Senior Payroll Administrator

ALS Chemex de Mexico; Rotherham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave + public holidays

Pension scheme

On-site parking

Wellness & learning support

Family-friendly benefits

Job summary

ALS Laboratories UK is seeking a Senior Payroll Administrator to join the Payroll team in Rotherham. You will oversee end-to-end UK and EMEA payroll, ensuring accuracy, compliance and timely delivery while guiding junior staff and resolving complex queries.

The role requires strong technical payroll knowledge, confidentiality, and collaboration with HR, Finance and external providers such as HMRC and pension schemes. Office-based, 40 hours per week.

Qualifications

• Significant payroll administration experience, ideally in UK/multi-site environments.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, tax, pensions, and compliance.
• Experience with EMEA payrolls, especially Ireland, is advantageous.
• Attention to detail and ability to handle confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Process UK and EMEA payroll end-to-end, adhering to deadlines.
• Input, validate, reconcile and resolve payroll data and issues.
• Provide guidance to Payroll Administrators and support day-to-day operations.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, and external providers (HMRC, pension schemes, auditors).
• Ensure data processing complies with GDPR and internal controls.

Skills

Payroll administration

UK payroll legislation

Stakeholder management

Data privacy & GDPR

Excel

Education

Relevant professional qualification in payroll or accounting

Tools

SAGE

Microsoft Excel

Job description

At ALS, we encourage you to dream big.

When you join us, you'll be part of a global team harnessing the power of scientific testing and data-driven insights to build a healthier future.

Senior Payroll Administrator

Location: Rotherham - Office Based

Hours: 40 hours per week

Reports to: Payroll Manager UK & Ireland

Overview

ALS Laboratories UK is looking for an experienced Senior Payroll Administrator to join our Payroll team based in Rotherham. This is a key role supporting the accurate, compliant and timely delivery of payroll services across the UK and EMEA, with a particular focus on UK and Ireland payrolls.

Working closely with the Payroll Manager UK & Ireland, you will act as a senior point of contact within the payroll team, providing guidance to Payroll Administrators, supporting day-to-day payroll operations, and helping to resolve complex payroll queries. The role requires strong technical payroll knowledge, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to manage sensitive employee information with professionalism and confidentiality.

This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional who is confident managing end-to-end payroll processes, working to strict deadlines, supporting compliance requirements, and contributing to continuous improvement across payroll systems and processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting the accurate and timely processing of UK and EMEA payrolls, ensuring all payroll activities are completed in line with agreed deadlines.
• Managing end-to-end payroll administration, including data input, validation, checking, reconciliation and issue resolution.
• Acting as a senior point of reference for Payroll Administrators, providing day-to-day guidance, support and informal coaching.
• Supporting the Payroll Manager UK & Ireland with complex payroll matters and deputising when required.
• Conducting pre-payroll and post-payroll checks, including monthly reconciliations of gross pay, deductions and net pay.
• Ensuring payroll data is processed in line with HMRC requirements, employment legislation, company policy and internal controls.
• Preparing and submitting statutory payroll returns, including RTI, P60s, payrolled benefits and P11D(b), accurately and on time.
• Investigating payroll queries and discrepancies, identifying root causes and implementing appropriate solutions.
• Liaising professionally with internal stakeholders including HR, Finance, Accounts and line managers, as well as external providers such as HMRC, pension providers and auditors.
• Maintaining accurate employee payroll records and ensuring all payroll information is handled confidentially and in accordance with GDPR and data protection requirements.

Essential Criteria

• Significant payroll administration experience, ideally within a complex or multi-site organisation.
• Strong working knowledge of UK payroll legislation, statutory payments, tax, pensions, deductions and payroll compliance.
• Experience or working knowledge of EMEA payrolls, particularly Ireland, would be highly advantageous.
• Proven ability to manage end-to-end payroll processes accurately and independently.
• Excellent attention to detail, with strong checking, reconciliation and data validation skills.
• Experience using payroll systems, ideally SAGE , along with strong Excel skills.
• A sound understanding of payroll controls, audit requirements, confidentiality and GDPR/data protection principles.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate payroll discrepancies and resolve issues effectively.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to explain payroll matters clearly to employees, managers and external contacts.
• The ability to prioritise workload, manage competing deadlines and support the wider payroll team in a senior capacity.

Employee Benefits Include

• Starting with 25 days of annual leave, increasing to 30 days, plus 8 public holidays (pro rata for part-time).
• Option to purchase additional annual leave.
• Enhanced Company Sick Pay Scheme.
• 'Value Awards' Recognition Awards.
• Perkbox Membership offering access to discounts and a wellness hub.
• Learning and study support to help you grow.
• Group Personal Pension Plan.
• On-site car parking.

About You

You will be highly organised, accurate and professional, with a strong customer-focused approach. You will be confident handling sensitive payroll matters, supporting colleagues and working collaboratively with HR, Finance and operational teams. You will also be proactive in identifying opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls and service delivery.

Working at ALS

The ALS team is a diverse and dedicated community united by our passion to make a difference in the world.

Our values are important to us, and shape how we work, how we treat each other and how we recognise excellence.

At ALS, you'll be supported to develop new skills and reach you