UK Payroll & Benefits Leader — People & Process Champion

Syensqo; Wrexham; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Maternity/Paternity leave

Training platform

Well-being sessions

Job summary

Syensqo, a science-focused firm based in the UK, is seeking a Payroll & Benefits Team Leader UK to lead a team of 3 specialists and drive accurate, compliant payroll delivery across the UK.

You will own end-to-end payroll and benefits processing, manage calendars, controls, and vendor relationships while promoting continuous improvement and strong risk management. You will collaborate with HR and finance, ensure year-end activities, support audits, and provide leadership development to your team.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of UK payroll experience, preferably within a complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, taxation, statutory requirements, and year-end processes.
• Experience leading, coordinating, or coaching payroll professionals.
• Experience working with outsourced payroll providers.
• Strong understanding of payroll controls, reconciliations, and payroll accounting.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 3 Payroll & Benefits Specialists.
• Own end-to-end operational Payroll & Benefits delivery for the UK.
• Ensure payroll is processed accurately, compliantly, and on time.
• Oversee payroll calendars, cut-offs, input readiness, validation, and approvals.
• Oversee Benefits-related payroll inputs and processes.
• Identify payroll risks proactively and implement mitigation actions.
• Support internal and external audits and ensure remediation actions are completed.
• Coordinate improvement opportunities with Global Payroll Experts, HRIT, and providers.

Skills

UK payroll expertise

Payroll operations

Payroll controls

Vendor management

Root-cause analysis

SOP documentation

Continuous improvement

Stakeholder management

Fluent English

Tools

SAP Payroll

SAP SuccessFactors

Job description

Syensqo, a science-focused firm based in the UK, is seeking a Payroll & Benefits Team Leader UK to lead a team of 3 specialists and drive accurate, compliant payroll delivery across the UK.

You will own end-to-end payroll and benefits processing, manage calendars, controls, and vendor relationships while promoting continuous improvement and strong risk management. You will collaborate with HR and finance, ensure year-end activities, support audits, and provide leadership development to your team.