Payroll Administrator - EMEA in Cramlington

Enerpac Tool Group is a premier industrial tools and services company serving a broad and diverse set of customers in more than 25 countries. The Company’s businesses are global leaders in high‑pressure hydraulic tools, controlled force products and solutions for precise positioning of heavy loads that help customers safely and reliably tackle some of the most challenging jobs around the world.

We are recruiting a Payroll Administrator to join our EMEA team based in Cramlington, UK. This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional who enjoys working in a collaborative, international environment and takes pride in delivering an accurate and efficient payroll service. You will be responsible for supporting payroll activities across multiple EMEA entities, with a primary focus on UK payroll operations. You will work closely with HR, Finance, external payroll providers, and employees across the region to support payroll processes, respond to employee queries, and drive continuous improvement within payroll administration.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Collate, validate, and process payroll data for multiple entities across the EMEA region, with a primary focus on UK payroll operations.
• Work to strict payroll deadlines, coordinating activities both internally and with external payroll providers.
• Review payroll input data, validate supporting documentation, and resolve discrepancies before payroll submission.
• Process monthly salary payments, overtime, holiday pay, statutory payments, bonuses, share awards, and other payroll‑related transactions.
• Collate and process timesheet information, including shift premiums, grade changes, and salary adjustments.
• Support the administration of employee share purchase and share award schemes through payroll.
• Partner with HR to process new starters, leavers, contractual changes, and employee updates.
• Reconcile payroll reports and support employer tax liability payments.
• Facilitate third‑party payroll payments, including court orders, charitable donations, and other deductions where applicable.
• Administer pension schemes, including auto‑enrolment, enrolment processing, leavers, and re‑enrolment activities.
• Support pension year‑end activities and compliance requirements.
• Ensure payroll documentation and submissions are completed within local legislative deadlines.
• Produce payroll reports, management information, and statistical data for HR and Finance stakeholders.
• Maintain payroll and HR system records, including holiday entitlement administration and user account support.
• Support annual salary review and bonus administration processes.
• Participate in new employee induction activities as required.
• Respond to employee, pension provider, and external payroll‑related queries in a timely and professional manner.
• Review payroll‑related invoices, including pensions, insurance, and other employee benefit costs.
• Liaise with external providers, government bodies, and auditors when required.
• Support payroll compliance reviews and labour tax audits.
• Assist with ad hoc payroll and administrative activities as required.

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to manage payroll processes independently while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience identifying opportunities to improve, simplify, and standardise payroll processes.
• Professional integrity and discretion when handling confidential employee information.
• Good understanding of payroll legislation, including statutory payments and payroll compliance requirements.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to build effective working relationships across HR, Finance, employees, and external providers.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Experience using payroll and HR systems; knowledge of SD Worx and/or Cintra is advantageous.
• Comfortable working with payroll data, reporting, reconciliations, and analysis.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and a proactive approach to resolving payroll queries.

Education and Experience

• 3+ years of payroll administration experience, ideally within a multi‑site, international, or shared services environment.
• Experience processing UK payroll is essential.
• Experience working with external payroll providers is preferred.
• Exposure to payroll processes across multiple countries would be advantageous.
• A payroll qualification or relevant certification is desirable but not essential.
• Experience within a manufacturing, engineering, industrial, or services‑based organisation would be beneficial.

Work Benefits

• Engagement with Employee Resource Groups which can provide leadership and networking opportunities.
• Competitive salary, performance incentives, and benefits package.
• Community outreach programs embedded in the Company’s culture.