Payroll Analyst (Payroll Transformation) (Contract)

Job Title: Payroll Specialist Location: Swindon, UK Job Type: Full time contract, Through to end of August 2025 , with possibility of extension Work Model: Hybrid 20% in the office – 1 day a week but maybe more at the start As a Payroll Specialist, you will provide subject matter expertise in payroll across one or more platforms, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement. You will play a key role in supporting internal teams, clients, and projects while driving best practice in payroll operations. Act as a Subject Matter Expert in payroll supporting the payroll team and clients as needed for both day-to-day activity and during assigned projects • Resolve complex payroll queries from clients, internal teams, and employees, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and customer satisfaction • Collaborate with Customer Support Services, HR and Finance teams to ensure complete customer satisfaction regarding complex payroll casework • Review and validate complex, multi-year overpayment calculations, providing guidance and oversight to operational payroll teams to ensure accuracy and compliance • Own the payroll In Year and Tax Year End process for our clients including reconciliation of tax, National Insurance contributions and statutory absence deductions. This will include submitting EPS and monitoring the HMRC Gateway accounts to ensure they are accurately maintained • Engage with digital teams to ensure payroll impacting year end patches / quarterly releases are fully tested and approved • Manage other payroll Year End related activities, such as management and return of client PAYE Settlement Agreements and P11d’s • Act as the primary payroll contact for client or transformation-driven change requests, ensuring seamless integration with business-as-usual operations and maintaining service quality • Assist in the monthly BACS submission process, including reconciliations and approvals, ensuring compliance across all client payrolls • Proactively identify payroll knowledge gaps within the team and implement solutions, including knowledge sharing, coaching, or recommending formal training You may also be asked to support with ad hoc projects and pieces of work relevant to your role in line with business requirements, including direct involvement in pay award processing. Previously worked in a payroll service delivery department • Knowledge of current statutory payroll guidelines and best practice • Ability to accurately calculate gross to net calculations manually, including overpayment calculations • Able to translate complex payroll information to a non-payroll audience • Able to interpret and present complex data in a range of formats to multiple audience types • Fantastic attention to detail, motivated by producing high quality work • Experience of handling challenging conversations/complaints Strong track record in payroll Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) qualification • Knowledge and experience of Oracle or similar ERP / SaaS system • Oracle fusion / ERP change / Public sector experience