Payroll Lead

Novacyt Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Benefits Package

Job summary

A leading molecular diagnostics group in Manchester is seeking a Payroll Lead to manage the payroll function, ensuring accuracy and compliance with UK legislation. The role requires expertise in payroll accounting and experience with international payroll processes. A CIPP qualification and advanced Excel skills are essential. This is a full-time, permanent position based at their Manchester HQ, with a competitive salary and benefits package.

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of UK statutory legislation including tax, NI, SSP, SMP, and auto-enrolment.
• Demonstrable experience in payroll accounting, including calculating accruals and reconciling balance sheets.
• Comfortable investigating financial variances.
• Experience with cloud-based payroll software and international payroll via third-party providers.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills; proactive and flexible approach.
• Experience with NetSuite or PayFit; familiarity with BIK transitions is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the payroll function.
• Ensure accuracy and compliance in UK payroll management.
• Oversee international payroll processes and relationships with third-party providers.
• Oversee payroll reporting for group entities and year-end processes (P60s, P11Ds, PSA).
• Coordinate with HR for staff data accuracy and system readiness; lead BIK transition projects.
• International payroll: liaise with third-party providers and post payroll journals (NetSuite).

Skills

Payroll Expertise: CIPP qualification (or equivalent)

Accounting Proficiency

Advanced Excel skills

Experience with cloud-based payroll software

Team player with excellent communication skills

Proactive and flexible approach

Prior experience with NetSuite or PayFit

Experience managing international payrolls

Previous involvement in implementing PBIK

Tools

NetSuite

PayFit

Job description

Job title: Payroll Lead

Reports to: Head of Group Reporting

Location: Onsite 4 days a week at our Manchester HQ (Manchester Science Park)

Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary & Benefits: Competitive Salary + Benefits Package

About Novacyt Group

Novacyt is a leading international molecular diagnostics group specialising in reproductive health, precision medicine, and infectious diseases. Headquartered in the UK and France, we develop integrated genomic technologies and operate globally through key brands including Primerdesign and Yourgene Health.

Our Culture

Novacyt is a growing, vibrant and exciting place to work, we are looking for committed driven individuals to be part of our next growth journey. Our culture is described by our employee's as collegiate, friendly, professional, innovative, open and fast paced. We have many social and wellbeing initiatives run by our Nova Social and Charity Huddle that keep our sense of community and togetherness alive. At Yourgene we focus on putting values led programmes in place to ensure that we can attract, retain and develop our people. We want our people to have a career with Yourgene and we ensure that they are recognised and rewarded for their achievements and commitment, everyone plays a critical role in our growth journey.

Description of role

Novacyt Group is recruiting for a permanent Payroll Lead, based onsite 4 days a week at our Manchester HQ located at Manchester Science Park. We are seeking an experienced Payroll Lead to take ownership of the Novacyt Group payroll function. Reporting to the Head of Group Reporting, this is a hybrid role blending end-to-end UK payroll management, international vendor oversight, and payroll accounting. You will be responsible for ensuring accuracy, statutory compliance, and the integrity of payroll financial data within our systems (NetSuite and Sage).

Key Responsibilities

• UK Payroll
  • Monthly payroll preparation
  • Managing payroll email inbox and resolving staff queries
  • Processing joiners/leavers and monthly pay items
  • Ensuring RTI submission through PayFit software
  • Preparing monthly payroll report for review and approval
  • Checking and formatting bank file for import of bank payments
  • PAYE/DEA/PSA payments
  • Monitoring HMRC PAYE accounts
  • Working closely with HR team to ensure staff information is accurate and up to date
  • Maintain headcount file to report to board
  • Payroll accounting: preparing and posting payroll journals in the ERP systems (NetSuite/Sage)
  • Payroll reports for group entities
  • Balance sheet reconciliations for payroll related accounts
  • Preparing payroll reconciliation for auditors and responding to payroll related audit queries
  • Holiday accruals calculation and journals
  • Annual Payroll reports
  • Ensuring provision of P60’s
  • Calculating and preparing P11D’s
  • Calculating and preparing PSA
  • Key projects: Lead the strategic transition to payrolling Benefits in Kind (BIK), ensuring full compliance and system readiness; closing of legacy PAYE accounts
• International Payroll
  • Provision of monthly pay items to third-party bureau payroll providers
  • Managing relationship with international third-party bureau payroll providers
  • International payroll payments
  • Preparing and posting payroll journals in the ERP system (NetSuite)
  • Balance Sheet reconciliations for payroll related accounts

Please note this is a standalone role with no direct reports or line management responsibilities.

Qualifications, Skills and Abilities

• Payroll Expertise: CIPP qualification (or equivalent) with deep knowledge of UK statutory legislation (tax, NI, SSP, SMP, auto-enrolment)
• Accounting Proficiency: Demonstrable experience in payroll accounting, including calculating accruals, posting journals, and reconciling balance sheet control accounts. Comfortable investigating financial variances
• Technical Skills: Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivots) are essential for data analysis and reporting
• Systems: Experience with cloud-based payroll software
• Team player with excellent communication skills
• Proactive and able to take a flexible approach
• Prior experience with NetSuite or PayFit
• Experience managing international payrolls through third-party providers
• Previous involvement in implementing PBIK (Payrolling Benefits in Kind)

Closing Date

Sunday 14th December, 2025

Equal Opportunities

Novacyt Group of companies provides equal employment opportunities for all current employees and applicants for employment. This policy means that no one will be discriminated against because of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, nationality, citizenship, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, genetic predisposing characteristics or any other basis prohibited by law.