At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead payroll operations for over 700 employees, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
- Company: Join Farrans, a company dedicated to making a positive impact in communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working hours, comprehensive benefits, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values innovation and employee well-being.
- Why this job: Make a real difference while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Significant payroll management experience and strong technical knowledge required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We're looking for an experienced Senior Payroll Manager to lead the delivery of accurate, compliant payroll services across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Managing five payrolls for over 700 employees, you'll ensure an excellent employee experience while driving continuous improvement, governance, and payroll best practice.
You'll be an experienced payroll professional with strong technical knowledge, excellent attention to detail, and a customer-focused approach.
Confident working with payroll systems and data, you'll build strong relationships, solve problems, and identify opportunities to improve processes and deliver outstanding service.
Responsibilities
- Payroll Leadership & Operations
- Lead the delivery of five payrolls
- Ensure all payrolls are processed accurately, on time, and in full compliance with UK and ROI legislation, including
- Manage payroll operations for over 700 employees, ensuring robust controls, audit readiness, and consistent service quality.
- Oversee complex payroll matters including manual calculations, cross border tax considerations, and multi frequency payrolls.
- Ensure accurate production and distribution of payroll documentation
- Maintain payroll data integrity, ensuring all starters, leavers, transfers, and contractual changes are processed correctly across UK and ROI jurisdictions.
- Governance, Compliance & Controls
- Maintain expert knowledge of UK and ROI payroll legislation, taxation, employment law, and pension requirements, ensuring timely implementation of regulatory changes.
- Lead on compliance activities, ensuring robust internal controls, documentation, and risk management.
- Managing payroll records and systems
- Partner with Finance to support reconciliations, budgeting, accounting, and cross functional governance.
- Pensions & Benefits Administration
- Manage the transactions, contribution uploads, and reporting for five pension schemes
- Oversee enrolment, re enrolment, contribution uploads, scheme reporting, and liaison with pension providers where necessary, with HR support
- Ensure accurate pension deductions, employer contributions, and statutory communications.
- Systems, Technology & Continuous Improvement
- Act as payroll systems lead, supporting enhancements, optimisation, and deployment of new functionality
- Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, automation, reporting, and operational efficiency.
- Leverage data and analytics to inform decision making and drive process improvements.
- Champion the use of technology including AI enabled tools to streamline payroll operations.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Customer Experience
- Serve as the senior point of contact for payroll queries across UK and ROI, providing expert guidance to employees and senior stakeholders.
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, educating colleagues on payroll processes and promoting transparency.
- Liasing with Group Payroll team for support, ensuring changes and processes are aligned
- Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, coach, and develop payroll team members, fostering a collaborative, high performance culture.
- Support onboarding and development of new team members, sharing technical expertise and best practice.
- Promote a resilient, supportive team environment capable of navigating competing priorities and fast paced change.
Qualifications
- Significant experience managing end to end UK and ROI payroll operations in a complex, high volume environment.
- Deep technical knowledge of UK and ROI payroll legislation, PAYE, NI, PRSI, USC, BIK, statutory payments, workplace pensions, and automatic enrolment.
- Experience managing multi frequency payrolls and large employee populations (650+).
- Strong understanding of pension scheme administration and reporting.
- Experience with integrated HR & payroll systems and advanced Excel capability.
- Strong analytical, problem solving, and organisational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
- Proven ability to manage competing demands, deliver under pressure, and maintain high accuracy.
- Excellent communication skills with a customer focused, professional approach.
- Experience leading or mentoring payroll teams.
- A “roll up your sleeves” mindset with strong ownership and accountability.
- Collaborative, supportive, and able to build trust across teams.
- Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable in fast paced environments
- Proactive in identifying improvements and driving positive change
- Committed to delivering an exceptional employee experience.
About Us
Here at Farrans we build, we transform, and we connect.
Making a positive difference to the communities in which we operate is our passion and we place social responsibility at the heart of every scheme.
The projects we deliver have an important role in the everyday lives of people in the UK & Ireland.
We are committed to making a positive impact on the environment and strive for sustainability in all we do.
Our culture is one of transparency, equality and encouragement, where questions are welcomed, learning never stops and access to support is provided.
Farrans are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment for all.
Should you require any reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process, please don't hesitate to let us know.
When you come to Farrans, you can make a big impact. We love enthusiasm, new ideas and innovation. Your well-being is our priority.
Our people are our greatest asset, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you to achieve your full potential.
Our career development opportunities provide you with a clear progression pathway, advanced education in your core subjects as well as management and leadership opportunities to excel quickly.
We understand the importance of work life balance.
We offer flexible working hours (where applicable) and generous leave policies to help you maintain a healthy work-life integration.
We know that our most important asset is our people and that is why we have invested significantly to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of all our employees.
- Job Info
- Job Identification 312
- Job Category Procurement
- Locations 99 Kingsway, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT17 9NU, GB
- Job Schedule Full time
- Dunmurry, County Antrim, United Kingdom
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Payroll Manager employer: Farrans
Farrans in Dunmurry is an excellent employer that values its employees by fostering a supportive work culture and providing opportunities for professional growth. With a focus on teamwork and collaboration, the Accounts Team ensures that every member can thrive while contributing to smooth financial operations. The company also offers competitive benefits and a dynamic environment that makes it an attractive place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Payroll Manager
✨Join HR Networks
Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!
✨Make Your Presence Known
Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at Farrans!
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Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at Farrans.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Payroll Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at Farrans. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to Farrans and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at Farrans. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to Farrans's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Farrans
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with Farrans.
✨Know Your Recruitment Tools
Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
✨Highlight Your People Skills
A full-time HR role at Farrans will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
✨Stay Current with HR Trends
Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact Farrans and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
