UK Payroll Lead: Compliance, Governance & Transformation

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Smiths Detection is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to take ownership of a critical payroll function supporting approximately 500 employees across the UK.

This is not a traditional payroll processing role. We are looking for a payroll expert who can lead from the front, ensuring payroll compliance, driving continuous improvement, strengthening governance, and acting as the organisation's subject matter expert for all payroll-related matters.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

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

Skills

End-to-end payroll

UK payroll legislation

Outsourced payroll management

Pensions and salary sacrifice

Payroll controls & governance

Advanced Excel

Analytical/problem-solving

Independent ownership

Confidentiality

Tools

SAP Payroll

ADP Payroll

Job description

Smiths Detection is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to take ownership of a critical payroll function supporting approximately 500 employees across the UK.

This is not a traditional payroll processing role. We are looking for a payroll expert who can lead from the front, ensuring payroll compliance, driving continuous improvement, strengthening governance, and acting as the organisation's subject matter expert for all payroll-related matters.