At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead payroll operations for UK and Ireland, managing employee benefits and improving processes.
- Company: Join FINN Partners, a fast-growing global marketing and communications agency.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous time-off, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Fully remote role with excellent career growth opportunities in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Step up your career with full ownership of payroll and benefits across multiple countries.
- Qualifications: 4+ years payroll experience, strong attention to detail, and familiarity with Dayforce.
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.
The Opportunity
We’re looking for an experienced payroll professional ready to take the next step in their career. As our Payroll & Benefits Lead, you’ll 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’ll 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’ll 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’ll Be Doing
- Payroll (UK & Ireland)
- 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.
- Assist 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.
- Continuous Improvement
- 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.
- £45,000-50,000 salary.
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 employer: Finn Partners
Contact Detail:
Finn Partners Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Payroll & Benefits Lead
✨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 role 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. We should be ready to discuss how our experience aligns with their needs, especially around payroll operations and benefits management. Tailoring our responses can really make us stand out!
✨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 skills and experiences confidently when it’s time to shine in front of the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can keep us fresh in the interviewer's mind and show our enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to reiterate why we’re the perfect fit for the Payroll & Benefits Lead position.
We think you need these skills to ace Payroll & Benefits Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Payroll & Benefits Lead role. Highlight your experience with end-to-end payroll processes and any relevant software like Dayforce. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your past achievements in payroll and benefits management that align with our needs.
Showcase Your Attention to Detail: In payroll, accuracy is key! Make sure your application is free from typos and errors. We appreciate candidates who take the time to double-check their work, so let that attention to detail shine through.
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’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Finn Partners
✨Know Your Payroll Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the end-to-end payroll process, especially for the UK and Ireland. Brush up on your knowledge of Dayforce, as you'll need to demonstrate confidence in running payroll accurately and on time.
✨Showcase Your Benefits Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss your experience with employee benefits administration. Highlight any specific schemes you've managed, like private medical or dental insurance, and be ready to explain how you’ve handled enrolments and queries.
✨Demonstrate Continuous Improvement Mindset
Think about examples where you've identified opportunities for process improvements in payroll or benefits. Companies love candidates who can bring fresh ideas to the table, so come armed with suggestions on how to enhance existing processes.
✨Prepare for Remote Work Questions
Since this role is hybrid or fully remote, be ready to discuss how you manage your time and stay organised while working independently. Share strategies that have worked for you in past remote roles to show you can thrive in this environment.