Payroll, Pension & HR Lead (Accountancy Practice) in Watford

• Location: Fully Remote (initial onboarding and training in Watford, Hertfordshire)
• Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

About the Role

We are recruiting for an experienced Payroll, Pension & HR Lead to join a growing and forward-thinking accountancy practice.

This is a key role within the business, with responsibility for managing the end-to-end monthly payroll process, workplace pensions, HMRC compliance, reconciliations and month-end reporting.

The successful candidate will be confident working independently, highly organised and comfortable taking ownership of payroll operations.

The role is particularly important during the busy payroll period between the 15th and 30th of each month.

Following initial onboarding and training at the company's Watford office, the role will be fully remote.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end monthly payroll process accurately and efficiently
• Administer workplace pension schemes, including NEST and Smart Pension
• Ensure ongoing auto-enrolment and pension compliance
• Prepare and submit HMRC RTI filings, including FPS and EPS
• Process payroll and pension journals
• Reconcile payroll, pension and HMRC liabilities within Xero
• Review HMRC payments and reconcile them against accounting records
• Complete month-end payroll and pension reporting
• Calculate salaries, deductions, tax and statutory payments
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date payroll records
• Respond to employee payroll and pension queries professionally and promptly
• Support HR-related administration and processes where required
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll, pension and HR processes
• Ensure payroll activities are completed accurately and within required deadlines

About You

We are looking for an experienced UK payroll professional who can take ownership of the payroll function and work confidently with a high level of autonomy.

You will ideally have

• Currently working within accountancy practice
• Strong, hands-on UK payroll experience
• A good understanding of current payroll legislation and HMRC requirements
• Experience managing workplace pensions and auto-enrolment
• Experience with NEST and Smart Pension (highly desirable)
• Experience using Xero
• Experience using Bright Pay or similar payroll software
• Strong reconciliation and attention-to-detail skills
• Excellent organisational and time-management abilities
• The ability to work independently and manage competing deadlines
• A professional and confident approach when dealing with employees, HMRC and pension providers
• A proactive approach to improving processes and systems

What's on Offer?

• Fully remote working following initial onboarding and training
• Initial training and onboarding at the company's Watford, Hertfordshire office
• A key position within a growing accountancy practice
• The opportunity to take ownership of payroll, pensions and associated HR processes
• A varied role with scope to improve and develop existing processes
• A supportive and professional working environment
• Competitive salary and benefits package

Interested?

If you're an experienced payroll professional looking for a role where you can take ownership, work autonomously and play an important part in a growing accountancy practice, we'd love to hear from you.