Senior Payroll Specialist

Darwin Hawkins; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Benefits package

Job summary

Darwin Hawkins is seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Specialist to join its payroll team in Ireland.

You will manage weekly and monthly Irish payroll, review inputs, and process changes while supporting pensions, deductions and statutory requirements.

Working in a hybrid setup, you’ll handle queries, contribute to process improvements, and have a clear progression path toward Payroll Manager as you develop leadership skills.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant payroll experience.
• Strong hands-on experience processing Irish payroll; UK payroll experience is advantageous.
• IPASS, CIPP or similar payroll qualification preferred.
• In-house payroll experience is a plus; bureaux experience also considered.
• Comfortable handling large payroll populations and frequent employee changes.
• Solid knowledge of payroll reconciliations, pensions, deductions and statutory requirements.
• Ambitious candidate ready to progress into payroll management.

Responsibilities

• Process weekly and monthly payrolls for Irish and UK population.
• Review payroll inputs and ensure accuracy before runs.
• Handle salary, overtime, bonuses, and deductions changes.
• Investigate discrepancies and resolve payroll issues.
• Administer pensions, statutory payments and employee benefits.
• Prepare reconciliations, reports and supporting documents.
• Respond to employee payroll queries with timely communication.
• Maintain payroll controls and support audits.
• Collaborate with HR/Finance and other teams on payroll matters.
• Contribute to process improvements and reporting.
• Take on expanded responsibilities with potential to move into Payroll Manager role.

Skills

Payroll experience

Irish payroll

UK payroll experience

Attention to detail

Education

IPASS/CIPP

Job description

Our Client

Our client is a well-established organisation looking to appoint an experienced Senior Payroll Specialist to join its payroll team.

They are seeking a payroll professional who can bring strong 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 step up into a Payroll Manager role.

You will gain exposure across Irish and UK payroll, working within an experienced team and taking on a broad range of payroll responsibilities. The position offers hybrid working, an attractive benefits package and the opportunity to develop your technical and leadership skills as you progress.

Who should apply?

• Payroll professional with at least 5 years' relevant experience.
• Strong hands-on experience processing Irish payroll, with UK payroll experience highly advantageous.
• IPASS, CIPP or a similar payroll qualification preferred.
• Experience gained within an in-house payroll environment would be an advantage, although candidates from payroll bureaux will also be considered.
• Comfortable working with sizeable payroll populations and managing regular employee changes.
• Good understanding of payroll reconciliations, pensions, deductions and statutory requirements.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to identify discrepancies and resolve payroll issues.
• Ambitious individual who is keen to broaden their responsibilities and progress into payroll management.

Role and Reporting Lines

• Supporting the accurate and timely processing of weekly and monthly payrolls across Irish and UK employee populations.
• Reviewing payroll inputs and ensuring employee information is accurate before each payroll run.
• Processing changes relating to salaries, overtime, bonuses, allowances and payroll deductions.
• Investigating payroll discrepancies and ensuring issues are resolved accurately and promptly.
• Supporting the administration of pensions, statutory payments and employee benefits.
• Preparing payroll reconciliations, reports and supporting documentation.
• Acting as a point of contact for employee payroll queries and providing clear, timely responses.
• Maintaining strong payroll controls and supporting internal and external audit requirements.
• Working closely with HR, Finance and other internal teams on payroll-related matters.
• Contributing to improvements in payroll processes, systems and reporting.
• Taking on additional responsibilities within the team, with the opportunity to progress into a Payroll Manager position.