Senior Payroll Officer

Wartsila; Havant; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

Wärtsilä in Fareham, UK, is seeking a Senior Payroll Officer on a part-time basis (22.5 hours/week) to own the end-to-end payroll process and ensure accurate, compliant payroll delivery. The role reports to the Head of People Services and supports a hybrid work arrangement from our Fareham office.

You will manage HMRC submissions, pension administration, and payroll reporting while maintaining data integrity and delivering timely outputs for a multi-site operation.

Qualifications

• Proven end-to-end payroll experience in the UK.
• Strong knowledge of HMRC rules (PAYE, NI) and statutory payments.
• Experience with ADP payroll systems is advantageous.
• CIPP qualification or equivalent is required.

Responsibilities

• Deliver end-to-end payroll service across the employee lifecycle.
• Ensure HMRC compliance including PAYE, NI and statutory payments.
• Maintain data integrity in payroll systems and processes.
• Oversee pension administration and salary sacrifice initiatives.
• Respond to payroll queries from employees and managers in a timely manner.
• Produce monthly and year-end payroll reporting with accuracy.
• Collaborate with external payroll provider and drive project delivery for new payrolls.
• Support payroll audits with robust documentation and controls.
• Identify process improvements to improve accuracy and efficiency.

Skills

Payroll processing

HMRC compliance

Pension administration

Data integrity

Stakeholder management

Timesheets processing

Education

CIPP qualification

Tools

ADP payroll

Job description

We're looking for a detail-driven and experienced Senior Payroll Officer to join our team, playing a critical role in delivering a seamless and compliant payroll experience for our employees. Reporting into our Head of People Services, you'll take ownership of an end-to-end payroll service across the employee lifecycle ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and a positive employee experience at every stage. This position is offered on a permanent basis on part time hours (22.5 hours per week/ 3 days per week) and based out of our office in Fareham, UK, where hybrid working can be supported. What you'll be doing:

• Deliver a high-quality, accurate, and timely end-to-end payroll service across the full employee lifecycle ensuring deadlines are achieved.
• Ensure compliance with HMRC regulations, including PAYE, National Insurance, statutory payment and updating internal stakeholders on legislation changes.
• Take ownership of payroll systems, overseeing maintenance and ensuring robust data integrity and quality.
• Manage and optimise payroll-related benefits, including salary sacrifice schemes, deductions and ensuring effective pension administration.
• Act as a key point of contact for payroll queries, providing clear, timely guidance to employees and managers.
• Take ownership of monthly and year-end reporting, delivering precise, high-quality outputs you can stand behind.
• Manage contract with external payroll provider.
• Drive payroll project delivery, including establishing new payrolls and supporting business changes such as acquisitions, mergers, and divestments.
• Support and coordinate payroll audit activities, ensuring robust documentation, accuracy, and compliance with audit requirements.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Demonstrate flexibility by supporting ad hoc activities and additional responsibilities aligned to evolving business needs. A CIPP qualification or equivalent.
• Proven experience in running end-to-end payroll, ideally within large payroll, multi-site environment.
• Experience in processing timesheets/variable hours, statutory payments, HMRC submissions and deductions.
• Strong working knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements and compliance.
• Excellent numerical and reconciliation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to promote strong working relationships across a variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to effectively prioritise and work to strict deadlines.
• Proactive approach to identifying challenges and bringing process improvement initiatives forward.
• Experience with our ADP payroll systems would be an advantage.
• Proficiency in the English language, written and verbal. Wärtsilä is an innovative technology company known for being a forerunner in the Marine and Energy markets. Every day, we - Wärtsilians - put our hearts and minds into turning Wärtsilä's purpose of enabling sustainable societies through innovation in technology and services into reality. Our ultimate aim is to provide increased value to both our customers and society. New, game-changing ideas and continuous improvement have been part of our DNA since 1834. Together, we can create new business opportunities and more sustainable future that we can all be proud of.
• We want to transition the world towards a decarbonised and sustainable future. By pushing the boundaries of engineering and technology, we can make it work. We are always on the lookout for future-oriented talent - want to join the ride?, We strongly believe that by being your true self, you can achieve so much more. Join our truly international team and you will be empowered, supported, and valued at Wärtsilä. Together, we are passionate about making a difference in society. Working as one global team in a caring and honest atmosphere, we continuously improve ourselves and the way we work., Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. Our team of 18,300 professionals, in more than 230 locations in 77 countries, shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. Read more on www.wartsila.com.