Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Prepare payrolls and maintain salary records for a global organisation.
- Company: Join Charles River, a leader in drug therapy development with a global impact.
- Benefits: Work from home, competitive salary, and opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a difference in global health while developing your finance skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in multinational payroll and strong IT skills, especially in Excel.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on continuous improvement.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ 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 has a fantastic opportunity as part of the wider Finance Shared Service function based at Riccarton, Edinburgh. Although the team’s office base is Edinburgh, the Payroll Team predominantly work from home. Our Payroll Department is a managed processing service supporting various Charles River companies throughout Europe.
Responsibilities- Preparation of payrolls for Charles River Laboratories in line with pre-determined reporting dates
- Maintenance of salary records in line with statutory and company specific requirements
- Ensure audit requirements are maintained
- Regular communication with employees and key stakeholders
- Support continuous improvement projects
- Maintain processing manuals and knowledge base documentation
- Complete adhoc payroll related requests and submissions
- General administration tasks
- Experience of working in a multi-national organisation with regional or global payroll departments
- IT proficient – particularly confident in excel and PowerBI (preferred)
- Understanding of audit controls
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Ability to work within a fast paced, deadline driven and evolving environment
- Good stakeholder management
- Experience operating ADP Global View and ADP Celergo
- Proven track record operating within an outsourced payroll model
- Experience of operating within a centralised payroll function supporting EMEA
- Language skills, in particular Dutch, French or Italian
Closing date Friday, 06 February 2026
Payroll Specialist employer: Charles River Labs
Contact Detail:
Charles River Labs Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Payroll Specialist
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Charles River on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your payroll knowledge and the specific tools mentioned in the job description, like Excel and PowerBI. We want to see that you're not just a fit on paper but also ready to hit the ground running!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your continuous improvement mindset! Think of examples from your past work where you’ve made processes better. This will resonate well with the team at Charles River, who value innovation.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Charles River family.
We think you need these skills to ace Payroll Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Payroll Specialist role. Highlight your experience in multi-national organisations and any relevant payroll systems you've worked with. We want to see how your skills align with what we do!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about joining Charles River and how your background fits into our mission. We love seeing genuine enthusiasm for the role.
Showcase Your IT Skills: Since we're looking for someone IT proficient, especially in Excel and PowerBI, make sure to mention any specific projects or experiences where you've used these tools. We want to know how tech-savvy you are!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our team at Charles River.
How to prepare for a job interview at Charles River Labs
✨Know Your Payroll Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your payroll knowledge, especially regarding statutory requirements and audit controls. Familiarise yourself with the specific payroll processes used by Charles River, as this will show that you're serious about the role.
✨Excel Like a Pro
Since IT proficiency is key, particularly in Excel and PowerBI, practice using these tools before your interview. Be ready to discuss how you've used them in past roles, and maybe even prepare a quick example of how you can analyse payroll data effectively.
✨Show Off Your Communication Skills
As the role involves regular communication with employees and stakeholders, think of examples where you've successfully managed stakeholder relationships. Highlight your ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely.
✨Embrace Continuous Improvement
Charles River values a continuous improvement mindset, so come prepared with ideas or experiences where you've contributed to process enhancements. This could be anything from streamlining payroll processes to implementing new software solutions.
