Finance & Payroll Controller in Wallingford

## Finance & Payroll ControllerApplylocations: Wallingford - Oxfordshire - UK: Remote - UK Vestatime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todayjob requisition id: R53153## ## **Job Description:****Finance & Payroll Controller****About the Role**We are looking for a detail-oriented and proactive **Finance & Payroll Controller** to join our Central Function Finance team. Reporting to the Finance Operations Director, this role will act as the key link between Finance, Payroll and HR, ensuring payroll-related financial data is accurately recorded, reconciled and reported.The role will be the Finance lead responsible for payroll accounting and the primary finance business partner for HR and Payroll. The successful candidate will support payroll accounting, month-end processes, reporting, business unit cross-charging and financial analysis where appropriate. The successful candidate will be responsible for payroll accounting, month-end processes, employee cost reporting, benefits administration, business unit cross-charging and people-related financial analysis. They will act as the primary finance business partner to HR and Payroll, providing accurate reporting, financial insight and process improvement support across the employee lifecycle.**Key Responsibilities****Payroll & Finance*** Own the end-to-end payroll accounting process, including preparation, review and posting of monthly payroll journals across all entities. Reconcile payroll-related balance sheet accounts including wages, pensions, bonuses, benefits and accrued payroll costs.* Support month-end and year-end close activities relating to payroll and employee costs.* Investigate and resolve payroll variances and accounting discrepancies.* Work closely with payroll providers and internal stakeholders to ensure accurate payroll reporting.* Maintain detailed audit trails and supporting documentation for payroll transactions.* Support budgeting and forecasting processes for salary, bonus and benefit costs.* Produce monthly analysis and reporting on people-related expenditure.* Manage payroll, benefits and HR-related cost allocations, recharges and toolkit billing across business units where required.**HR & People Support*** Act as the primary finance contact for the HR team on payroll, benefits and employee cost reporting.* Support the administration and reporting of bonus schemes, commissions and employee benefits.* Assist with the financial aspects of annual salary reviews and compensation planning cycles.* Provide HR with accurate headcount, salary and workforce cost reporting.* Support onboarding and offboarding processes from a payroll and finance perspective.* Assist with pension, benefit and statutory reporting requirements where applicable.* Partner with the HR team to provide financial insight and operational support across payroll, benefits, reward, headcount planning, employee lifecycle processes and workforce reporting.* Support HR projects including remuneration reviews, benefits harmonisation, acquisitions, integrations, annual salary review cycles and people-related reporting requirements.**Process Improvement & Compliance*** Identify opportunities to improve payroll and finance processes through automation and standardisation.* Support internal and external audit requests relating to payroll and employee costs.* Maintain robust audit trails, reconciliation files and supporting documentation for payroll and employee cost transactions.* Ensure compliance with HMRC, statutory and internal reporting requirements.* Assist with system implementations, acquisitions and integration projects where required.**Skills & Experience****Essential*** Previous experience within finance, payroll accounting, management accounting or a similar role.* Strong understanding of payroll processes and payroll-related reconciliations.* Experience preparing journals, accruals and balance sheet reconciliations.* Excellent Excel skills including data analysis and reporting.* Strong attention to detail and ability to work accurately to deadlines.* Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.* Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.**Desirable*** AAT qualified or studying towards ACCA, CIMA or ACA.* Experience working with outsourced payroll providers.* Experience within a multi-entity or international business.* Exposure to HR systems and employee benefits administration.* Experience in software, technology or high-growth businesses.**Personal Attributes*** Analytical and commercially aware, with curiosity to understand source data and the reasons behind variances.* Collaborative and approachable, able to build strong relationships across Finance, HR, payroll providers and operational teams.* Comfortable working with confidential and sensitive payroll, salary and employee-related information.* Proactive, accountable and motivated by delivering high-quality work while also improving the process for the future.* Organised, methodical and resilient, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.* Practical problem-solver who is willing to ask questions, resolve issues thoroughly and support colleagues to deliver shared outcomes.* Capable of working independently while remaining a strong team player and trusted partner to stakeholders. #J-18808-Ljbffr