Senior Payroll Specialist - UK/ROI, SAP & Mega Pay

Primark; Reading; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Pension

Bonus potential

Leave and holidays

Tax Saver Tickets

Fitness centre

Subsidised cafeteria

Job summary

Primark is seeking a payroll professional to deliver accurate in-house payroll for over 33,000 UK and ROI colleagues, supporting end-to-end processing and reconciliations on a fixed-term contract. You will deputise for the Payroll Manager, ensure compliance and audit readiness, manage deadlines, and drive improvements while collaborating with global payroll teams and other stakeholders.

The role requires 5+ years’ payroll experience, SAP Payroll (UK) and Mega Pay (ROI), knowledge of tax,

Qualifications

• Five+ years of payroll experience or a combination of payroll and broader industry experience.
• Hands-on knowledge of SAP Payroll (UK) and Mega Pay (ROI).
• Strong technical and legislative knowledge including tax regulations, pensions, statutory returns, and year-end payroll processes.

Responsibilities

• Deliver accurate and timely in-house payroll for over 33,000 UK and ROI colleagues, supporting end-to-end payroll processing and reconciliations.
• Support and deputise for the Payroll Manager, including payroll sign-off, prioritising critical tasks, monitoring deadlines, and managing risks.
• Ensure payroll activities are compliant and audit-ready, maintaining knowledge of legislation, pensions, statutory returns, and year-end processes.
• Lead by example with a complex payroll workload, review complex correspondence, and process third-party payments.
• Drive continuous improvement, identify efficiencies, support BAU projects, and collaborate with global payroll teams.
• Build relationships across payroll, compliance, governance, and wider business units, coaching teammates and upholding Primark values.

Skills

Payroll expertise

SAP Payroll (UK)

Mega Pay (ROI)

Excel (intermediate)

Tools

SAP Payroll

Mega Pay

Job description

Primark is seeking a payroll professional to deliver accurate in-house payroll for over 33,000 UK and ROI colleagues, supporting end-to-end processing and reconciliations on a fixed-term contract. You will deputise for the Payroll Manager, ensure compliance and audit readiness, manage deadlines, and drive improvements while collaborating with global payroll teams and other stakeholders.

The role requires 5+ years’ payroll experience, SAP Payroll (UK) and Mega Pay (ROI), knowledge of tax,