Senior Payroll Associate

JGA Recruitment; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

JGA Recruitment is seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Associate to manage end-to-end client payrolls for a portfolio within a professional services firm. You will handle pensions, auto-enrolment and timely submissions while mentoring junior colleagues.

Ideal candidates will have strong UK payroll processing knowledge, experience in an accountancy practice or payroll bureau, and solid Excel/MS Office skills to support efficient payroll delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience in end-to-end UK payroll processing.
• Experience in accountancy practice or payroll bureau.
• Strong Excel and MS Office skills.
• Good understanding of payroll legislation and auto-enrolment pensions.
• Experience managing multiple client payrolls and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of end-to-end client payrolls across different pay frequencies.
• Process payroll accurately and ensure all statutory deadlines are met.
• Administer pensions and auto-enrolment, including submissions to pension providers.
• Manage payroll information, employee changes and client records.
• Prepare and submit client payroll payments through BACS.
• Liaise with clients, HMRC and pension providers.
• Resolve payroll queries and provide technical guidance.
• Support and mentor junior members of the payroll team.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and ensure UK compliance.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes and client service.

Skills

End-to-end payroll

UK payroll legislation

Auto-enrolment pensions

Client liaison

BACS payments

Tools

PayCircle

Xero

Job description

Senior Payroll Associate

Salary: Up to 32,000
Location: Peterborough
Hybrid: 3 days office / 2 days home
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Systems: PayCircle / Xero (desirable)

The Role

An exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Payroll Associate to join an established accountancy and professional services firm, taking responsibility for a varied portfolio of client payrolls.

You’ll manage end‑to‑end payroll processing and auto‑enrolment pensions, ensuring clients receive an accurate, compliant and timely service.

This role also offers the opportunity to support and mentor junior payroll professionals, while continuing to develop your own technical expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of end-to-end client payrolls across different pay frequencies.

• Process payroll accurately and ensure all statutory deadlines are met.

• Administer pensions and auto-enrolment, including submissions to pension providers.

• Manage payroll information, employee changes and client records.

• Prepare and submit client payroll payments through BACS.

• Liaise directly with clients, HMRC and pension providers.

• Resolve payroll queries and provide technical guidance.

• Support and mentor junior members of the payroll team.

• Maintain accurate payroll records and ensure compliance with UK legislation.

• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes and client service.

Ideal Candidate

• Previous client payroll experience within an accountancy practice or payroll bureau.

• Strong end-to-end UK payroll processing knowledge.

• Good technical understanding of payroll legislation and auto-enrolment pensions.

• Experience managing multiple client payrolls and competing deadlines.

• Confident communicating with clients, HMRC and pension providers.

• PayCircle or Xero experience advantageous but not essential.

• Strong Excel and Microsoft Office skills.

• Excellent attention to detail, organisation and problem-solving skills.

• Comfortable working independently and supporting junior colleagues.

JGA Recruitment Group Ltd ("We") are committed to equality of opportunity for all applications regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships. We strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply. We are also committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We are a specialist payroll, HR & Reward recruitment agency and recruitment business as defined in the Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (our business). These statements together with our privacy notices set out the basis on which any personal data we collect from you, or that you provide to us, will be processed by us.