At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage payroll, benefits, and reward strategies in a dynamic financial services environment.
- Company: Boutique financial services firm with a close-knit, high-performing culture.
- Benefits: Autonomy in your role, collaborative team, and strategic influence on employee experience.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on employee rewards while working closely with senior leaders.
- Qualifications: Strong payroll and benefits experience, ideally in financial services, with excellent data skills.
- Other info: Opportunity for an 18-month contract starting January 2026.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are supporting a boutique financial services firm in hiring a Payroll and Reward Manager for an 18-month maternity cover contract. This is an opportunity to work in a close-knit, high-performing environment where HR and Reward play a genuinely strategic role in shaping the employee experience.
The position is standalone at manager level with no direct team management, making it ideal for someone who thrives in environments where autonomy, ownership and hands-on delivery are key.
What you’ll be doing:
- Managing monthly payroll submissions across UK and Jersey
- Acting as the subject matter expert for payroll, pensions and benefits
- Leading relationships with boutique and blue-chip external providers
- Managing annual benefits renewals and platform updates
- Supporting annual compensation reviews and market benchmarking
- Producing reward dashboards, reports and insights for senior stakeholders
- Conducting annual pay gap analysis and supporting regulated reporting requirements
- Contributing to reward, wellbeing and wider HR projects within a collaborative team
What we’re looking for:
- Strong experience in payroll, benefits and reward
- Experience in financial services or another regulated industry
- Strong data skills, including confidence in Excel
- Experience managing vendor and partner relationships
- Highly organised, proactive and comfortable working end-to-end across operational processes
- A collaborative approach with the confidence to engage at all levels
This firm prides itself on a culture where people are known by name, not number. Decisions are made thoughtfully but without unnecessary hierarchy, and employees work closely with senior leaders who genuinely value transparency, inclusion and progressive reward.
Interested? If you are available for an 18-month FTC starting January 2026 and would like to find out more, please get in touch or send your CV for a confidential discussion.
Reward and Payroll Manager in City of London employer: Bruin
Contact Detail:
Bruin Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Reward and Payroll Manager in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the financial services sector and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. A personal recommendation can go a long way in landing that interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the company culture. Since this firm values transparency and collaboration, think of examples from your past experiences that showcase your ability to work well in a close-knit team.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your data skills! Be ready to discuss how you've used Excel or other tools to manage payroll and benefits effectively. Bring along any dashboards or reports you've created to demonstrate your expertise.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Reward and Payroll Manager in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your payroll, benefits, and reward expertise, especially if you've worked in financial services or a regulated industry.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've managed payroll processes or led vendor relationships, and show us your passion for creating a positive employee experience.
Show Off Your Data Skills: Since strong data skills are key for this role, don’t forget to mention your proficiency in Excel and any relevant tools you’ve used. If you’ve produced reports or dashboards before, give us the details!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Don’t miss out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Bruin
✨Know Your Payroll Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your payroll knowledge before the interview. Be prepared to discuss specific processes, compliance issues, and any recent changes in legislation that could affect payroll management. This will show that you're not just familiar with the basics but are genuinely passionate about the field.
✨Showcase Your Data Skills
Since strong data skills are a must for this role, come ready to demonstrate your proficiency in Excel and any other relevant tools. You might be asked to interpret data or provide insights, so having examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles can really set you apart.
✨Highlight Your Relationship Management Experience
This position involves managing relationships with external providers, so be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully navigated vendor partnerships in the past. Discuss any challenges you faced and how you overcame them, as this will illustrate your ability to maintain strong professional relationships.
✨Emphasise Your Collaborative Spirit
Given the firm's culture of collaboration, it's important to convey your ability to work well with others. Share stories that highlight your teamwork skills and how you've contributed to group projects, especially in HR or reward contexts. This will help demonstrate that you fit well within their close-knit environment.