Global payroll specialist

Payroll & Benefits Manager - Reading - Hybrid - £300 per day - 3/6 month contract

Role Purpose

Manage the end-to-end payroll process for approximately 150 employees across the UK and international locations, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll delivery while administering pension and benefits schemes.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations & Compliance

• Own and process monthly payroll, including salaries, overtime, commissions, bonuses, expenses, statutory payments, and deductions.
• Manage payroll across the UK, New Zealand, USA, Germany, and the Netherlands through local payroll providers.
• Ensure compliance with HMRC regulations, PAYE, National Insurance, RTI submissions, pension auto-enrolment, and all relevant payroll legislation.
• Process starters, leavers, salary changes, P45s, P60s, P11Ds, and year-end reporting.
• Act as the primary contact for employee payroll queries and resolve issues promptly.
• Maintain payroll records, controls, reconciliations, and audit trails.
• Partner with Finance on payroll journals, reporting, audits, and statutory submissions.

Pensions & Benefits

• Administer pension schemes and employee benefits, including enrolments, changes, leavers, and renewals.
• Liaise with pension providers, benefits brokers, insurers, and payroll bureaus.
• Process monthly pension submissions, including Royal London, KiwiSaver, 401(k), and Netherlands pension schemes.
• Ensure accurate and timely pension contributions and reconciliations.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and implement improvements to payroll processes, controls, and systems.
• Maintain accurate documentation and ensure compliance with UK GDPR requirements.

Key Measures of Success

• Payroll accuracy and on-time delivery.
• Compliance with all statutory payroll and pension deadlines.
• Accurate pension and benefits administration.
• Timely resolution of employee payroll queries.
• Effective payroll controls and positive audit outcomes.

Skills & Experience

• 5+ years' experience managing end-to-end payroll for 100+ employees.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, PAYE, National Insurance, RTI, pensions, and HMRC requirements.
• Experience managing international payroll providers.
• Payroll qualification (e.g., CIPP) or equivalent experience.
• Strong payroll systems knowledge and advanced Excel skills.

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