compliance with HMRC regulations, PAYE, National Insurance and statutory reporting requirements.

• Producing payroll reports, reconciliations and management information.

• Acting as the primary point of contact for payroll-related queries.

• Providing guidance and support to employees, managers, HR and Finance teams.

• Maintaining payroll policies, procedures and controls.

• Identifying opportunities to improve payroll processes and efficiencies.

• Supporting employee onboarding, including the preparation of offers, contracts and payroll setup for new starters.

• Liaising with HMRC, pension providers and auditors as required.

What We're Looking For

Essential

• Proven experience managing high-volume payrolls in an in-house environment.

• Experience processing both weekly and monthly payrolls.

• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC regulations and compliance requirements.

• Experience administering workplace pensions and auto-enrolment.

• Payroll reporting, reconciliation and audit experience.

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.

• Strong organisational and time management skills.

• Ability to work to strict deadlines and manage multiple priorities.

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised and methodical.

• Professional and confidential in your approach.

• Strong communicator with excellent stakeholder management skills.

• Proactive and solutions-focused.

• Committed to continuous improvement and best practice.

Why Join Smiths?

Established in 1982, Smiths has grown from a single owner-operated plant hire business into one of the South West's leading providers of Construction, Waste Management, Plant Hire, Demolition and Transport services. Despite our growth, we remain proudly family-owned and family-run, with our values and commitment to our people at the heart of everything we do.

Benefits Include

• Competitive salary.

• Company pension scheme.

• Life assurance scheme.

• Employee Assistance Programme for employees and immediate family members.

• Training and development opportunities.

• Discounted gym memberships.

• Employee discounts and benefits platform.

• Long-term career opportunities within a successful and growing business.

Join Our Team

If you're an experienced payroll professional looking to take ownership of a busy and rewarding payroll function within a well-established family business, we'd love to hear from you.