Payroll Specialist

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Smiths Detection is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to take ownership of a critical payroll function supporting approximately 500 employees across the UK.

This is not a traditional payroll processing role. We are looking for a payroll expert who can lead from the front, ensuring payroll compliance, driving continuous improvement, strengthening governance, and acting as the organisation's subject matter expert for all payroll-related matters.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing end-to-end UK payroll within a complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements and statutory payments.
• Experience managing outsourced payroll providers.
• Experience with pensions, benefits and salary sacrifice schemes.
• Strong payroll controls, governance and compliance understanding.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work independently and own a business-critical function.
• Exceptional attention to confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll across UK operations.
• Act as payroll compliance and governance expert.
• Manage outsourced payroll providers and third-party partners.
• Review payroll outputs and reconciliations for accuracy.
• Provide guidance on payroll legislation, taxation and statutory payments.
• Handle complex payroll queries and investigations.
• Support payroll accounting, reconciliations, reporting and audits.
• Administer payroll-related benefits and salary sacrifice schemes.
• Drive payroll process improvements, automation and system enhancements.
• Support future payroll projects, integrations and system implementations.
• Partner with HR, Finance and stakeholders to deliver an exceptional payroll service.

Skills

End-to-end payroll

UK payroll legislation

Outsourced payroll management

Pensions and salary sacrifice

Payroll controls & governance

Advanced Excel

Analytical/problem-solving

Independent ownership

Confidentiality

Tools

SAP Payroll

ADP Payroll

Job description

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection's threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place.

Smiths Detection is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,500 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

Job Description

Smith's Detection is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to take ownership of a critical payroll function supporting approximately 500 employees across the UK

This is not a traditional payroll processing role. We are looking for a payroll expert who can lead from the front, ensuring payroll compliance, driving continuous improvement, strengthening governance, and acting as the organisation's subject matter expert for all payroll-related matters.

As Smiths Detection continues to evolve as a standalone business, this role offers a unique opportunity to shape payroll processes, influence future system developments, and play a key role in bringing payroll expertise in-house.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the HR Manager, you will take ownership of payroll operations across multiple UK legal entities while providing oversight.

Working closely with HR, Finance, Reward, external payroll providers and key stakeholders, you will ensure payroll is delivered accurately, compliantly, and efficiently while improving existing processes and controls.

We are looking for someone who enjoys solving problems, taking ownership, challenging the status quo and implementing improvements rather than simply processing payroll transactions.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end payroll process across UK operations.
• Act as the payroll compliance and governance expert.
• Manage relationships with outsourced payroll providers and third party partners.
• Review payroll outputs and reconciliations, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Provide guidance on payroll legislation, taxation, statutory payments and best practice.
• Handle complex payroll queries and investigations.
• Support payroll accounting, reconciliations, reporting and audit activities.
• Administer payroll-related benefits and salary sacrifice schemes.
• Drive payroll process improvements, automation and system enhancements.
• Support future payroll projects, integrations, system implementations and business transformation initiatives.
• Partner with HR, Finance and external stakeholders to deliver an exceptional payroll service.

What We're Looking For

• Significant experience managing end-to-end UK payroll within a complex organisation.
• Strong working knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements and statutory payments.
• Experience managing outsourced payroll providers.
• Experience with pensions, benefits and salary sacrifice schemes.
• Strong understanding of payroll controls, governance and compliance.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of a business‑critical function.
• Exceptional attention to detail and confidentiality.

Highly Desirable

• Exposure to multiple legal entities.
• Experience with payroll integrations, interfaces and data governance.
• Payroll transformation, migration or system implementation experience.
• Experience supporting engineering, field‑service, manufacturing or similarly complex workforce environments.
• Exposure to Irish payroll.
• SAP / ADP Payroll system

The Person

• Takes initiative and ownership.
• Thinks beyond payroll processing.
• Has the confidence to challenge and improve existing processes.
• Enjoys working with autonomy.
• Can build credibility with stakeholders across HR, Finance and the wider business.
• Brings a continuous improvement mindset and a passion for delivering payroll excellence.

Why Join Smiths Detection?

This is an opportunity to join a globally recognised technology organisation at an exciting stage of evolution. You'll have the autonomy to shape payroll operations, influence future ways of working, and play a key role in delivering a vital business service that supports employees across the UK and Ireland.

Additional Information

Join us and we'll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You'll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You'll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial andlifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world‑leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.