Senior Associate, Payroll Integration, Newcastle Upon Tyne/Manchester/Belfast

Location: Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Other locations: Anywhere in Region.

The opportunity

EY Tax is a market‑leading practice known for helping clients navigate complexity while creating meaningful opportunities for our people. In our UK Payroll Operate team, you’ll work in a collaborative, fast‑paced environment that combines technical payroll expertise with strong client delivery. This is a great opportunity to join a growing team where you can build your experience, contribute to high‑quality client implementations and develop your career with the support of experienced colleagues and senior leadership.

Our team of payroll technology, data and transformation professionals help organisations tackle some of their biggest technology and data challenges as they transition payroll services to EY and transform for the digital age. As demand grows for our innovative services, we are looking for an experienced consultant to join us.

Our team delivers services in two core areas:

• Data services covering areas such as data integration, process automation and data transformation including delivery of bespoke data management solutions.
• Technology solutions delivery, which utilise EY’s technology assets to deliver managed service engagements on a multi‑year basis.

You’ll have opportunities to be part of cross‑border, multi‑disciplinary teams and to work with tax, technology, data, and payroll specialists to deliver industry‑leading services.

Your key responsibilities

In your role you will collaborate both internally and with our clients to understand and solve problems through the application of a wide range of technology skills.

Examples for technology, data and transformation services:

• Support clients in developing and/or implementing effective payroll data strategies.
• Configure our automated data integrations solutions.
• Work with the team and our clients to define transformation strategies and transform their payroll data management models.

Examples for annuity services:

• Support delivery of existing EY technology assets to clients under our managed service model.
• Translate business requirements into technical specifications to guide solution design and development of technology EY assets, in collaboration with various internal delivery teams and our global alliance partners.
• Work with EY teams around the world to support delivery of complex managed services engagements that utilise EY’s technology assets.

General:

• Project management including defining target outcomes and delivery strategy, managing stakeholders and building the case for change.
• Coach, support and collaborate with team members, helping build an inclusive culture and high performing team within payroll operate.
• Contribute to business development activities and team capability development.

Skills/Attributes for Success

At least two of these:

• Strong fundamentals in core data concepts, methods, tools and how they can be applied to transform businesses processes and/or support solution development.
• Strong knowledge of software engineering methodologies and concepts like Agile, CI/CD, SDLC, DevOps.
• Experience in implementing payroll data integrations.
• Understanding of business requirements gathering and design, particularly with a technology overlay.

All of these:

• Strong project management skills (planning, documentation, resourcing, budgeting etc.) and understanding of good project governance.
• Highly proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook etc.).
• Proficient in use of data analytics tools, like Alteryx, and Microsoft Power Platform.

Attributes:

• Self‑starter, that takes ownership of their work, asks insightful questions and desires to provide excellent client service.
• Ability to cope with ambiguity, bring clarity to complex, multi‑faceted scenarios and drive forward progress via actionable decisions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

To qualify for the role, you must have:

• At least 2 years’ experience working in a technology/data or business transformation role.
• Experience of a similar role within the payroll industry or a comparable firm to EY (e.g. Big 4, global consultancy, financial institution), preferably with experience of managing external client stakeholders.
• A willingness to travel within the UK (on some occasions you may be required to travel internationally to support delivery of engagements and projects).

Ideally, you’ll also have some of the following:

• Experience in applying data modelling principles/methods including creation of conceptual, logical & physical data models.
• Working knowledge and experience in using one or more Cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud is a plus.
• Familiarity with the application of automation and data technologies (e.g. RPA, ETL tools, visual analytics).

What we offer you

At EY, we’ll develop you with future‑focused skills and equip you with world‑class experiences. We’ll empower you in a flexible environment, and fuel your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams.