Payroll Manager in Oxford

Join us at the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), where we’re on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real‑world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges in four transformative areas: Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology; Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture; Climate Change & Managing CO₂; Artificial Intelligence & Robotics.

This is ambitious work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you’ll join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real‑world breakthroughs. Together, we push boundaries, embrace complexity, and create solutions to scale ideas from lab to society.

Your Role:

• Current headcount is approximately 450 with a forecasted total of 650 by the end of 2026, increasing each year over the next 10 years.
• We are seeking a highly organized and detail‑oriented standalone Payroll Manager to manage payroll and benefits administration while supporting core HR functions.
• The role combines technical payroll expertise with HR and benefits operational support, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and exceptional service to employees.
• The ideal candidate will have experience in both in‑house and outsourced payroll processing, and the ability to handle confidential information with integrity.
• EIT is currently working with a third‑party payroll provider to deliver payroll services to our employees. Over the next 12‑24 months, full payroll record‑keeping and data are expected to be moved to Oracle Fusion, with the potential to fully transition to in‑house payroll production and processing. The role holder will support, and potentially lead, these workstreams.

Payroll Management and Administration:

• Manage end‑to‑end payroll for all EIT employees to ensure accurate and efficient monthly processing.
• Operate relationships with third‑party payroll providers, ensuring delivery aligns with service‑level agreements and addressing shortfalls.
• Collaborate with HR and Finance to implement controls and reconciliations that maintain payroll accuracy, and develop scalable processes to accommodate growing headcount.
• Act as first point of contact for payroll and benefits queries and resolve discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Maintain and update payroll records for new hires, terminations, and pay changes, ensuring all amendments are accurately tracked and processed on time.
• Work with HR Operations to deliver timely communications on pay and benefit changes, such as salary increases and bonus award notifications.
• Generate payroll reports for HR, Finance, and management.
• Ensure compliance with UK tax, pension, and employment regulations.
• Stay updated on payroll legislation and best practices.

Benefits Management and Administration:

• Deliver strong administrative support across all benefits processes, ensuring accurate documentation, timely updates, real‑time reporting, continual record‑keeping, and efficient coordination of benefit‑related tasks.
• Liaise with providers and brokers to ensure timely enrollment and renewals, performing frequent audits of membership listings and options.
• Manage first‑time enrollments and routine membership change requests, ensuring employees are notified and aware.
• Work with HR BP team to advise on benefits under‑utilization or lack of employee awareness and promote proactive engagement.

Requirements:

• Proven experience in payroll processing (typically 2+ years), including in‑house and outsourced systems.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent organization and time‑management abilities.
• Self‑starter able to manage workload flexibly over the monthly payroll calendar.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• High level of integrity and confidentiality.
• Proficiency in HR and payroll software (Oracle Fusion, ATS).

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Intermediate to advanced Excel or similar, able to produce reports that "tell a story".
• Understanding of HR principles, policies, and UK employment law.
• Payroll certification (e.g., CPP, Payroll Technician Certificate) desirable.

Terms of Appointment:

• Must be eligible to work in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary.
• Must be based in or within easy commuting distance of Oxford.
• During peak periods and payroll cut‑off weeks, longer hours may be required.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday + option to buy additional days
• Pension
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• Private medical insurance
• Hospital cash plan
• Therapy services
• Perk Box
• Electric car scheme
• Childcare benefit

Working Together – What It Involves:

• Right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary; sponsorship considered on a case‑by‑case basis.
• Live in or within easy commuting distance of Oxford (or be willing to relocate).