Senior Payroll Administrator

www.topfinancialjobs.co.uk - Jobboard; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Payroll Administrator to enhance their finance and HR team. This role is pivotal in delivering accurate payroll for over 4,000 employees, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements while managing complex data inputs. You'll collaborate with a dedicated team, supporting process improvements and contributing to a supportive workplace. With hybrid working options, excellent pension contributions, and opportunities for professional development, this position offers a fulfilling career path in a values-driven organization committed to best practices.

Benefits

Hybrid working

Excellent pension contributions

Generous annual leave

Access to professional development

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior payroll position, ideally in a large organization.
• Strong technical knowledge of PAYE, NIC, and pension legislation.

Responsibilities

• End-to-end processing of monthly payrolls, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Managing complex variable data inputs and liaising with pension providers.

Skills

PAYE

NIC

pension legislation

Excel

communication skills

Education

CIPP qualification

Tools

iTrent

Job description

We are currently working with a prestigious education group to recruit a Senior Payroll Administrator to join their collaborative and supportive finance and HR team. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced payroll professional to join a values-led organisation with a strong sense of community and a commitment to best practice.

You'll play a vital role in delivering accurate and timely payrolls for a diverse employee base of over 4,000 staff. This includes salaried and term-time only employees, across multiple sites with varying pay cycles. You will work alongside a small, dedicated payroll team and support the Payroll Manager with day-to-day operations, improvements, and reporting duties.

Key Responsibilities:

• End-to-end processing of monthly payrolls, ensuring accuracy and compliance with statutory requirements.
• Managing complex variable data inputs such as overtime, maternity, sickness absence, term-time calculations, and allowances.
• Processing starters, leavers, and changes, including backdated pay adjustments and TUPE-related calculations.
• Handling multiple pension schemes including Teachers' Pensions, LGPS, and defined contribution schemes-ensuring correct auto-enrolment and opt-out processes are followed.
• Liaising with third-party providers for pension submissions, ensuring contributions are accurate and submitted on time.
• Preparing P45s, P60s, P11Ds, and year-end reports in line with HMRC regulations.
• Supporting with internal and external audits and resolving any discrepancies.
• Providing advice to employees on payroll and pension queries with a high level of customer service.
• Supporting process improvements and systems development, contributing ideas for increased efficiency and accuracy.

What We're Looking For:

• Proven experience in a senior or standalone payroll position, ideally within a large or multi-site organisation.
• Strong technical knowledge of PAYE, NIC, statutory payments, and pension legislation.
• Demonstrated experience working with Teachers' Pension Scheme or similar public-sector pension schemes is highly desirable.
• Excellent Excel skills and confidence in working with payroll systems (iTrent experience is a bonus but not essential).
• A team player with a proactive attitude and excellent communication skills.
• CIPP qualification (or working towards) is advantageous.

You'll be joining a warm, inclusive team in a role that offers variety, technical challenge, and long-term growth potential. Hybrid working, excellent pension contributions, generous annual leave, and access to professional development make this a truly rewarding opportunity.