Payroll Assistant Manager (Enterprise) in Aberdeen

AAB is a leading professional services firm operating across the UK, Ireland, and the USA. We specialise in the mid-market, supporting individuals, family businesses, and organisations with a full suite of services including audit, tax, corporate finance, payroll, people consultancy, and wealth management. With 1,000+ team members, we deliver expert support to clients all over the world.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We succeed together as one team, building strong client relationships through passion, empathy, and straightforward advice. That’s what makes AAB different. We invest in brilliant talent across every area of the business, offering tailored training, professional qualifications, and continuous support to help you grow.

Your growth matters to us. We’ll give you the tools, encouragement, and opportunities to lead, learn, and make an impact. Guided by our six core values, we foster a culture where collaboration, trust, and enthusiasm thrive.

At AAB, your career is what you make it. We are here to help you turn ambition into action, whether that’s becoming a technical expert, a future leader, or someone who simply makes a difference every day. If you're ready to be part of a team that’s united by purpose and driven by values, we’d love to hear from you.

We take our responsibility seriously. From reducing our environmental impact, to supporting education through training and talent programmes, to giving back to our local communities with our charitable initiative ABBIE- ESG is part of who we are.

ROLE PURPOSE

Main tasks of the role:

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the firm’s technical and operational methods, processes, procedures and standards of work required, dealing with increasingly complex client requirements and tasks.
• Demonstrate ability to research and conclude on complex technical problems and to handle difficult engagements.
• Delegate work to the team, as and when required, control workload, ensure that what is expected is clearly explained, provide support and hold the team accountable.
• Take responsibility for the work of the team, review their work, provide feedback and address learning points, and maximise team productivity and utilisation.
• As appropriate to your role, manage and control financial and operational aspects of your work for clients, including scope creep and maximisation of productive time.
• Work in an agile way to supervise several assignments concurrently, ensuring timeous and satisfactory delivery to colleagues and clients.
• Consistently bring technical work to successful conclusions, meeting agreed deadlines within time and budget.
• Develop relationships with clients, suppliers, stakeholders, their staff and their professional advisors, and develop your profile internally and externally.
• Understand the services offered by your department and the wider firm, and identify areas where the firm could assist clients and colleagues.
• Continue to establish self as an advisor with colleagues, clients and business contacts, dealing with queries effectively.
• Identify client service and internal process improvements, actively promote ideas and suggestions and participate in the firm’s commitment to continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate increasing commercial awareness.
• Assist with the marketing strategy of the firm.
• Be an ambassador for the firm, taking opportunities for networking and client entertaining events.

Technical tasks:

• Process payrolls, seeking guidance where required from Payroll Manager or relevant EPP Service Line.
• Maintain technical knowledge and actively investigate future changes to payroll legislation, suggest and implement required changes to processes and procedures.
• Identify the requirement for, develop and present training to the team on technical updates and procedural changes.
• Drive, manage and support specialist technical roles and projects as required.
• Maintain accurate and effective client process manuals ensuring manuals within the department are of the required standard.
• Maintain an understanding of all payroll team related software. Resolve queries with software providers when issues arise, adapt processes and procedures as necessary.
• Manage the day-to-day operation of the team to ensure payroll deadlines are met and employer and employee enquiries are satisfactorily handled.
• Support advisors with the management and resolution of significant challenges relating to clients whilst raising awareness to the management team.

Experience & qualifications

Professional Qualifications and Education Required:

• Higher Grade/A Level or equivalent.
• Relevant professional qualifications.

Preferred:

• University degree 2:1 minimum classification.

Preferred Experience:

• Previous experience of working in a similar role.
• Experience of working to tight deadlines.
• Experience of handling a client portfolio.
• Experience of supervising staff.
• Experience of technical compliance and advisory work.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent organisational skills.
• Strong communication skills – both written and oral.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and relevant software packages.
• Attention to detail.
• Problem solving skills.
• Working knowledge of relevant legislation and industry best practice.

Required Attributes:

• Good team player with the ability to build effective relationships at all levels.
• Ability to work on own initiative and to tight deadlines.
• Self-motivated, with an ability to develop ideas into practice.

The list of duties is not intended to be exhaustive but highlights a number of key tasks. The requirement to undertake additional duties which might reasonably be expected also form part of the function of the role.

WHAT AAB OFFER

We want you to feel supported inside and outside of work. That’s why we offer a benefits package designed for your wellbeing, lifestyle, and career.

• Annual leave (plus public holidays), with the option to buy or carry over leave.
• Enhanced parental leave (maternity, paternity, adoption).
• Paid volunteering day to support causes that matter to you.
• Private Medical Insurance (PMI) for you and the option to cover family members.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for 24/7 mental health and wellbeing support.
• Death in Service benefit.
• Competitive pension scheme.
• Life assurance policies to support you and your family.
• Hybrid working model.
• Agile working culture that supports flexible hours and smarter working.
• Modern office spaces designed for collaboration, focus, and wellbeing.