Payroll specialist

Salary: £43,000 (pro rata)
Location: Hybrid
Contract: Fixed-Term Contract
Duration: Approx. 4-6 Months
Start Date: ASAP

The Opportunity

An established organisation is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to support a significant payroll transformation project. This role will play a key part in transitioning payroll services from an in-house model to an outsourced provider, ensuring a smooth migration while maintaining payroll accuracy, compliance, and continuity throughout the process.

This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional who enjoys process improvement, stakeholder engagement, and driving operational change within a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the transition of payroll services to an outsourced provider.
• Maintain continuity of payroll operations throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate project activities, testing plans, timelines, and key milestones.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders across HR, Finance, IT, and external partners.
• Review and improve existing payroll processes and controls.
• Document new payroll procedures, governance frameworks, and operating models.
• Support payroll data validation, reconciliation, user acceptance testing (UAT), and parallel runs.
• Identify and resolve payroll-related issues and risks.
• Act as a key contact for payroll queries during the transition period.
• Support training, knowledge transfer, and post-implementation stabilisation activities.

About You

Essential:

• Strong payroll operations experience with a thorough understanding of payroll controls and processes.
• Experience supporting payroll outsourcing or transformation projects.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience documenting and improving business processes.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with excellent attention to detail.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of UK payroll legislation and compliance.
• Experience working with payroll and HR systems implementations.
• Experience within a multi-site or complex business environment.
• Project or change management experience.

  What's on Offer?

  • £43,000 salary (pro rata).
  • Flexible part-time working arrangement of 2-3 days per week.
  • Opportunity to lead a high-profile payroll transformation project.
  • Collaborative and supportive working environment.
  • Hybrid working model.
  • Immediate start available.

  This role would suit an experienced payroll professional who thrives in project environments and enjoys delivering meaningful operational improvements.