Payroll Manager

Ascension Executive Recruitment; Dún Laoghaire; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascension Executive Recruitment in Ireland seeks a Payroll Manager responsible for accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for ~1,200 employees across weekly and monthly cycles. You will lead a team of three payroll professionals and ensure payroll is accurate, on time and compliant with Irish legislation and Revenue.

The role acts as main payroll contact across the business, coordinating with HR, Finance and external stakeholders to reconcile payrolls, resolve queries, and drive

Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll experience, preferably in a medium to large organisation.
• Strong experience delivering Irish payroll.
• Experience in handling weekly and monthly payrolls for 1,000+ employees.
• Supervisory experience of a payroll team.

Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end processing of weekly and monthly payrolls for approximately 1,200 employees.
• Ensure all payrolls are processed accurately and within agreed deadlines.
• Review and approve payroll calculations prior to payment.
• Manage payroll inputs including salary uploads, payroll approvals and changes.
• Ensure appropriate payroll controls and reconciliation processes are maintained.
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies promptly.
• Coordinate payroll payments with Finance and banking providers.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and documentation.
• Lead, support and develop a team of three Payroll Co-Ordinators.
• Ensure compliance with Irish payroll legislation and Revenue requirements.
• Reconcile payrolls to the general ledger and Finance records.
• Work closely with HR to ensure payroll and employee records are accurate and aligned.
• Provide expert payroll advice to HR, Finance, management and senior leaders.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls and efficiency.

Skills

Payroll management

Irish payroll

Team leadership

HRIS platforms

Attention to detail

Confidentiality

Education

5+ years of payroll experience

Experience with multi-site payroll

Job description

Role Purpose

The Payroll Manager will be responsible for the accurate, timely and compliant processing of payroll for approximately 1,200 employees across weekly and monthly payroll cycles.

The role will lead a team of three payroll professionals and oversee the end-to-end payroll process, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time while maintaining compliance with Irish payroll legislation, Revenue requirements and company policies.

The Payroll Manager will act as the key point of contact for payroll-related matters across the business, working closely with HR, Finance, employees, managers and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end processing of weekly and monthly payrolls for approximately 1,200 employees.
• Ensure all payrolls are processed accurately and within agreed deadlines.
• Review and approve payroll calculations prior to payment.
• Manage payroll inputs including salary uploads, payroll approvals and changes
• Ensure appropriate payroll controls and reconciliation processes are maintained.
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies promptly.
• Manage complex payroll queries including leaver and final pay calculations, pension queries, benefit deductions, expenses, vouchers and cross-border payroll or tax matters.
• Coordinate payroll payments with Finance and banking providers.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and documentation.
• Lead, support and develop a team of three Payroll Co-Ordinators.
• Ensure compliance with Irish payroll legislation and Revenue requirements.
• Reconcile payrolls to the general ledger and Finance records.
• Work closely with HR to ensure payroll and employee records are accurate and aligned.
• Provide expert payroll advice to HR, Finance, management and senior leaders.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls and efficiency.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in payroll, ideally within a medium to large organisation.
• Strong experience managing Irish payroll.
• Proven experience processing both weekly and monthly payrolls.
• Experience managing payroll for 1,000+ employees or a similarly complex payroll environment.
• Previous experience managing or supervising a payroll team.
• Experience with payroll systems and HRIS platforms.
• Excellent attention to detail and numerical accuracy.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work to tight and immovable payroll deadlines.
• High level of confidentiality and integrity.

Desirable

• Payroll qualification such as IPASS / Payroll Technician qualification.
• Experience in a multi-site or operational environment.
• Experience with high-volume payroll.
• Experience implementing or upgrading payroll systems.
• Experience with payroll/HR system integrations.
• Experience working with Finance teams and general ledger reconciliations.

Key Competencies

• Maintains a consistently high level of accuracy when dealing with sensitive financial and employee information.
• Provides clear direction and support to the payroll team while taking ownership of overall payroll delivery.
• Able to manage competing deadlines across weekly and monthly payroll cycles.
• Investigates discrepancies and complex payroll issues and delivers practical solutions.
• Communicates clearly and professionally with employees, HR, Finance and senior management.
• Handles highly sensitive employee and financial information appropriately.
• Looks for ways to improve payroll processes, controls, systems and efficiency.