Senior Payroll Officer

• Process monthly payroll and pensions for the organisation, including administration of multiple pension schemes (such as auto enrolment and salary sacrifice arrangements)
• Deputise for the Payroll Manager, providing expert advice and guidance to internal teams, external stakeholders, and resolving complex queries (often face-to-face or via phone/email)
• Support payroll projects, process reviews, workflow planning, and implementation of system upgrades or enhancements
• Ensure full compliance with UK payroll legislation, including PAYE, NIC, RTI submissions, auto enrolment, and best practice standards
• Stay current with changing legislation and contribute to team knowledge-sharing and continuous improvement
• Maintain payroll system integrity in line with statutory requirements and internal policies
• Handle accounting tasks such as payroll posting to the general ledger, monthly reconciliations, year-end processes (P60s, P11Ds, PSA returns where relevant)
• Manage pension contributions, reconciliations, and timely payments for budgeting and financial reporting
• Review and update procedures to align with legislation and future-proof payroll operations
• Oversee bi-weekly expense payments, ensuring accuracy, correct coding, and HMRC/policy compliance
• Undertake any other ad-hoc duties to support the team

• Proven senior-level payroll experience, ideally in a large or complex organisation
• CIPP qualified (degree level) or actively working towards it
• Strong, up-to-date knowledge of UK payroll legislation, RTI, auto enrolment, NIC/PAYE, and pension schemes
• Experience processing and administering payrolls and pensions accurately and compliantly
• Proficiency in payroll systems and advanced Microsoft Excel (including building spreadsheets/databases for real-time data analysis)
• Excellent numerical, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to interrogate data
• Confident in handling complex queries and providing direct support to stakeholders
• Strong organisational skills, ability to prioritise workload, work autonomously, meet strict deadlines, and maintain exceptional attention to detail
• Passionate, proactive mindset – willing to suggest improvements, challenge the status quo, and contribute flexibly when needed
• Excellent team player: collaborative, enthusiastic, takes ownership, shares ideas, and supports colleagues

• Experience with pension reconciliations, general ledger postings, and year-end reporting
• Background in housing, social care, or not-for-profit sectors
• Familiarity with expense management processes
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel)

comprehensive benefits