Payroll & Benefits Lead in London

Payroll & Benefits Lead in London

London Full-Time 45000 - 50000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Finn Partners

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead payroll operations for UK and Ireland, managing employee benefits and ensuring compliance.
  • Company: Join FINN Partners, a fast-growing global marketing and communications agency.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible remote work, generous time-off, and comprehensive health insurance.
  • Other info: Dynamic environment with excellent career growth opportunities and a collaborative culture.
  • Why this job: Step up your career with full ownership of payroll and benefits across multiple countries.
  • Qualifications: 4+ years of payroll experience, ideally in a Senior Payroll Specialist role.

The predicted salary is between 45000 - 50000 £ per year.

This position is a hybrid role with no set requirement for specific days or number of days in office; the role can be fully remote for the right candidate.

We are looking for an experienced payroll professional ready to take the next step in their career. As our Payroll & Benefits Lead, you will take ownership of payroll operations across the UK and Ireland, while coordinating with external providers in Europe. This is an excellent opportunity for a Senior Payroll Specialist who is confident running payroll end-to-end and is now looking to step into a broader role with greater visibility, autonomy, and responsibility.

You will manage payroll for 160 employees in the UK and 15 employees in Ireland using Dayforce, and act as the key point of contact for our payroll providers in Germany (15 employees) and France (15 employees). In addition to payroll, you will oversee core employee benefits including private medical, dental insurance, and an annual wellness allowance. This is a fully remote role offering real ownership and the opportunity to shape and improve processes.

What You Will Be Doing

  • Run end-to-end monthly payroll for 175 employees across the UK and Ireland.
  • Ensure payroll is processed accurately and on time using Dayforce.
  • Maintain payroll data including starters, leavers, salary changes, bonuses, commissions, and deductions.
  • Manage pension contributions and auto-enrolment compliance.
  • Process statutory payments (SSP, SMP, etc.).
  • Submit RTI filings and statutory reporting.
  • Support year-end activities including P60s and P11Ds.
  • Reconcile payroll reports and ensure accuracy with HMRC PAYE portal.
  • Assistance with annual payroll and accounting audits.

European Payroll Coordination

  • Act as the internal point of contact for external payroll providers in Germany and France.
  • Coordinate monthly payroll inputs and review outputs for accuracy.
  • Ensure deadlines are met and queries are resolved promptly.

Benefits Administration

  • Manage private medical and dental insurance schemes.
  • Oversee enrolment, changes, and leavers within benefit plans.
  • Administer the annual wellness benefit.
  • Ensure payroll deductions and benefits-in-kind reporting are accurate.
  • Reconcile benefit invoices and liaise with Finance.
  • Respond to employee benefit queries.
  • Identify opportunities to improve payroll and benefits processes.
  • Support system enhancements and testing within Dayforce.
  • Help maintain compliance with payroll legislation and internal controls.

About You

  • 4+ years' payroll experience, ideally in a Senior Payroll Specialist role.
  • Confident running UK payroll end-to-end with minimal supervision.
  • Experience with Irish, German and French payroll is desirable.
  • Exposure to multi-country payroll (or working with external providers) is advantageous.
  • Experience administering employee benefits.
  • Strong understanding of UK payroll legislation, pensions, and statutory payments.
  • High attention to detail and strong reconciliation skills.
  • Experience with Dayforce payroll application highly desirable.
  • Comfortable working independently in a remote/hybrid environment.
  • Proactive, organized, and keen to take ownership.

Why This Role?

  • A genuine step up in scope and responsibility.
  • Full ownership of payroll operations.
  • Opportunity to broaden experience across multiple countries.
  • Exposure to benefits management and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Hybrid/Fully remote working.

As a FINN team member, you will have access to:

  • A generous time-off policy with extra time off during the summer, and office closure between Christmas and New Year's Day.
  • Comprehensive, opt-in private medical and dental insurance.
  • Parental leave and flexible accommodations for working parents.
  • 6% employer pension contributions.
  • An annual Wellness subsidy.
  • Hybrid WFH model with possibility of fully remote work.
  • Career growth opportunities.

The compensation range for this role is £45,000 – £50,000 commensurate with experience.

Please upload your resume and cover letter detailing your prior work experience and indicate your desired salary in GBP.

Payroll & Benefits Lead in London employer: Finn Partners

At FINN Partners, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to take ownership of their roles. As a Payroll & Benefits Lead, you will enjoy the flexibility of a hybrid or fully remote working environment, alongside generous benefits such as comprehensive medical insurance, a robust pension scheme, and ample time-off policies. With a strong emphasis on career growth and cross-functional collaboration, this role offers a unique opportunity to enhance your skills while contributing to our rapidly expanding global team.

Finn Partners

Contact Details:

Finn Partners Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Payroll & Benefits Lead in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the payroll and benefits field. You never know who might have a lead on a job or can put in a good word for you. Plus, attending industry events can help us meet potential employers face-to-face.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their payroll processes and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. We want to show them that we’re not just a fit on paper but also a great match for their team.

Tip Number 3

Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common questions. This will help us articulate our experience confidently and clearly when it counts.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression. It shows our enthusiasm for the role and keeps us on their radar as they make their decision.

We think you need these skills to ace Payroll & Benefits Lead in London

End-to-End Payroll Management
Dayforce Payroll Application
UK Payroll Legislation
Irish Payroll Experience
German Payroll Experience
French Payroll Experience
Employee Benefits Administration

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights your payroll experience, especially with UK and Irish payroll. We want to see how your skills match the role, so don’t be shy about showcasing your achievements!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for the Payroll & Benefits Lead position. Share specific examples of your past work that relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.

Show Off Your Attention to Detail:Since this role involves managing payroll data and ensuring accuracy, make sure to highlight your attention to detail in both your CV and cover letter. A small mistake can lead to big issues, so we want to know you’ve got this covered!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Finn Partners

Know Your Payroll Inside Out

Make sure you’re well-versed in end-to-end payroll processes, especially using Dayforce. Brush up on UK and Irish payroll legislation, as well as any relevant statutory payments. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're ready for the responsibility of managing payroll operations.

Showcase Your Benefits Knowledge

Since this role involves overseeing employee benefits, be prepared to discuss your experience with private medical and dental insurance schemes. Think about how you've managed enrolments and changes in the past, and be ready to suggest improvements based on your insights.

Demonstrate Your Attention to Detail

Highlight your strong reconciliation skills during the interview. You might want to share specific examples where your attention to detail made a difference, such as resolving discrepancies in payroll reports or ensuring compliance with HMRC regulations.

Emphasise Your Proactive Approach

This role requires someone who can work independently and take ownership. Prepare to discuss instances where you’ve identified opportunities for process improvements or system enhancements, particularly in payroll or benefits administration. This will show that you’re not just a doer, but also a thinker.