At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Payroll Team as a Senior Payroll Specialist, handling payroll preparation and employee communication.
- Company: Charles River has been improving global health for 75 years, supporting drug therapy development.
- Benefits: Enjoy remote work, competitive salary, generous leave, and a strong pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on health while building a fulfilling career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in multinational payroll, strong IT skills, and a continuous improvement mindset are essential.
- Other info: This is a Fixed Term Contract until December 2025, primarily remote-based.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development, and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales, or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.
Our Payroll Team currently has a fantastic opportunity to join as a Senior Payroll Specialist as part of the wider Finance Shared Service function based at Riccarton, Edinburgh. This is a Fixed Term Contract with an end date of 31st December 2025. Although based in Edinburgh, the Payroll Team predominantly works from home. The Payroll Department is a managed processing service supporting various Charles River companies throughout Europe.
The main duties of the Senior Payroll Specialist include:
- Preparation of payrolls for Charles River Laboratories in line with reporting dates
- Maintenance of salary records according to statutory and company requirements
- Ensuring audit requirements are met
- Regular communication with employees and stakeholders
- Supporting continuous improvement projects
- Maintaining processing manuals and documentation
- Handling adhoc payroll requests
- General administrative tasks
Minimum requirements include:
- Experience in a multi-national organization with regional or global payroll
- Proficiency in IT, especially Excel and PowerBI
- Understanding of audit controls
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Good stakeholder management skills
Beneficial but not essential:
- Experience with ADP Global View and ADP Celergo
- Experience in an outsourced payroll environment
- Experience supporting EMEA payroll functions
- Language skills, especially Dutch or French
We offer a competitive salary and benefits, including:
- Structured career progression with learning opportunities
- Generous pension scheme with 8% employer contribution
- Employee discount schemes
- 29 days annual leave plus 4 bank holidays
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Paid volunteering opportunities
Charles River is a CRO supporting clients from target identification through preclinical development, with over 20,000 employees in 110 facilities worldwide. Our mission is to improve health and well-being globally, and we are proud to have supported 80% of FDA-approved drugs in the last five years. We are committed to diversity and inclusion, recruiting talent from all backgrounds.
Senior Payroll Specialist employer: Charles River Laboratories, Inc.
Contact Detail:
Charles River Laboratories, Inc. Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Payroll Specialist
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific payroll systems mentioned in the job description, such as ADP Global View and ADP Celergo. Even if you don't have direct experience, understanding how these systems work can give you an edge during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your experience in multi-national organisations, especially if you've worked with regional or global payroll. Be ready to discuss how you managed payroll processes across different countries and any challenges you faced.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare examples of how you've contributed to continuous improvement projects in previous roles. This could involve streamlining processes or implementing new technologies that enhanced payroll efficiency.
✨Tip Number 4
Brush up on your stakeholder management skills. Be prepared to discuss how you've effectively communicated with employees and other stakeholders in past positions, as this is crucial for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Payroll Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to understand the key responsibilities and qualifications required for the Senior Payroll Specialist position. Tailor your application to highlight relevant experience in payroll processing and stakeholder management.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your experience in multi-national organisations and any specific payroll systems you have worked with, such as ADP Global View or ADP Celergo. Mention your proficiency in Excel and PowerBI, as these are crucial for the role.
Showcase Continuous Improvement Mindset: Demonstrate your ability to contribute to continuous improvement projects in your application. Provide examples of how you've implemented changes or improvements in previous roles that enhanced payroll processes or efficiency.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting your application, carefully proofread your CV and cover letter for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail, which is essential for a payroll specialist.
How to prepare for a job interview at Charles River Laboratories, Inc.
✨Showcase Your Payroll Expertise
Make sure to highlight your experience in payroll processing, especially in a multi-national environment. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've managed payrolls and maintained salary records in line with statutory requirements.
✨Demonstrate IT Proficiency
Since the role requires proficiency in IT, particularly Excel and PowerBI, be ready to discuss your skills in these areas. You might even want to prepare a few examples of how you've used these tools to improve payroll processes or reporting.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement Mindset
The company values a continuous improvement mindset, so come prepared with ideas or examples of how you've contributed to process improvements in previous roles. This shows that you're proactive and committed to enhancing efficiency.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Management Questions
Given the importance of communication with employees and stakeholders, think about your past experiences in managing relationships. Be ready to share how you've effectively communicated complex payroll information to various stakeholders.