Payroll Manager (12 Month Fixed Term Contract) in Bristol

Location: Hybrid / Colston Ave, Bristol BS1 4ST, UK

Job type: Contract / Full-time

Sector and subsector: Accounting & Finance | Finance

Salary Range: £40,000.00 to £45,000.00

Salary: Up to £45,000

Company description: Our Media is a leading special‑interest content business based in Bristol. We publish high‑quality content in print, video and online for a range of brands, including BBC Science Focus, BBC Wildlife Magazine, YourHome, Gathered.how, BikeRadar and Cycling Plus.

Position: The Payroll Manager leads the end‑to‑end payroll function, ensuring accurate and timely payment for approximately 1,200 employees across five payrolls while maintaining full compliance with UK payroll legislation and internal controls.

Responsibilities

• Process the monthly UK payroll accurately and on time, including salaries, variable pay, deductions, statutory payments, year‑end and ad‑hoc tasks.
• Ensure compliance with HMRC requirements, PAYE, National Insurance, Real Time Information submissions, pension auto‑enrolment, annual reporting and related legislation.
• Own payroll controls, reconciliations and audit readiness, identifying and resolving discrepancies promptly.
• Maintain and improve payroll processes, procedures and documentation to increase efficiency, accuracy and resilience.
• Manage relationships with payroll system providers and external stakeholders, ensuring quality service and continuous optimisation.
• Partner with Finance and People teams to keep employee data, contractual changes, benefits and deductions correctly reflected in payroll.
• Provide professional support for employee payroll queries, resolving issues sensitively and promptly.
• Produce payroll reports, analysis and insights to support finance reporting, budgeting and decision‑making.
• Monitor legislative changes and best practice, translating them into practical process updates and team guidance.
• Manage and develop a small payroll team, fostering a high‑performing and customer‑focused service.
• Carry out any other ad‑hoc duties as reasonably required.

A bit about you

• Strong technical knowledge of UK payroll legislation, including PAYE, National Insurance, statutory payments, year‑end processes, RTI and pension auto‑enrolment.
• Proven experience in a payroll management role.
• Exceptional attention to detail and high level of accuracy, with strong analytical and proactive problem‑solving skills.
• Experience with payroll reconciliations, controls, audits and process improvement.
• Confident using payroll systems and Microsoft Excel to manage data, reporting and analysis.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, able to explain payroll matters clearly and professionally at all levels.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive employee information.
• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Recognised payroll qualification or relevant payroll experience.
• Experience using CIPHR/Accord payroll system.
• Experience working in the media industry.

Other information

We respect and value differences, and aim to create a diverse and inclusive working environment. When applying, if you have any accessibility needs, please let us know.

Benefits

• Pension contribution matched to 5%
• Season ticket loan
• Hybrid working pattern, flexi start/finish time
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, Christmas closure, birthday off
• Option to buy/sell up to 5 days holiday a year
• Enhanced parental leave policies
• Social committee and regular in‑house learning events
• 4× life assurance

Our values

• Always curious
• Be the best we can be

Please note the closing date for this role is Friday 3rd July 2026. We review CVs on an ongoing basis and may close the role early due to high interest.