Payroll Specialist

Annapurna; City Of London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Annapurna is seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Specialist to own the monthly payroll for 330+ employees in London, with expansion to ~700. You will ensure accurate, on-time payments and full compliance with UK payroll legislation.

Based in London, this role entails end-to-end payroll processing, working with HR and Finance, handling commission-based payroll, pensions, RTI, PAYE, NI and payslips, while safeguarding confidential data and delivering timely payroll reporting.

Qualifications

• UK end-to-end payroll experience required.
• Experience processing commission-based payroll.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation (PAYE, NI, statutory leave, auto-enrolment, RTI).
• Experience with payslips, employee benefits and pension administration.
• Advanced Excel skills and handling large datasets.
• Experience with PayEscape or Phase 3 cloud payroll software.
• Excellent communication, discretion and data integrity.
• Right to work in the UK; visa sponsorship not available.
• Desirable: CIPP qualification or progress towards it.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end monthly payroll cycle for 330+ employees, incl. commission-based payroll.
• Ensure compliance with PAYE, NI, statutory payments and RTI.
• Coordinate payroll data with HR and Finance to ensure accuracy.
• Pension submissions, payroll journals, reconciliations and month-end reporting.
• Handle payroll queries professionally and resolve discrepancies quickly.
• Maintain confidential employee payroll records.
• Support Senior Accountant and Finance in payroll and ad hoc activities.
• Act as link between HR and Finance to ensure timely payroll delivery.

Skills

End-to-end payroll

Commission payroll

Advanced Excel

PAYE & RTI

Pension admin

Payslips & benefits

Data handling

Confidentiality

English fluency

Education

CIPP qualification

Tools

PayEscape

Phase 3

Job description

Location: London, West London (5 days per week in office)

We're looking for an experienced Senior Payroll Specialist to take full ownership of monthly payroll for 330+ employees, with the organisation expected to grow significantly. You'll ensure employees are paid accurately and on time while maintaining full compliance with UK payroll legislation.

Key Responsibilities

Senior Payroll Specialist

Location: London, West London (5 days per week in office)

We're looking for an experienced Senior Payroll Specialist to take full ownership of monthly payroll for 330+ employees, with the organisation expected to grow significantly. You'll ensure employees are paid accurately and on time while maintaining full compliance with UK payroll legislation.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end monthly payroll cycle for 330+ employees, including commission-based payroll, with the workforce expected to grow to approximately 700 employees.
• Ensure compliance with PAYE, National Insurance, statutory payments, pension auto-enrolment and RTI.
• Coordinate with HR, Finance and department leads to ensure payroll data, including commission payments, is accurate and complete.
• Prepare pension submissions, payroll journals, reconciliations and month-end reporting.
• Manage payroll queries professionally and resolve discrepancies quickly.
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee payroll records.
• Support the Senior Accountant and wider Finance team with payroll and ad hoc finance activities.
• Act as a key link between HR and Finance to ensure payroll information is delivered accurately and on time.

What We're Looking For

• Proven UK end-to-end payroll experience.
• Proven UK end-to-end payroll experience.
• Proven UK end-to-end payroll experience.
• Demonstrable experience processing commission-based payroll is essential.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, including PAYE, NI, statutory leave, auto-enrolment and RTI.
• Experience with payslips, employee benefits and pension administration.
• Advanced Excel skills and confidence working with large datasets.
• Experience with PayEscape, Phase 3 or similar cloud-based payroll software.
• Highly accurate, organised and self-motivated, with excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• Strong discretion and integrity when handling confidential information.
• Fluent English and the right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Desirable: CIPP qualification or progress towards it, and experience in a fast-growing or scaling organisation.