Payroll & Systems Assistant job in Darwen

Joining the Hakim Group means becoming part of a close-knit family of independent optical practices across the UK and Ireland. A career here is one where empowerment, innovation and unwavering support create a truly fulfilling experience—a place where people feel valued, trusted and able to grow. Our People & Payroll teams are central to that mission. Every colleague, every practice and every breakthrough we make is underpinned by accurate, timely and reliable payroll operations. We’re now looking for a Payroll & Systems Assistant to help us shape the future of payroll as we deliver our Payroll 2030 vision.

You will also receive:

• This role offers a competitive salary, hybrid working (4 days per week in our Darwen HQ), and the opportunity to develop into roles such as Payroll Advisor, Reporting Specialist or Technical Analyst.
• Full training in iTrent, Sage and payroll compliance.
• Development pathways supporting a long-term payroll career.
• A vibrant, supportive culture focused on wellbeing and connection.
• Access to our rewards portal with exclusive benefits.
• The chance to be part of an ambitious transformation within an award-winning business.

About the Role

This role is the technical and operational backbone of our Payroll & Benefits function. You’ll support monthly payroll cycles, maintain data integrity, and provide essential systems support across iTrent and Sage. As we modernise and streamline our processes, you will play a key part in ensuring accuracy, efficiency and exceptional colleague experience. You’ll help embed new practices, strengthen controls, and contribute to building a payroll function that is scalable, reliable and future-ready. This is an excellent role for someone early in their payroll journey who wants to grow into a specialist career path while supporting one of the most important functions in the organisation.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

• Deliver accurate and timely payroll processing, including data preparation, validation and updates for starters, leavers and contractual changes.
• Maintain high-quality data and documentation, ensuring accuracy, audit readiness and strong record-keeping across all payroll inputs and systems.
• Provide systems support across iTrent and Sage, including running reports, supporting timesheet preparation, and assisting with system improvements and testing.
• Support core compliance and reporting activities, including P32s, FPS/EPS documentation, Government Gateway checks and payroll reconciliation tasks.
• Coordinate key team operations, such as dashboard updates, distribution lists, payroll communications, meeting support and maintenance of SOPs and calendars.
• Develop technical capability, building foundational payroll knowledge (tax, NI, pensions), enhancing Excel skills and contributing to ad-hoc analysis and continuous improvement.

Our Ideal Person

We’re looking for someone who brings accuracy, curiosity and a passion for getting things right:

• Experience in payroll, HR or finance administration.
• Strong attention to detail with a methodical, quality-driven approach.
• Intermediate Excel skills (lookups, validation, formatting).
• Excellent organisation and communication skills.
• Desirable: Exposure to iTrent or Sage.
• A willingness to learn and develop into a more technical payroll role.