Payroll Specialist - VR/31840

Thorpe Molloy McCulloch Recruitment Ltd; Westhill; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A global multi-energy company is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to manage UK payroll operations. The role involves ownership of full-cycle payroll processing, compliance management, and working closely with senior stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have significant payroll experience, strong knowledge of PAYE and NIC legislation, and excellent problem-solving skills. This ongoing contract offers a stable environment with autonomy and influence in driving process improvements within payroll operations.

Qualifications

• Significant UK payroll experience within a complex or regulated environment.
• In-depth knowledge of PAYE, NIC legislation and pensions administration.
• Strong numerical ability with advanced payroll system and reporting skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver full-cycle UK payroll processing, ensuring compliance.
• Maintain payroll payment cycle with robust controls.
• Manage monthly and year-end reconciliations, including HMRC submissions.

Skills

UK payroll experience

Knowledge of PAYE and NIC legislation

Advanced payroll system skills

Problem-solving skills

Confident communication

Job description

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Payroll Specialist to join a global multi-energy company supporting UK payroll operations across multiple locations. This ongoing contract offers a high level of autonomy and visibility, working closely with senior stakeholders to ensure payroll accuracy, compliance and continuous improvement.

The Role

Operating as a subject matter expert, the Payroll Specialist will take full ownership of end-to-end UK payroll delivery, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time, while maintaining strict compliance with PAYE, NIC, pensions and statutory requirements. The role partners closely with HR, Reward and third-party providers, and plays a key role in audits, reporting and process improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivering full-cycle UK payroll processing across multiple sites, ensuring legislative and contractual compliance.
• Maintaining the payroll payment cycle with robust controls, reconciliations and audit trails.
• Managing monthly and year-end reconciliations for PAYE, NIC and statutory deductions, including HMRC submissions and P60s.
• Acting as Superuser for the UK payroll system, evaluating and managing change requests.
• Overseeing payroll activity relating to leavers, expatriates and returning employees, ensuring correct tax treatment.
• Managing payroll elements of pensions administration, including salary sacrifice, AVCs and employer contributions.
• Supporting salary reviews, bonus payments and share scheme processing from a payroll and tax perspective.
• Partnering with Reward on statutory reporting, including Gender Pay Gap data.
• Responding to internal and external audit requests, including payroll and pension audits.
• Proactively identifying and implementing process improvements and efficiency savings.
• Providing expert guidance and mentoring to HR teams on payroll legislation and best practice.

About You

• Significant UK payroll experience within a complex or regulated environment.
• In-depth knowledge of PAYE, NIC legislation and pensions administration.
• Strong numerical ability with advanced payroll system and reporting skills.
• Proven ability to work autonomously with a high level of accountability.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence and partner across all levels of the business.
• Strong ethical standards and a clear understanding of confidentiality requirements.

Why Apply?

This is a long-term contract role offering stability, scope and influence within a global organisation payroll environment. It will suit an experienced payroll professional who enjoys ownership, complexity and the opportunity to drive meaningful improvements while partnering closely with HR and Reward leaders.

For more information please apply.