At a Glance
- Tasks: Support global payroll processes and ensure compliance across multiple countries.
- Company: Join a rapidly growing fintech known for its innovative culture and high employee satisfaction.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave policies, flexible hours, and access to learning resources.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace encouraging applications from all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while working with a talented team.
- Qualifications: Experience in payroll processing, strong attention to detail, and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 49500 - 60500 £ per year.
Thought Machine's mission is bold – to properly and permanently rid the world's banks of legacy technology.
To achieve this, we have developed the foundations of modern banking through core and payments technology which run natively in the cloud.
What we are attempting is hard and means we need great people working together to build great technology.
We have grown rapidly in the past few years – growing our team to more than 550 individuals across offices in London, New York, Singapore, Sydney and our newly established Engineering Hub in Lisbon.
We have raised more than £500m in funding and our investors include Molten Ventures, Eurazeo, Intesa Sanpaolo, Temasek, Nyca Partners, JPMorgan Chase Strategic Investments, Standard Chartered Ventures, and more.
We have created a culture that enables our team to produce the best work in the industry while ensuring we have fun along the way.
We're regularly cited as having a fantastic workplace culture and have been recognised by Sifted magazine as having one of the highest Glassdoor ratings for a UK fintech company and the industry's most generous employee share package.
Named one of the world's most innovative fintechs by Global Finance Magazine, we were also recognised by the Financial Times as one of Europe's fastest-growing companies for two consecutive years—and a UK Best Employer for 2026.
Reporting to the Payroll Lead, the Payroll Specialist will support the company’s payroll affairs globally, covering the UK, APAC, EMEA and North/South America entities.
The company has also recently launched the Thought Machine Lisbon Engineering Hub with an engineering team of 30 to start with, adding more responsibilities to the payroll team.
This newly created role will work with finance and non-finance teams with support from external payroll advisors to drive the highest standards of payroll.
This role will play an integral part in scaling the payroll processes and procedures of a fast‑growing business.
This is an opportunity to make an impact as a payroll professional who thrives on delivering on projects and being responsible for providing best‑in‑class payroll process, reporting and compliance through the group companies.
DUTIES
- Support global payroll process and controls with support from external payroll
- providers
- Timely execution of payroll deliverables, payments and statutory reporting for
- all seven countries while ensuring compliance with local payroll legislation in
- different countries
- Engaged in payroll implementations in the future and leading any process optimisation as necessary in partnership with HR
- Work with the accounting team to ensure that payroll related spend is accounted for correctly and timely
- Support or lead ad hoc projects as the team and business expands
- internationally
- Responding to payroll related queries and supporting user accounts, resetting passwords
- Ensuring benefits are aligned with employees and providers and no leakage
- Adhering to strict timelines for cut off and payroll scheduling
- General administration of portals, user accounts, resetting passwords
Requirements
Essential
- Experience in payroll processing across various countries
- Attention to detail and accuracy key
- Strong time management and organisational skills
- Strong excel skills required
- Good understanding of controls and payroll best practices
- Proactive and providing solutions to challenges that come up
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate payroll matters to
- HR, Finance and Employees
Desirable
- Proven experience working within a group environment
- Industry experience (fast-growing technology company is a plus)
- Payroll systems implementation is a plus
- Workday system experience for HR or Finance would help
Desirable
- Proven experience working within a group environment
- Industry experience (fast-growing technology company is a plus)
- Payroll systems implementation is a plus
- Workday system experience for HR or Finance would help
Benefits
- Highly competitive salary and commission
- Pension plan (match up to 5%)
- Life insurance - three times annual salary
- Competitive maternity (six months fully paid) and paternity leave (four weeks fully paid)
- Shared parental leave (matched to our maternity leave for the same point in time)
- 25 days holiday and bank holidays
- Flexible working hours
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Electric car scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Access to outstanding learning materials and courses
- Sports and hobby clubs, subsidised by Thought Machine
- All the latest tech you need
- Start the day properly with fresh fruit and cereals
- Huge range of healthy (and not-so-healthy) snacks, smoothies and drinks
- A talented and experienced team as your colleagues
- An environment where we encourage learning and progress
- Two charity days a year
- Weekly food pop-up
We actively hire candidates who demonstrate technical excellence in their field and welcome people of all ages and backgrounds, providing everyone with equal access to professional development.
You are encouraged to apply even if your experience doesn't accurately match the job description.
We also encourage applications from those with different abilities, including candidates with ADHD, autism, dyslexia or dyspraxia.
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Payroll Specialist employer: Thought Machine
Thought Machine is an exceptional employer, renowned for its vibrant workplace culture and commitment to employee growth. With a highly competitive salary, generous benefits including extensive parental leave, and a focus on learning and development, employees thrive in an environment that values innovation and collaboration. The newly established Engineering Hub in Lisbon offers unique opportunities to be part of a fast-growing fintech company that is reshaping the banking industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Payroll Specialist
✨Join HR Networks
Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!
✨Make Your Presence Known
Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at Thought Machine!
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re a recent grad or still in uni, tap into your career services and alumni network. Many universities have connections with companies looking for HR talent, so get those leads and apply through our website for a smoother application process.
✨Showcase Your HR Passion
Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at Thought Machine.
We think you need these skills to ace Payroll Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at Thought Machine. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to Thought Machine and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at Thought Machine. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to Thought Machine's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Thought Machine
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with Thought Machine.
✨Know Your Recruitment Tools
Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
✨Highlight Your People Skills
A full-time HR role at Thought Machine will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
✨Stay Current with HR Trends
Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact Thought Machine and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
