Payroll & HR Associate (12 months FTC) in Edinburgh

We are recruiting for a Payroll & HR Associate to join the People & Culture team at an exciting period of growth. This role will play a key part in delivering accurate, compliant, and scalable payroll and benefits operations across the Group. Reporting into the Payroll & Benefits Specialist, the role will support end-to-end payroll and benefits activity across multiple entities, working closely with HR, Finance, and external providers. Given the pace of LYNC acquisitions, the role will operate within a fast-moving environment, supporting onboarding of new entities and ensuring payroll, pensions, and benefits processes are aligned, robust, and compliant. The successful candidate will offer strong payroll and pensions knowledge, a solutions-focused mindset, and the ability to operate confidently in a change-driven environment. This role can be performed remotely.

Responsibilities

• Payroll Operations & Controls
  • Support the end-to-end delivery of monthly payroll across the Group, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and adherence to agreed payroll timetables.
  • Partner with HR and Finance to implement payroll changes arising from joiners, leavers, contractual amendments, and organisational change.
  • Support payroll validations, reconciliations, and pre-submission checks, proactively identifying risks or inconsistencies and escalating where appropriate.
  • Assist with year-end payroll activities, including P60s, P11Ds (where applicable), and audit readiness.
• Pensions & Benefits Administration
  • Support the operation of multiple pension schemes across different legal entities, ensuring compliance with auto-enrolment and regulatory requirements.
  • Assist with the assessment, onboarding, and ongoing management of pension membership across the workforce.
  • Liaise with pension providers and internal stakeholders to resolve discrepancies, interpret scheme rules, and support scheme changes.
  • Support benefits administration across the Group, including accurate enrolment, amendments, and governance.
• Multi-Entity & Acquisition Support
  • Support payroll and benefits integration for newly acquired entities, ensuring alignment with Group standards while recognising local requirements.
  • Assist with data validation, process mapping, and transition activity as part of acquisitions or organisational change.
  • Support documentation, review, and refinement of payroll and pensions processes to ensure scalability as the Group continues to grow.
• Payroll Systems, Data & Reporting
  • Maintain strong data integrity across payroll and HR systems to support accurate reporting and clear audit trails.
  • Produce and support payroll-related reporting for HR, Finance, and external stakeholders.
  • Identify process inefficiencies or system improvements and contribute ideas to enhance payroll and benefits delivery.
• Stakeholder Support & Advisory
  • Act as a knowledgeable point of contact for payroll, pensions, and benefits queries, providing clear and professional guidance to colleagues.
  • Support the Payroll & Benefits Specialist with complex queries, investigations, and escalations.
  • Ensure all activity and advice aligns with UK legislation, internal controls, and governance.

About You

Skills

• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage complex payroll data accurately.
• Effective stakeholder management and communication skills, with confidence advising colleagues at all levels.
• Ability to identify risks, inconsistencies, or inefficiencies and escalate or resolve them proactively.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage deadlines in a fast-paced, change-driven environment.
• Collaborative working style, with the ability to partner effectively with HR, Finance, and external providers.
• Comfortable working with payroll and HR systems and contributing to process or system improvements.

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience working in payroll, pensions, or reward operations within a multi-entity or growing organisation.
• Strong understanding of UK payroll processes and legislation.
• Solid knowledge of pension schemes, including qualifying earnings, pensionable pay definitions, and contribution structures.
• Understanding of auto-enrolment requirements and pensions governance.
• Exposure to organisational change, acquisitions, or payroll/benefits integration activity is desirable.
• Familiarity with payroll and HR systems; experience supporting system or process change is an advantage.