Payroll Specialist

• Manage end-to-end UK payroll operations for approximately 700 employees across 2 entities with monthly cycles, ensuring 99.5% accuracy, on-time processing, and full compliance with UK legislation, GDPR, and Sanofi policies
• Oversee the outsourced payroll provider relationship (Strada), including preparing and reviewing payroll data, monitoring KPIs, validating calculations, and escalating operational issues to ensure seamless delivery
• Process compensation and benefits including salary changes, bonuses, pension administration and reporting, benefit deductions, share scheme processing, and ex-pat/in-pat payroll for international mobility
• Deliver accurate and timely reporting to third-party administrators (pensions, share schemes), Finance, and business stakeholders, including ad-hoc reports and statutory returns
• Provide Level 2 payroll support by responding to queries via ServiceNow within agreed SLAs, maintaining the Knowledge Database, and resolving issues in a professional and timely manner
• Lead audit preparation and compliance activities, including payroll control checklists, control evidence documentation, sign-off processes, and responding to internal and external audit requests
• Maintain payroll documentation and governance, ensuring all policies, SOPs, change requests, and control evidence are current and stored appropriately on SharePoint
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, staying current with UK payroll legislation, monitoring and refining processes to meet statutory requirements while supporting corporate projects and the Global Core Model

• Proven UK payroll expertise with a thorough understanding of payroll processes, UK legislation, and compliance requirements (GDPR)
• Ireland payroll knowledge is a plus
• Graduate/Master's degree in Finance, HR, or Business Administration, or CIPP qualification (or working towards it), with hands-on payroll experience ideally in an international, multicultural environment
• Strong technical proficiency with payroll/HRIS systems (Workday experience advantageous) and advanced Excel skills to manage data, reporting, and analysis effectively
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities to address operational issues, interpret complex payroll data, and drive resolution in a timely and effective manner
• Detail-oriented and precise with the ability to organize, prioritize, and structure tasks to meet tight deadlines while maintaining 99.5%+ accuracy standards
• Collaborative team player who works effectively across teams (People Services, Finance, P&C, Legal) and with external providers, bringing an end-to-end mindset to service delivery
• Professional communicator able to interact confidently with internal and external stakeholders, providing clear support and building strong working relationships
• Action-oriented and change-ready, with a delivery-driven approach and enthusiasm for continuous improvement initiatives within the payroll function

• Ireland payroll knowledge is a plus
• Workday experience advantageous

Disability Confident Employer (offering interviews to candidates who request consideration under the Scheme and meet minimum requirements)