Payroll & Pensions Technician

Coillte; Connacht; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Coillte is seeking a Payroll & Pensions Technician to ensure efficient delivery of payroll, pensions and related employee services, while maintaining compliance with statutory requirements. The role supports pension administration, payroll operations and expenses processing, and provides system support and stakeholder engagement.

Reporting to the Payroll & Expenses Manager, you will handle payroll controls, time recording, expense audits, and governance activities, contribute to continuous

Qualifications

• Payroll experience in a medium to large business organisation.
• IPASS or equivalent payroll qualification.
• Strong knowledge of statutory, pension and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Deliver accurate payroll and pension services in compliance with statutory and organisational requirements.
• Provide operational payroll support to the Payroll Manager.
• Administer payroll, pensions, time recording, sick pay and employee records.

Skills

Payroll experience

Attention to detail

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Education

IPASS qualification

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ROS

EFT

Internet Banking

Job description

The Payroll & Pensions Technician is responsible for the efficient delivery of payroll, pensions and associated employee services, ensuring compliance with statutory and organisational requirements. The role supports pension administration and governance, payroll operations, travel and expenses processing, systems management, audit activities and employee support, while providing operational backup to the Payroll Manager and HR Operational support. Success in the role is underpinned by attention to detail, effective stakeholder engagement, excellent service delivery and a proactive approach to continuous improvement.

Terms and Conditions

Contract: 1 Year Fixed Term Contract

Reports to: Payroll & Expenses Manager

Responsibilities

Payroll Operations

• Support the delivery of accurate and compliant payroll and pension services.
• Provide operational payroll support to the Payroll Manager.
• Administer payroll, pensions, time recording, sick pay and employee records.
• Complete payroll controls, reconciliations, payments and financial system updates.
• Maintain compliance with statutory, Revenue and pension requirements.
• Provide timely support to employees, pensioners and external stakeholders.

Travel & Expenses Administration and Compliance

• Administer travel and expense processes, ensuring policy and Revenue compliance.
• Process and audit employee claims, resolving exceptions as required.
• Maintain expense system data, approvals and financial interfaces.
• Produce compliance reporting and management insights.
• Provide employee support and guidance on claims and expenses.

Pensions & Benefits Coordination

• Act as the primary operational liaison with AON, pension trustees, payroll and relevant internal stakeholders.
• Coordinate pension lifecycle activities including retirements, new pensioners, lump sums, member queries, pension payroll changes and benefit communications.
• Support pension governance, audit, compliance and reporting requirements.
• Maintain pension process documentation, controls and service provider performance oversight.
• Support employees and pensioners by facilitating access to pension information and escalation of complex queries.

Audit, Reporting and Governance

• Prepare payroll, expense and compliance reporting within agreed timelines.
• Complete payroll reconciliations, journals and control checks.
• Support internal and external audits through accurate records and documentation.
• Maintain procedures, controls and audit-ready processes to meet governance requirements
• Support payroll and expenses systems, data integrity and record management.
• Contribute to system upgrades, process improvements and legislative changes.
• Maintain accurate records, documentation and controls in line with GDPR and governance requirements.
• Build effective stakeholder relationships and support continuous improvement across payroll and HR services.

Employee & Stakeholder Support

• Provide responsive payroll, pension and expense support to employees and key stakeholders.
• Build strong collaborative relationships and communicate professionally
• Support employee onboarding, communications and engagement activities.
• Contribute to service excellence through continuous improvement, teamwork and a customer-focused approach.
• Demonstrate flexibility in responding to changing business needs and priorities.
• Communication: Shares ideas clearly and respectfully, listens actively, and asks questions to understand.
• Collaboration: Works well with others, contributes to team goals, and values different viewpoints.
• Time Management & Prioritisation: Organises time to meet deadlines and focus on key tasks.
• Attention to Detail & Accuracy: Checks work carefully and follows instructions.
• Organisational Skills: Maintains organised workspaces and follows structured processes.
• Problem Solving: Spots issues and asks for help to fix them.
• Results Orientation: Focuses on completing tasks reliably and meeting goals.
• Adaptability: Adjusts to new tasks and feedback with a positive attitude.
• Accountability & Ownership: Takes responsibility for tasks and learns from experience.

All employees must be a role model of the Coillte values.

Desired Technical Competencies

• Education and Experience: Payroll related qualification such as IPASS and minimum of 2 years relevant payroll experience in a medium to large business organisation
• Payroll administration, governance, statutory, audit, finance and legal compliance
• Knowledge of all statutory taxes, PMOD & ERR, the treatment of social welfare payments, Third Parties and pension administration
• Travel & Expenses administration, governance, statutory, audit, finance and legal compliance
• Data analysis and reporting
• Payroll, Expenses and HR systems administration
• Microsoft Office & Excel, ROS, EFT, Internet Banking and data management
• Internal controls and audit support
• Process documentation and continuous improvement
• Project support and UAT testing

Our Company Values

Resourceful

Knowledge-Led

Coillte is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all which builds upon our core values and fosters a positive work environment where EVERYONE can bring their true self to work and achieve their full potential.

Your application details will be stored for a period of 14 months in line with the Data Protection Act 1988, Amended 2003, and the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679, and used solely for the purposes of your application for employment within the Company. For more information on the processing of your personal data please see our Data Protection Policy and Privacy Policy.