Payroll Specialist

DFS Group Ltd; Doncaster; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

DFS Group Ltd is seeking a Payroll Specialist to manage end-to-end payroll and pensions, including weekly/monthly cycles, auto-enrolment, expenses and tax. You will partner with business areas, ensure governance, controls and compliance, and drive automation and improvements across the payroll function.

You will work with Finance, People and external providers to deliver accurate reporting, develop staff, and maintain strong stakeholder relationships.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of end-to-end payroll and pensions processing.
• Experience with new technology and systems changes.
• Strong knowledge of UK and ROI payroll and pensions.
• Understanding of financial controls and regulatory requirements.
• Experience testing functionality and training staff.
• Cross-functional stakeholder management experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and G Suite.
• Experience with payroll & expenses software and pensions platforms.
• Experience with MHR iTrent and Standard Life platforms desirable.
• CIPP Payroll Technician or Payroll Level 3 apprenticeship desirable.

Responsibilities

• Providing operational support to Payroll Team Leadership to enable delivery of high-quality payroll and pensions services.
• Adhering to SLAs and KPIs, ensuring alignment with wider business objectives.
• Engaging with a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Focusing on performance and development, engaging with learning opportunities.
• Delivering accurate and timely payroll and pensions reports with compliance.
• Acting as a key contact for stakeholders, managing relationships with Finance, People and providers.
• Focusing on standardisation, automation, and process improvement initiatives.
• Becoming an expert of end-to-end Payroll & Pensions processes.

Skills

Payroll processing

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Training & change management

Communication

Education

CIPP Payroll Technician

Payroll Level 3 apprenticeship

Tools

MHR iTrent

Standard Life platforms

Microsoft Office

G Suite

Payroll software

Pensions platforms

Job description

About us

At DFS Group, we’re proud to help people create spaces they love to live in. We’re home to DFS, Sofology, and The Sofa Delivery Company: three brands with their own personalities, brought together by a shared mission.

Behind our brands is a passionate Group team. From Finance and Technology to People, Marketing and Supply Chain, our Group functions power everything we do. They create the foundations that allow our brands to thrive, innovate and grow.

Whether you’re supporting our brands or serving our customers, the mindset that connects us means we expect more of ourselves and each other. It means every customer is our favourite, every voice is valued, and every interaction is one we’re proud of.

When you’re part of a community that shares your way of thinking, the wins feel bigger. The effort feels worth it. It’s a place where people stay because they feel valued, and find room to grow because they’re challenged.

About the role

As a payroll specialist you will be processing end-to-end payroll, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely processing of weekly/monthly payroll, auto-enrolment, pensions, expenses, over-payments, employment tax, and continuous improvement within area of responsibility. Partnering with business area's to provide support to colleagues, managers, and HR BPs. The role acts as a critical link with the business area of responsibility, focusing on support and customer service.

What you’ll be responsible for

• Providing operational support to Payroll Team Leadership to enable delivery of high-quality payroll and pensions services, partnering with business areas to provide support.
• Adhering to service level agreements (SLAs) and key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring performance outcomes are aligned with wider business objectives.
• Engaging with the culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, taking ownership of assigned areas of responsibility, knowledge sharing with other members of the team and the wider business, and proactive problem-solving.
• Focusing on performance and development, engaging with learning and development opportunities.
• Delivering accurate and timely reports of payroll, pensions, and colleague expenses processing in assigned area of responsibility, ensuring full compliance with internal controls, statutory requirements, and regulatory frameworks (including HMRC, pension legislation, and audit standards).
• Acting as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, building strong, effective relationships with Finance, People, Wider Business and third-party providers to manage risk, resolve issues, and support governance requirements, specifically in area of responsibility.
• Focusing on standardisation, automation, and process improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to reduce manual intervention, increase efficiency, improve controls, and enhance the overall employee experience.
• Following established best practice guidelines to deliver service within a robust controls framework
• Becoming an expert of end-to-end Payroll & Pensions processes, ensuring that is accurate, efficient, and fully compliant
• Identifying areas for improvement and agility in response to business change
• Maintaining trusted and connected relationships with stakeholders in area of responsibility to understand business needs/opportunities and deliver outcomes that benefit the team, Finance department, and wider business
• Communicating with clarity and context in written and verbal communication
• Providing knowledge to support the area of responsibility of payroll & pensions administration

We’re looking for someone who has

• Minimum 3 years experience in end-to-end payroll and pensions processing
• Can demonstrate their experience in supporting new technologies and/or systems changes
• Has a robust understanding of UK and ROI payroll and pensions
• An understanding of financial controls, compliance, regulatory requirements, and payroll & pensions legislation
• Experience testing new functionality and training team members
• Experience in cross-functional stakeholder management
• Knowledge of Microsoft and G Suite applications
• Experience across payroll & expenses software and pensions platforms
• Experienced user of MHR iTrent, Standard Life platforms desirable
• Professional CIPP Payroll Technician qualification or Payroll Level 3 apprenticeship desirable

Don't let it discourage you if you don't have all of this experience, it's a guideline that will help you hit the ground running.

Room to grow

Everyone at DFS Group begins with a structured induction designed to help you understand our brands, our culture and how we work together.

From day one, you will have access to our online Learning Hub, filled with digital courses, tools and resources to support your development.

For leaders, we offer virtual workshops focused on building confident, capable leadership. We also run skills-based workshops to strengthen core capabilities across the business.

Colleagues can also undertake nationally recognised qualifications through our apprenticeship programmes, giving you the opportunity to gain external accreditation while you grow your career with us.

Our DFS Group benefits

We believe great work deserves great support. That’s why we offer benefits that help you grow, feel looked after, and enjoy life beyond work. Here’s what we have to offer:

• 23 days holiday, plus the option to buy up to 5 more
• Enhanced parental leave
• Health cash plan from £1 a month, with everyday cashback
• Employee Assistance Programme for support when you need it
• Extras like flu vouchers, menopause support and health check
• Pension with company contributions
• Life assurance for peace of mind
• Sharesave scheme to save each month and invest in our future
• Structured induction from day one
• Access to our Learning Hub and skills workshops
• Leadership development and apprenticeship programmes
• 30% colleague discount, plus 15% for friends and family, three times a year
• Discounts and cashback at hundreds of retailers
• SmartTech scheme to buy tech up to £1,000
• Cycle to Work scheme for bikes and accessories up to £1,500 through salary sacrifice
• Electric vehicle lease scheme with Octopus to help you save and reduce your impact
• One paid volunteering day each year

Equal opportunities

We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer, committed to building a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and makes room for different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences.

We turn that commitment into action through colleague networks, trusted partnerships and recognised accessibility initiatives such as the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

If your experience does not quite match every part of the role, we’d still love to hear from you.