Payroll and Benefits Manager

Company Overview

Offering a complete ecosystem of maritime services, including broking, finance, port services and research, Clarksons is at the heart of global shipping. Our unrivalled reach, expertise, and depth of experience, combined with leading research, enables us to partner with clients across every sector to meet the demands of the world’s rapidly evolving maritime, offshore, trade and energy markets. Building on our unique heritage and harnessing our insights to see further, faster, we work with our clients and communities to create strategies that have a positive impact on the industry and the world around us. Dedicated to excellence, it’s our people that drive success for our clients.

Role Summary

The Payroll & Benefits Manager will work within the HR department and be responsible for managing the Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Geneva, Spain, Italy, Taiwan and three UK payrolls. The person in this role will also be responsible for managing all UK benefit schemes which include SAYE, Medical, PHI, Corporate Gym, Childcare and Cycle to work. The Payroll & Benefits Manager will also coordinate all UK insurance renewals such as Life Insurance, PHI, and Income Protection. The Payroll Supervisor and two Payroll Officers will report to the person in this role and will be responsible for all the processing aspects of the payroll.

What you’ll be doing

• Payroll Duties: Checking three UK payrolls of 650 (H Clarkson & Co Ltd), 250 (Clarkson Port Services), and 30 (Clarksons Offshore and Renewables Limited) completed by the payroll team on payroll system (ResourceLink). Working with HR colleagues to ensure all approvals for payroll are completed to a satisfactory manner. Checking Denmark (20 employees), Sweden (3 employees), Geneva (41 employees), Netherlands (17 employees), Spain (15 employees), Taiwan (2 employees), Italy (2 Employees). Responsible for year-end for all UK payrolls in March. Collating and managing P11D / Payrolling Benefits information for submission in June. Testing system upgrades on TEST and LIVE. Coordinating tasks from payroll mailbox to team. Coordinate supplementary payroll in April for share vestings.
• HR Duties: Report to HR Director and HR Divisional Director on a weekly basis.
• Benefit Duties: Manage and lead UK benefits (health, life, income protection, retirement and others) while aligning regional benefits strategy to global minimum standards. Manage the administration and renewal of benefits portal (Benifex). Monitoring costs of insurances, invoices and providing breakdowns to Accounts accordingly.
• DC Pension Duties: Maintain strict adherence to legislative frameworks, regularly reviewing processes and validating regulatory requirements. Control the invoicing process with suppliers and monitor scheme costs on behalf of the Company. Manage outsourced administration provider (ISIO), monitoring their performance against service level agreements. Drive key business-as-usual activities such as benefit statements, statutory returns, and cyclical projects. Ensure legislative deadlines are met for pension scheme returns to HMRC and the Pension Regulator as well as the publication of statutory documents (Annual Chair Statement, SIP etc) on a publicly available website. Monitor monthly contribution files to ensure deadlines are met. Respond to complex member queries and manage the pension mailbox, ensuring timely and accurate resolution. Facilitate the member-nominated trustee appointment process, including communications and interview selection. Ensure all discretionary death benefit claims are handled sensitively and appropriately, and relevant supporting information is obtained for trustee decisions. Ensure full compliance with Auto-enrolment legislation, including member enrolment notifications, opt-out procedures, and submission of redeclaration of compliance returns. Work with external auditor for requests around the annual company accounts. Development and implementation of communication strategies to promote pension benefits and drive member engagement. Collaborate with HR colleagues to ensure pensions are integrated into broader HR strategies.

What we’re looking for

We welcome applications from candidates who share our Company Values and key attributes, as follows:

• Integrity and respect – acting thoughtfully and ethically to do the right thing in accordance with Conduct Rules, and to promote and foster a respectful work environment for all.
• Drive – self-motivation and the desire and commitment to succeed, deliver excellence and make positive change.
• Relationship building – excellent communicator to effectively build strong, long-lasting relationships with colleagues, clients and others.
• Collaboration – working well with others across diverse backgrounds to share information, develop skills and deliver results.
• Resilience - persisting and adapting to changing or difficult situations and adopting a positive and focused approach.
• Smart - problem-solving and analytical abilities, with a curious and inquisitive mind, and an openness to new ideas.

Other requirements

• Knowledge of ResourceLink Payroll system is preferable.
• Experience in managing ADP Celergo is preferable.
• Highly experienced in all aspects of payroll functions.
• Highly Experienced in DC Pension related tasks.
• Excellent Microsoft Excel skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise a highest level of discretion.
• Excellent problem solving / judgment skills.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to handle and prioritise multiple tasks and meet all deadlines.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy with reviewing payroll, reports and HR system.
• Proactive and able to ensure all deadlines are met.