Payroll & Employee Benefits Manager in Belfast

Location: Belfast

Hours: 37 hours per week (Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm) with 30min lunch.

Salary: £23.37 per hour

Contract: Temporary

About the Role:

On behalf of our client, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, MPA Recruitment is inviting applications for the role of Payroll & Employee Benefits Manager within the Finance Division. This is a senior payroll role with responsibility for managing a small, experienced team delivering an efficient and compliant payroll and employee benefits service to over 3,000 employees. The postholder will oversee payroll processing, travel claims, HMRC compliance, and agency payment arrangements, ensuring high standards of accuracy, governance, and customer service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Payroll & Benefits Management
  • Plan, manage, and organise the day-to-day operation of the payroll section to ensure all transactions are processed accurately and within organisational timescales.
  • Ensure payroll continuity by maintaining sufficient cross-trained staff to cover all payroll functions.
  • Oversee reconciliation and control of payroll-related General Ledger accounts monthly.
  • Ensure all statutory and non-statutory deductions are processed accurately and paid on time.
  • Authorise payroll-related fund transfers and advise Financial Planning on funding requirements.
  • Ensure robust processes are in place for new starters and leavers, minimising under- or over-payments.
  • Identify overpayments promptly and liaise with Accounts Receivable to support recovery.
• Compliance, Systems & Governance
  • Ensure all HMRC employment-related obligations are met, including PSA’s, P11D’s, and salary sacrifice schemes.
  • Ensure payroll returns to HMRC, NILGOSC, and other external bodies are submitted accurately and on time.
  • Maintain strong governance, controls, and audit trails across all payroll and benefits transactions.
  • Ensure travel claims comply with policy, taxation, and financial control requirements.
  • Oversee accurate and timely payment of staffing agencies.
  • Participate in the development, enhancement, or replacement of payroll and expenses systems.
• Reporting, Improvement & Leadership
  • Provide year-end payroll information to Financial Accounting as required.
  • Develop, monitor, and report on payroll KPIs, including monthly reporting to senior management.
  • Identify and implement business improvements to enhance service performance and efficiency.
  • Ensure all payroll and benefits procedures are documented and maintained.
  • Represent the Finance Division on internal and external working groups and committees.
  • Manage, motivate, and develop payroll staff, including training, performance management, and discipline.
  • Support risk management, business continuity, and system security planning.
  • Deputise for the Payments Manager / Income Managers when required.

What We’re Looking For:

Essential Criteria:

Applicants must meet one of the following:

• A recognised UK payroll qualification accredited by the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP), a relevant degree, or equivalent qualification and a minimum of 3 years’ experience managing a payroll function;
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience managing a payroll function, where formal qualifications are not held.

In addition, candidates must demonstrate:

• Excellent technical payroll knowledge, including gross-to-net calculations, PAYE, National Insurance, SMP, SPP, SSP, and current payroll legislation.
• Sound bookkeeping skills and knowledge of accounting techniques.
• Experience using computerised payroll systems and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Experience with PSA’s, P11D’s, salary sacrifice schemes, and HMRC expenses taxation and exemptions.
• Experience working within a structured team environment with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to engage effectively at all organisational levels.

Additional Information:

A Basic Access NI Check is Required at a cost of £16.

What we can offer you:

• Weekly pay
• Holiday pay
• 24/7 support from our dedicated recruitment consultants
• Access to a wide range of public sector roles
• Ongoing role availability — if one placement ends, we aim to secure another

Why Apply:

• Lead and shape payroll and employee benefits services for a workforce of over 3,000 staff.
• Gain senior-level public sector experience within a highly structured finance environment.
• Work with established payroll systems and contribute to service improvement and system development.
• Competitive hourly rate with stable, full-time working hours.
• Ideal opportunity for experienced payroll managers seeking a high-impact interim role.

How to Apply:

To apply, send your CV to chris.oneill@mparecruitment.co.uk or contact our office on 02895 211111 for more information.

MPA Recruitment is an equal opportunities employer.