Payroll Speicalist

Aspire Recruitment; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Aspire Recruitment is seeking a Payroll Manager / Payroll Lead for a hybrid role in Manchester. The position oversees payroll processing, statutory returns, reconciliations, and year-end activities while ensuring UK compliance and supporting international payroll.

You will act as a lead on complex queries and coach payroll colleagues in a large, complex organisation. The role demands strong UK payroll knowledge, experience in high-volume environments, and familiarity with Oracle or similar

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, PAYE, NI and HMRC requirements.
• Experience in busy, high-volume payroll environments with accurate processing.
• Experience coordinating day-to-day payroll operations and leading teams.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Managing statutory returns, reconciliations and year-end processes.
• Escalation point for complex payroll queries and HMRC compliance.
• Ensuring international payroll compliance and producing payroll MI/KPIs.
• Coaching and developing payroll colleagues and collaborating with HR/Finance IT.

Skills

UK payroll legislation

PAYE

National Insurance

HMRC requirements

Autonomy under deadlines

Payroll systems (Oracle)

International payroll exposure

Leadership

Tools

Oracle

Job description

Payroll Manager / Payroll Lead

Salary: £37,692.20 - £46,049 DOE

Hours: 35 hours per week

Hybrid: 3 days office / 2 days home

Contract: Initial 3 months, with potential to extend

Flexible start and finish times available

Are you an experienced payroll professional looking for your next opportunity within a large, complex organisation?

What you’ll be doing

• Overseeing accurate and timely payroll processing
• Managing statutory returns, reconciliations and year-end processes
• Acting as an escalation point for complex payroll queries
• Ensuring compliance with UK payroll legislation and HMRC requirements
• Supporting international payroll compliance
• Producing payroll reports, management information and KPIs
• Supporting payroll audits, system testing and process improvements
• Coaching and developing payroll colleagues
• Working closely with HR, Finance, IT, People Operations and external payroll providers
• Identifying opportunities to improve payroll efficiency, accuracy and employee experience

What we’re looking for

• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, PAYE, National Insurance and HMRC requirements
• Experience working within a busy, complex or high-volume payroll environment
• Experience managing or coordinating day-to-day payroll operations
• Confidence resolving complex payroll issuesStrong knowledge of statutory payments and auto-enrolment pensions
• Payroll reconciliation, reporting and statutory returns experience
• Leadership, coaching or team development experience
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work to strict deadlines
• Experience with payroll systems such as Oracle would be beneficial
• Exposure to international payroll would be an advantage
• CIPP membership or equivalent payroll knowledge gained through experience.

Why apply?

You’ll join a collaborative People team where payroll is recognised as a vital part of the employee experience. Alongside a 35-hour working week, you’ll benefit from hybrid working, flexibility around office days and start/finish times, plus the possibility of the initial three-month assignment being extended.

Aspire Recruitment is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

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