Joining the Hakim Group means becoming part of a close-knit family of independent optical practices across the UK and Ireland. A place where empowerment, innovation, and unwavering support create a truly fulfilling experience — a career that feels like joining a secret club of the happiest eye care professionals. As we continue to grow, we’re looking for a Senior Payroll Specialist to help shape the future of how we reward and support our colleagues — ensuring every team member across the Group is paid correctly, on time, and with care. In return for your expertise and commitment, we’re offering: • A competitive salary based on experience and impact. • Access to our employee health plan and financial flexibility fund. • A rewards portal full of exclusive offers and benefits. • A vibrant calendar of team events and celebrations that bring our culture to life. Most importantly, you’ll be part of a supportive, growing team where accuracy, care, and collaboration are at the heart of everything we do. We’re on the lookout for a hands-on, detail-driven leader to oversee and continuously improve our payroll operations. This role is all about precision, leadership, and progress — ensuring our systems, people, and processes work seamlessly together to deliver excellence every single month. As Senior Payroll Specialist, you’ll take ownership of day-to-day delivery while also driving forward long-term improvements. From implementing smarter workflows and automation to enhancing compliance and accuracy, you’ll help us create a payroll function that’s scalable, efficient, and ready for the future. If you take pride in getting things right, love leading a capable team, and enjoy making complex processes simple, this could be the perfect next step in your career. ABOUT OUR PAYROLL FUNCTION Our payroll operation is significantly more complex than a traditional in-house payroll environment. The team supports: • Over 500 employing entities • Approximately 375 PAYE references • Simultaneous payroll processing across multiple companies • UK payroll operations • Republic of Ireland payroll • Isle of Man payroll • Guernsey payroll • Jersey payroll • Ongoing acquisitions and onboarding activity • Multiple pension schemes and salary sacrifice arrangements • HMRC audits and compliance activity • Payroll transformation and automation projects through our Payroll 2030 strategy This role is ideal for someone who enjoys complexity, thrives in a fast-paced environment and can confidently operate across multiple payroll disciplines. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Lead and oversee the monthly payroll cycle, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness across the Group. • Manage day-to-day operations, team performance, and workload planning. • Act as the main escalation point for complex queries, providing clear, supportive solutions. • Ensure all payroll activity complies with tax, pension, and employment legislation. • Drive process improvements and automation as part of our Payroll 2030 vision. • Coach and develop the Payroll & Benefits team, building capability and collaboration. • Collaborate with People, Finance, and external partners to resolve pay and benefits matters effectively. • Champion fairness, transparency, and data accuracy in all payroll processes. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE We’re looking for someone who brings both precision and leadership — someone who thrives on getting the details right while inspiring others to do the same. Essential • Proven experience managing complex, high-volume, or multi-site payroll operations. • Strong understanding of pay, tax, pension, and employment law. • Hands-on experience with iTrent, Sage, and advanced Excel. • Leadership experience with the ability to motivate and develop teams. • Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills. • Meticulous attention to detail and commitment to continuous improvement. Desirable • Experience leading payroll transformation or system implementation projects. • Knowledge of automation tools, AI, or payroll reporting technologies. • Experience within healthcare, retail, or professional services. Click apply now and a member of our recruitment team will be in touch GBP £0.00 GBP £0.00