HR Operations Assistant

Apollo, a Skyward Group company, is an innovation-inspired insurance platform operating at Lloyd’s of London, delivering data-driven and creative solutions across a broad range of risks. Our name reflects our origins, inspired by one of our founding investors, Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon. The business was built with the same pioneering mindset. Since launch in 2009, we have grown into a diversified insurance group offering products across Property, Casualty, Marine, Energy and Transportation, Specialty and Reinsurance, alongside Smart Follow and digital and embedded risk programmes.

Your Role

Apollo is seeking an HR and Payroll Administrator to join the HR & Business Support team. Reporting to the HR Operations Manager, you will play a key role in delivering reliable payroll operations and high-quality HR administration across the full employee lifecycle. You will act as a trusted point of contact for employee queries, support data accuracy across systems, and contribute to the ongoing improvement of HR and payroll processes.

What you’ll do

• Take ownership of end-to-end payroll processing for a monthly UK payroll of circa 300 employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with relevant legislation.
• Prepare and submit payroll data, resolve discrepancies, and support year-end activities such as P60s and P11Ds.
• Work closely with Finance and Tax teams on payroll reporting and reconciliations, while managing relationships with external payroll providers and advisors.
• Support HR administration across the full employee lifecycle, from onboarding through to offboarding, including preparing documentation and maintaining accurate employee records in line with GDPR requirements.
• Support benefits administration and play an active role in maintaining and improving HR systems and data integrity.
• Contribute to HR reporting and data analysis, including areas such as gender pay gap reporting, and support process audits to ensure compliance and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate regularly across HR, Finance, Recruitment, and Learning and Development teams to support broader people initiatives and day-to-day operations.

What we’re looking for

• Payroll Experience and Knowledge: Experience in UK payroll administration, including knowledge of statutory requirements and year-end processes.
• HR Administration Experience: Experience supporting HR administration throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Attention to Detail and Organisation: Strong attention to detail and a high level of accuracy, with excellent organisation and time management skills.
• Communication Skills: Strong communication skills, with the ability to handle queries professionally across the business.
• Systems and Technical Capability: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel. Experience using HRIS systems such as Hibob and payroll systems such as iTrent is preferred but not essential.
• HR Knowledge and Reporting: Understanding of benefits administration and HR reporting, with knowledge of UK employment law and payroll best practice considered an advantage.
• Team Collaboration and Approach: A proactive, collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively in a team within a fast-paced environment.

What you’ll get in return

We offer a competitive and thoughtfully designed reward package that reflects the value of our people. This includes a fair and attractive salary, discretionary bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package – including 31 days’ annual leave, a non-contributory pension and private medical insurance.

Hybrid & flexible working are fully embraced at Apollo. We do not believe in presenteeism. Instead, we trust our people to work in ways that allow them to perform at their best, balancing professional responsibilities with personal commitments.