Group Payroll Specialist (part-time, 15 hours per week) in London

Location: London – Hybrid

We are Strata! Imagine being part of a fast and exciting brand experience agency whose clients include specialists in new technology, creators of some of the most stunning electric vehicles on the planet, financial institutions, and global leaders in pharmaceutical solutions. As an agency, we elevate these brands and make them heard through immersive and memorable virtual and face-to-face experiences. As a people-first business, we encourage ambition, support and reward. We’re always listening and open to your ideas, just as we do with our clients. Our name? It’s Strata, an agency on a mission to be the very best.

Job Overview

We are looking for a detail-oriented and highly organised Group Payroll Specialist to manage end-to-end payroll operations across multiple entities within our fast-paced events agency. This role is critical to ensuring all payrolled staff are paid accurately and on time within a complex, high-volume, project-driven environment. You will work closely with Finance, HR, and operational teams to support payroll compliance, improve processes, and provide a seamless payroll experience across the group.

Key Responsibilities

• Payroll Management
  • Process end-to-end payroll for multiple entities within the group (multiple monthly payrolls)
  • Ensure accurate calculation of salaries, overtime, bonuses, commissions, and deductions are processed via internal software and/or an external agency.
  • Maintain payroll data integrity and ensure timely submissions.
• Compliance & Reporting
  • Ensure full compliance with HMRC regulations, legislation, and statutory requirements.
  • Responsible for overseeing accurate calculations for PAYE, National Insurance, pensions, and other statutory deductions.
  • Liaise with external bureau to prepare and submit RTI filings and year-end reporting (P60s, P11Ds, etc.)
  • Liaise with external auditors, pension providers, and tax authorities as required.
  • Produce all P11ds as required up to March 2027.
  • Complete project to ensure all benefits are included in payroll in accordance with government deadlines (for the tax year from 5 April 2027 onwards).
• Systems & Processes
  • Maintain and optimise payroll systems and processes across the group.
  • Partner with HR to ensure accurate employee data flow (starters, leavers, changes).
  • Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
  • Support payroll system upgrades, integrations, and project work.
• Stakeholder Management
  • Act as the primary point of contact for all payroll-related queries.
  • Provide guidance to employees, managers, and HR teams.
  • Collaborate with Finance on reconciliations and reporting requirements.
  • Support international payroll coordination if applicable.
• Event Workforce Payroll
  • Manage high-volume payroll cycles tied to projects and live events.
  • Process payments for casual and temporary staff under tight deadlines.
  • Ensure accurate tracking of hours worked, rates, and approvals.

Job Requirements

• Proven experience managing payroll in a multi-entity or group structure.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll regulations and compliance requirements, including PAYE, NI, Tax codes and deductions, Statutory payments, pension regulations and contributions and salary sacrifice schemes.
• Strong understanding of HMRC rules and reporting requirements as well as GDPR, data privacy and employment law relating to pay.
• Experience with high-volume or fast-paced payroll environments (ideally events, hospitality, or agency).
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Problem solving and analytical thinking specifically identifying, investigating and resolving payroll discrepancies or queries, and reconciling payroll reports.
• Strong Excel skills (including data validations, formulas (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables, basic IF’s)) and payroll software experience.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with integrity.
• Experience processing payroll for all types of employees.
• Familiarity with payroll systems (e.g., Sage, ADP, Workday, or similar).
• Exposure to international payrolls (desired but not essential).
• Payroll qualification (e.g., CIPP).
• Proactive and solutions-driven.
• Calm under pressure and able to meet tight deadlines.
• Strong communication skills and stakeholder management.
• Adaptable to a dynamic, project-led business environment.

Employee Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, plus usual Bank Holidays.
• Birthday day off.
• Private Health Insurance.
• Workplace pension scheme.
• Death in service scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Hybrid working arrangement.
• Regular social events.

Our Principles

We are a people-first brand experience agency with a set of core principles that guide our every action by measuring:

• A win for the client: Client success is at the forefront of everything we do.
• A win for the company: We believe in long-term partnerships and sustainable growth.
• A win for the team: Our team is the lifeblood of our agency.
• A win for you: Our goal is to create a win for you.
• A win for the planet: We are committed to making environmentally responsible choices in our work.

Diversity at Strata

At Strata, people are at the heart of who we are. We recognise and value the diverse and unique perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds that each individual brings. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels respected, heard, valued, and empowered.