Payroll Specialist

Splendid Hospitality Group is one of the UKs fastest growing privately-owned hotel groups. As a family run business, people are at the very heart of its success, a place where everyone becomes parts of the Splendid family. Our vision is to create extraordinary experiences, positively impact lives, and get better every day - it's the 'Splendid Hospitality Way' which is our way of looking after everybody to help them succeed, have fun and keep guests and our Splendid team members happy.

We're looking for an experienced Payroll Specialist to join our friendly and dedicated Payroll team at Splendid Hospitality Group.

In this role, you'll take ownership of delivering accurate, compliant, and timely payrolls across multiple pay frequencies and business divisions - including our hotels, restaurants, and care homes - supporting around 2,000 employees.

You'll manage the end-to-end payroll process, from data validation and statutory compliance through to reconciliations, audits, and reporting, ensuring all activity meets UK legislation and company standards.

As a subject matter expert, you'll also play a key role in driving process improvements, enhancing system efficiencies, and collaborating closely with HR, Finance, and Operations teams to deliver a seamless payroll experience across the Group.

We want our Family Members to enjoy coming to work and provide a friendly and supportive environment for you to work in. You'll develop personally through meeting and working with people within our corporate and hotel teams, and for those keen to develop you'll have the opportunity to explore the business with various career options. In addition, on offer:

• Free Parking
• Apprenticeship programmes available
• Learning and Development Opportunities available through our Leadership Development Programmes
• Heavily discounted hotel stays and food & beverage discounts at all our properties
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family. Giving you access to counselling services physical wellbeing & financial aid.
• Life Assurance
• 33 holiday days
• Automatic Enrolment into a workplace pension scheme

Splendid Hospitality is one of the UK's most successful and fastest-growing hospitality groups. Our diverse and dynamic portfolio spans hotels, restaurants, and care homes across the country-from London to Edinburgh, Bristol to York.

We are proud to own and operate a collection of well-known brands and distinctive properties, including:

• The award-winning 5-star Hilton London Bankside
• The luxurious Grand Hotel in York
• The UK's first Four Points Flex by Sheraton (Marriott), newly developed in London Euston
• Nine IHG hotels, including Holiday Inn Brentford Lock and boutique Hotel Indigos in Edinburgh and York
• Six Accor properties across the UK

Beyond hotels, we also operate 38 KFC restaurants across the Midlands and North East, and three care homes in Sussex-demonstrating our unique breadth across the hospitality and care sectors.

Driven by entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for service, we continue to grow and evolve, creating exceptional experiences for our guests, teams, and partners.

Key Responsibilities:

Payroll Processing & Ownership

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing (monthly and fortnightly) multiple business divisions, ensuring accuracy and timeliness through the external payroll provider.
• Validate and prepare payroll data, including starters, leavers, variable pay, and contractual changes, using payroll and time & attendance systems (e.g., Fourth).
• Review and authorise payroll outputs, ensuring correct payments, deductions, and statutory calculations.
• Administer statutory payments (SSP, SMP, SPP, etc.), ensure accurate holiday pay, and oversee pension auto-enrolment assessments and contribution audits.
• Complete payroll reconciliations, journals, and reports for Finance, supporting BACS payments when required.

Compliance, Reporting & Audit

• Ensure full compliance with HMRC legislation, RTI submissions, and National Minimum Wage regulations.
• Maintain secure, accurate employee and payroll records in line with GDPR.
• Support year-end processes including P60s, P11Ds, and audit requirements.
• Conduct internal audits, reconciliations, and variance analysis to maintain accuracy and compliance.
• Provide regular reporting and insight to HR and Finance, including payroll cost analysis and variance trends.

Stakeholder Support & Communication

• Act as the key point of contact for payroll-related queries, offering accurate and timely support to employees and managers.
• Work collaboratively with HR, Finance, and Operations to ensure data accuracy and process efficiency.
• Escalate complex or unresolved issues to the Payroll Operations Specialist.

Process Improvement & Projects

• Identify and implement opportunities to streamline payroll processes and improve data integrity.
• Support payroll projects, system upgrades, and integrations.
• Maintain and update payroll process documentation and SOPs.

About you:

Technical & Professional

• Proven experience managing end-to-end payroll in a multi-site or complex organisation (hospitality or care sector experience advantageous).
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, statutory payments, and pension auto-enrolment.
• Confident in payroll reconciliations, reporting, and data validation.
• Proficient in payroll and time & attendance systems (experience with Fourth advantageous).
• Advanced Excel skills for reporting and data analysis.
• Experience working with external payroll providers or bureaus.
• Minimum of 4 years' payroll experience.

Behavioural & Interpersonal

• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Professional, discreet, and trustworthy in handling confidential information.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills across all levels.
• Highly organised with the ability to meet tight deadlines under pressure.
• Proactive, solution-focused, and continuously seeking process improvements.
• A collaborative team player with a positive approach.
• CIPP qualification (working towards or achieved) or equivalent experience.
• Experience supporting payroll audits, system transitions, or process improvement projects.
• Prior experience with Fourth Payroll and/or Dataplan systems.

Does this role sound like a great fit for you? Apply now - it only takes a few seconds! Simply share your contact details and upload your CV.

Once we've reviewed your application, successful candidates will be invited to meet with one of our team to talk more about your experience, and to give you the chance to learn about the Splendid Group and what makes us unique.

At Splendid Hospitality Group, we're proud to be an equal opportunities employer, committed to building a diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.