UK Payroll Expert & Process Improvement Leader

Smiths Detection Group; England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Smiths Detection Group is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to own payroll across the UK for about 500 employees. This is a strategic, not just processing role, focusing on compliance, governance, and driving improvements while bringing payroll expertise in-house.

Reporting to the HR Manager, you will oversee UK entities, manage relationships with outsourced providers, ensure accurate, compliant processing, and lead future system enhancements and payroll projects across the business with

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing end-to-end UK payroll within a complex organisation.
• Strong working knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements and statutory payments.
• Experience managing outsourced payroll providers.
• Experience with pensions, benefits and salary sacrifice schemes.
• Strong understanding of payroll controls, governance and compliance.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of a business-critical function.
• Exceptional attention to detail and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end payroll process across UK operations.
• Act as the payroll compliance and governance expert.
• Manage relationships with outsourced payroll providers and third-party partners.
• Review payroll outputs and reconciliations, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Provide guidance on payroll legislation, taxation, statutory payments and best practice.
• Handle complex payroll queries and investigations.
• Support payroll accounting, reconciliations, reporting and audit activities.
• Administer payroll-related benefits and salary sacrifice schemes.
• Drive payroll process improvements, automation and system enhancements.
• Support future payroll projects, integrations, system implementations and business transformation initiatives.
• Partner with HR, Finance and external stakeholders to deliver an exceptional payroll service.

Skills

End-to-end UK payroll

UK payroll legislation

Outsourced payroll management

Pensions & salary sacrifice

Payroll controls & governance

Advanced Excel

Analytical & problem-solving

Autonomous working

Attention to detail

SAP

ADP Payroll

Tools

SAP

ADP Payroll

Job description

Smiths Detection Group is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to own payroll across the UK for about 500 employees. This is a strategic, not just processing role, focusing on compliance, governance, and driving improvements while bringing payroll expertise in-house.

Reporting to the HR Manager, you will oversee UK entities, manage relationships with outsourced providers, ensure accurate, compliant processing, and lead future system enhancements and payroll projects across the business with