Payroll Specialist - Management Progression

Darwin Hawkins; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Darwin Hawkins is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to join the payroll team in Dublin with a hybrid working arrangement. The role offers a clear progression path toward payroll management and a chance to develop leadership skills while delivering accurate Irish and UK payroll processing.

You will work within an established payroll function, expanding your technical payroll knowledge, improving processes, and contributing to payroll improvements across Irish and UK populations.

Qualifications

• 3+ years' relevant experience in payroll processing or administration.
• Strong hands-on Irish payroll experience, with UK payroll exposure advantageous.
• IPASS, CIPP or a similar payroll qualification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the processing of weekly and monthly payrolls across Irish and UK employee populations.
• Reviewing payroll inputs and ensuring employee information is accurate and up to date.
• Processing salary adjustments, overtime, bonuses, allowances and deductions.
• Supporting payroll reconciliations and investigating discrepancies.
• Assisting with pension administration, statutory payments and payroll reporting.
• Responding to employee payroll queries and resolving issues promptly.
• Working closely with HR, Finance and other internal stakeholders.
• Supporting payroll compliance, internal controls and audit requirements.
• Identifying opportunities to improve payroll processes, systems and reporting.
• Gradually taking on additional responsibilities, with the opportunity to progress into payroll management.

Skills

Irish payroll

UK payroll exposure

Attention to detail

Communication

Problem-solving

Ambitious

Education

IPASS/CIPP

Tools

Payroll software

HRIS

Job description

Job Title: Payroll Specialist - Management Progression

Sector: Professional Services

Location: Dublin (Hybrid)

Salary: €55,000 plus Pension & Benefits

Our Client

Our client is an established organisation looking to appoint an ambitious Payroll Specialist to join its payroll team.

They are seeking a payroll professional who can bring solid technical payroll knowledge, take ownership of key payroll activities and has the ambition to develop into a management position over time.

Why should you apply?

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced payroll professional who is looking to take the next step in their career, with a clear progression path and the opportunity to develop into a Payroll Manager position. You will gain exposure across Irish and UK payroll, working within an experienced team and gradually taking on greater responsibility. The position offers the opportunity to develop your technical and leadership skills, contribute to payroll improvements and build towards a management role.

Who should apply?

This opportunity will suit an ambitious Payroll Specialist, Payroll Administrator or Payroll Officer who has developed a good foundation in payroll and is keen to progress into a more senior position.

The business is open to candidates from a range of backgrounds, including in-house payroll teams, payroll bureaux, professional services and other large organisations.

• 3+ years' relevant experience in payroll processing or administration.
• Strong hands‑on Irish payroll experience, with UK payroll exposure advantageous.
• IPASS, CIPP or a similar payroll qualification preferred.
• Good understanding of payroll reconciliations, statutory payments, pensions and deductions.
• Experience working with payroll systems and managing employee data.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to identify and resolve payroll discrepancies.
• Good communication, organisational and problem‑solving skills.
• Proactive, ambitious and genuinely interested in progressing into payroll management.

Role and Reporting Lines

Working as part of an experienced payroll team, you will support the accurate and timely delivery of payroll while developing your technical expertise and gradually taking on additional responsibilities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the processing of weekly and monthly payrolls across Irish and UK employee populations.
• Reviewing payroll inputs and ensuring employee information is accurate and up to date.
• Processing salary adjustments, overtime, bonuses, allowances and deductions.
• Supporting payroll reconciliations and investigating discrepancies.
• Assisting with pension administration, statutory payments and payroll reporting.
• Responding to employee payroll queries and resolving issues promptly.
• Working closely with HR, Finance and other internal stakeholders.
• Supporting payroll compliance, internal controls and audit requirements.
• Identifying opportunities to improve payroll processes, systems and reporting.
• Gradually taking on additional responsibilities, with the opportunity to progress into payroll management.