Head of Payroll and Benefits

About the London Metal Exchange

LME Group is the world centre for industrial metals trading and clearing. Most of the world’s non‑ferrous metals business is conducted on the LME.

Role Overview

The Head of Payroll and Benefits is responsible for delivering key operational HR activities, including the efficient running of multiple payrolls across various locations, payroll reporting, and the review and renewal of all benefit programmes. The role also involves external and internal audits, HR operational process improvements, and support and management of the HR Analyst.

Responsibilities

• Run and reconcile the UK payroll, ensuring accuracy of net variance, payroll interface data and variable data.
• Supervise and provide guidance to the HR Analyst.
• Manage payroll integration between ADP and Workday.
• Ensure all new joiners have appropriate onboarding paperwork and evidence for pay‑related changes.
• Act as the main point of contact for employees on payroll queries and manage the payroll inbox.
• Administer the company’s pension scheme, including reconciliations and auto‑enrolment obligations.
• Submit monthly schedules for Give As You Earn and childcare vouchers, and create monthly GL postings for the UK Finance team.
• Manage P11d, P60, and compulsory settlement agreement reporting to HMRC in line with mandatory timelines.
• Handle Singapore payroll and submit mandatory tax reporting (IR8A form).
• Manage international pay‑runs, including Italian Social Security shadow pay‑run, monthly Dubai payroll, NRD pay‑runs, and annual Short Term Business Visitors compensation.
• Oversee long‑service award processes, shadow/gross‑up pay‑runs, and HKEX Global Commodities Board pay‑runs.
• Ensure tax compliance for Restricted Share Units (RSUs) through the sell‑to‑cover process and maintain an audit trail of PAYE elements.
• Lead projects to abolish P11ds and implement mandatory benefit payrolling, creating new monthly processes for pro‑rated BIK costs.
• Collaborate with tax advisors to keep the LME compliant with employment taxation legislation.
• Research and recommend local payroll and reporting compliance for overseas working arrangements, presenting to CEOs for approval.
• Respond to non‑resident director tax queries and handle all director emolument forms and share charge calculations.
• Partner with Finance on people cost management and the annual budgeting process, providing detailed MI.
• Run annual benefit renewals for the Group’s Life Assurance, PHI, private medical insurance, and other benefits, working with the benefit broker.
• Conduct periodic market reviews of the LME benefit package and present findings to Head of HR and CEOs.
• Coordinate the annual medical review for Dubai and develop benefit offerings aligned with local industry standards.
• Roll out new benefits, such as electric car schemes, after thorough research and CEO approval.
• Process the pension scheme, ensuring correct monthly contributions and auto‑enrolment, and serve as the main contact for the annual PWC pension audit.
• Own and manage the JML (joiner, mover and leaver) process from an HR perspective and represent HR in process improvement meetings.
• Lead the annual PwC JML audit and payroll audit, and assist Head of Reward and HR Operations with continuous HR process improvement.
• Maintain data cleansing programs to keep employee data compliant with GDPR requirements.

Required Knowledge and Experience

• Degree‑level education.
• Payroll accreditation (CIPP) preferred.
• Accounting and financial accruals knowledge.

Skills & Core Competencies

• Excellent system skills, particularly Excel.
• Confidence presenting to CEOs and board sub‑committees.
• Ability to manage demanding deadlines and conflicting priorities.
• Independent work with minimal supervision.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and process efficiency.
• Collaborative approach with peers.
• Attention to detail and innovative problem‑solving.
• Relationship management and proactive partnership building.
• Handling confidential and sensitive information discreetly.
• Experience with Workday preferred.

Personal Qualities

• Positive attitude.
• Thrives in a fast‑paced environment.
• Analytical and detail‑oriented.
• Calm disposition while juggling multiple projects and deadlines.

The LME is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In recruiting for our teams, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of education, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs. In doing so, we want every LME employee to feel our commitment to showing respect for all and encouraging open collaboration and communication.