Benefits & Payroll Advisor

Join Baird’s Europe HR team as a Benefits & Payroll Advisor, supporting associates across our London and Frankfurt offices in a hybrid role (3 days per week in the office). In this position, you’ll play a vital role in delivering accurate, compliant benefits administration and seamless monthly payroll processes—while helping to create a consistently positive and high-quality associate experience.

The Impact You’ll Make

• Execute daily administration of benefits programs across the UK and Germany, ensuring accurate enrolments, changes, and terminations.
• Coordinate monthly payroll activities for London and Frankfurt, preparing and validating inputs for external payroll providers.
• Review payroll and benefits data using Excel audit tools to identify discrepancies and support issue resolution.
• Support monthly pension assessment and contribution processes, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and escalating exceptions.
• Maintain accurate benefits and payroll data, performing regular reconciliation and data validation checks.
• Respond to associate inquiries related to benefits, payroll, and pensions with professionalism and sound judgment.
• Support vendor management activities (e.g., Aviva, payroll providers), tracking service delivery and escalating issues as needed.
• Support with benefits communications, open enrollment processes, and education sessions in collaboration with HR partners.
• Contribute to compliance activities including audit preparation and tax reporting support (e.g., P11D data compilation).
• Identify process improvement opportunities and support enhancements to tools and workflows.

What You’ll Bring To Baird

• 3+ years of experience in benefits administration and payroll coordination, ideally supporting UK or European populations in a professional services environment (e.g. financial services, law, consultancy).
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Exposure to and solid understanding of payroll processes and benefits administration, including pension.
• Solid understanding of payroll cycles and benefits administration processes.
• Experience working with external vendors and service providers.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage data accurately.
• Analytical mindset with ability to identify discrepancies and investigate root causes.
• Ability to apply judgment in non-routine situations and elevate risks appropriately.
• Comfortable handling sensitive associate inquiries with professionalism and confidentiality.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex benefits concepts clearly.
• Experience with HR systems (e.g., Workday).
• Strong Excel and Microsoft Copilot proficiency, with the ability to analyse data, generate insights, and use AI tools to improve efficiency and quality of output.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a deadline-driven environment.