Payroll Specialist/Accounts Assistant

Vardey Recruitment Ltd; Gillingham; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension enhanced contribution

Gym Membership

Life Assurance

Health care

Cycle to work scheme

25 days holidays + birthday + BH

Retail discounts

Bonus potential

Job summary

Vardey Recruitment Ltd in the Gillingham area near Shaftesbury, North Dorset, seeks an experienced Payroll & Accounts Assistant to join a busy finance team. You’ll handle end‑to‑end payroll and assist with broader finance tasks.

You’ll work closely with the Head of Finance to ensure accurate, timely payroll and compliant reporting, while exploring improvements to processes and automation.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a busy payroll environment.
• Strong knowledge of end-to-end payroll processes and payroll legislation.
• Proven experience using Sage 50 Payroll.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, data manipulation and analysis.
• Experience with RTI, pensions, Benefits in Kind and HMRC compliance.

Responsibilities

• Managing the end-to-end monthly payroll process, including starters, leavers, salary changes, overtime, bonuses, deductions and absence.
• Processing Benefits in Kind (BIK) through Sage 50 Payroll, including company cars, private healthcare and health cash schemes.
• Completing payroll reconciliations and resolving discrepancies.
• Preparing and posting payroll journals.
• Administering auto-enrolment pensions, including submissions and reporting.
• Managing attachment of earnings orders and cycle-to-work schemes.
• Maintaining accurate employee payroll records.
• Administering annual leave records.
• Responding to payroll queries from employees, HR and Finance.
• Producing and analysing payroll and Time & Attendance reports.”
• Administering the Attendance system
• Supporting year-end payroll activities and statutory reporting
• Ensuring compliance with payroll legislation, GDPR and internal controls
• Identifying opportunities to improve, simplify and automate payroll processes
• General Accountancy Support duties to the wider team eg support month-end reporting, journals, EU VAT data and ad hoc finance projects.

Skills

End-to-end payroll

Excel

RTI

Payroll compliance

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Tools

Sage 50 Payroll

Job description

We’re recruiting for an experienced Payroll & Accounts Assistant to join a busy and well-established finance team in the Gillingham area near Shaftesbury - North Dorset.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Payroll Administrator, Payroll Assistant or Payroll & Accounts professional who enjoys working across the payroll team whilst also getting involved in wider finance activities, time allowing!

Working closely with the Head of Finance and Financial Controller, you’ll be responsible for delivering accurate, timely and compliant monthly payroll within a team of 2, alongside supporting the wider finance function - as required.

The Payroll Job Role

Your Key Responsibilities Will Include

• Managing the end-to-end monthly payroll process, including starters, leavers, salary changes, overtime, bonuses, deductions and absence
• Processing Benefits in Kind (BIK) through Sage 50 Payroll, including company cars, private healthcare and health cash schemes
• Completing payroll reconciliations and resolving discrepancies
• Preparing and posting payroll journals
• Administering auto-enrolment pensions, including submissions and reporting
• Managing attachment of earnings orders and cycle-to-work schemes
• Maintaining accurate employee payroll records
• Administering annual leave records
• Responding to payroll queries from employees, HR and Finance
• Producing and analysing payroll and Time & Attendance reports
• Administering the Attendance system
• Supporting year-end payroll activities and statutory reporting
• Ensuring compliance with payroll legislation, GDPR and internal controls
• Identifying opportunities to improve, simplify and automate payroll processes
• General Accountancy Support duties to the wider team eg support month-end reporting, journals, EU VAT data and ad hoc finance projects.

About you as a Payroller / Accounts Assistant

• 5+ years’ experience in a busy payroll environment
• Strong knowledge of end-to-end payroll processes and payroll legislation
• Proven experience using Sage 50 Payroll
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, data manipulation and analysis
• Experience with RTI, pensions, Benefits in Kind and HMRC compliance
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to work confidently with large volumes of data
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and work to tight deadlines
• Excellent communication skills
• An interest in technology, automation and improving processes
• You’ll be someone who takes pride in getting things right, enjoys working collaboratively and is confident taking ownership of payroll from start to finish.

Why join?

• Salary £33,000-£36,000 (salary flexible if someone has more experience) please still do apply! + BONUS
• Pension enhanced contribution
• Gym Membership
• Life Assurance
• Health care
• Cycle to work scheme
• 25 days holidays + birthday + BH
• Retail discounts
• Bonus potential

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a supportive finance team where you’ll have genuine responsibility across both payroll and accounts, with the opportunity to develop your skills and contribute to improving processes and systems.