Senior Payroll Officer

Your new company
You'll be joining a well established and people focused organisation with a reputation for operational excellence and a supportive working culture based in Leeds. The business places real value on accuracy, collaboration and continuous improvement, offering a stable environment where payroll is seen as a critical function supporting both employees and leadership. With accessible facilities and a strong employee benefits package, this is a workplace that invests in its people and long term success.

Your new role

• Take end-to-end responsibility for delivering accurate and timely payroll across multiple pay cycles.
  
• Process payroll changes including new starters, leavers and contractual variations
  
• Calculate and administer statutory payments such as SSP, SMP, SPP, PAYE and National Insurance
  
• Prepare and distribute payslips in line with agreed deadlines
  
• Manage holiday calculations, payments and employee queries
  
• Ensure ongoing compliance with payroll legislation and statutory requirements
  
• Administer pension processes including auto-enrolment, Local Government schemes and associated deductions
  
• Act as a key point of contact for payroll queries, providing clear explanations and resolutions.
  
• Support internal and external audits through reconciliations, reporting and documentation
  
• Liaise with external payroll and system providers to resolve issues and maintain service standards
  
• Assist with payroll system upgrades, testing and continuous process improvement initiatives
  
• Produce payroll and workforce reports to support operational and strategic decision making
  
• Support the Payroll Manager with period end activities and monthly close processes
  

• Proven experience in a payroll role within a fast paced, high volume environment
  
• Strong working knowledge of UK payroll legislation and statutory payments
  
• Experience administering pensions and payroll deductions
  
• Confidence performing manual calculations where required
  
• Strong IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel and payroll systems
  
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage competing deadlines
  
• Strong communication skills with the confidence to engage with employees and senior stakeholders
  
• A proactive, positive attitude and commitment to delivering excellent customer service
  
• CIPP qualification or working towards certification (desirable but not essential)