Senior Payroll Manager

Farrans Construction; Lisburn; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Farrans Construction is seeking a senior Payroll Manager to lead the UK and ROI payroll operations from Lisburn. The role covers end-to-end payroll processing for 650+ staff, including cross-border tax considerations and multi-frequency cycles, while ensuring regulatory compliance and high accuracy.

The ideal candidate will govern payroll processes, optimise systems, and collaborate with Finance and HR to deliver timely, auditable payroll services across jurisdictions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing end-to-end UK and ROI payroll operations in a complex, high-volume environment.
• Deep knowledge of UK and ROI payroll legislation, PAYE, NI, PRSI, USC, BIK, and auto-enrolment pensions.
• Experience managing multi-frequency payrolls and large employee populations (650+).
• Strong understanding of pension scheme administration and reporting.
• Experience with integrated HR & payroll systems and advanced Excel capability.

Responsibilities

• Process payroll accurately and on time for UK and ROI employees, ensuring compliance with legislation.
• Oversee payroll for 650+ employees with cross-border considerations and multi-frequency schedules.
• Maintain payroll data integrity for starters, leavers, transfers, and changes.
• Lead payroll governance, controls, and risk management with Finance.
• Act as payroll systems lead, enabling enhancements and new functionality.
• Provide expert guidance to employees and stakeholders on payroll queries.
• Collaborate with Group Payroll and HR to align processes and changes.

Skills

End-to-end payroll management

UK & ROI payroll legislation

Multi frequency payrolls

Data integrity & accuracy

Analytical skills

Advanced Excel

Tools

Excel

HRIS/Payroll systems

Job description

Main Responsibilities

• Ensure all payrolls are processed accurately, on time, and in full compliance with UK and ROI legislation, including
• Manage payroll operations for over 700 employees, ensuring robust controls, audit readiness, and consistent service quality.
• Oversee complex payroll matters including manual calculations, cross border tax considerations, and multi frequency payrolls.
• Ensure accurate production and distribution of payroll documentation
• Maintain payroll data integrity, ensuring all starters, leavers, transfers, and contractual changes are processed correctly across UK and ROI jurisdictions.

Governance, Compliance & Controls

• Maintain expert knowledge of UK and ROI payroll legislation, taxation, employment law, and pension requirements, ensuring timely implementation of regulatory changes.
• Lead on compliance activities, ensuring robust internal controls, documentation, and risk management.
• Partner with Finance to support reconciliations, budgeting, accounting, and cross functional governance.

Pensions & Benefits Administration

• Manage the transactions, contribution uploads, and reporting for five pension schemes
• Oversee enrolment, re enrolment, contribution uploads, scheme reporting, and liaison with pension providers where necessary, with HR support
• Ensure accurate pension deductions, employer contributions, and statutory communications.

Systems, Technology & Continuous Improvement

• Act as payroll systems lead, supporting enhancements, optimisation, and deployment of new functionality
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, automation, reporting, and operational efficiency.
• Leverage data and analytics to inform decision making and drive process improvements.

Stakeholder Engagement & Customer Experience

• Serve as the senior point of contact for payroll queries across UK and ROI, providing expert guidance to employees and senior stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, educating colleagues on payroll processes and promoting transparency.
• Liasing with Group Payroll team for support, ensuring changes and processes are aligned

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop payroll team members, fostering a collaborative, high performance culture.
• Support onboarding and development of new team members, sharing technical expertise and best practice.

Skills and Qualifications required

• Significant experience managing end to end UK and ROI payroll operations in a complex, high volume environment.
• Deep technical knowledge of UK and ROI payroll legislation, PAYE, NI, PRSI, USC, BIK, statutory payments, workplace pensions, and automatic enrolment.
• Experience managing multi frequency payrolls and large employee populations (650+).
• Strong understanding of pension scheme administration and reporting.
• Experience with integrated HR & payroll systems and advanced Excel capability.
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and organisational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage competing demands, deliver under pressure, and maintain high accuracy.
• Experience leading or mentoring payroll teams