Specialist, Payroll in City of London

Our Finance team is responsible for ensuring accurate financial operations and plays a crucial role in managing the Firms financial health. Our team handles a wide range of financial activities including financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, taxation, partner compensation, payroll, treasury and cash flow management to support the Firms strategic goals. We are responsible for inventory management including billing and collections, and analysis of client, matter and timekeeper profitability. We oversee statutory accounting and ensure compliance with financial regulations and standards. The Finance team also prepares financial statements, reports and analysis to provide insights into the Firms financial performance. We work closely with other functions to monitor expenses, optimize financial processes and implement cost-saving initiatives. Through meticulous financial management and strategic planning, the Finance team ensures the Firms financial stability and supports its growth objectives.

The ideal candidate should have current payroll experience working in the professional services sector. A good working knowledge of PAYE, NIC, and statutory calculations together with a strong knowledge of payroll accounting is required. Working in a high pressured, results driven business, the candidate should be able to demonstrate good customer service skills encompassing strong written and oral communication with a solution-based approach, while working closely with local HR and across all functions. They should be able to bring new ideas, apply a logical thought process and challenge the status quo with a real understanding of the wider firm view.

Primary responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Monthly payroll input and data uploads including joiners, leavers, permanent and variable changes
• Maintaining the Payroll Masterfile up to date with information received from HR
• Dealing with employee and other stakeholder queries
• Aiding with preparation of tax forms/returns
• Assisting with the flexible benefit reconciliation and associated payments
• Other third-party reconciliations and associated payments
• Coordinating the season ticket loan process
• Processing of Inpat, Expat and Short-Term Business Visitor compliance and reporting
• Monthly management of Auto Enrolment process (including payroll deductions and AE provider file processing)
• Explanation of the monthly gross/net pay variances report

Supporting the UK Payroll Manager to assist, but not limited to:

• Fully manage and maintain the payroll function (800 employees) of the organisation to ensure the accurate and timely payment of employees, while implementing robust checks and controls to safeguard against errors, ensure compliance, and maintain the integrity of payroll operations.
• Ensure compliance with HMRC regulations and provide support and expert advice to the business on payroll and income tax legislation
• Statutory reporting and returns including P60s, P11ds and PAYE Settlement Agreement
• Short-term business visitor compliance and reporting
• Secondment tax and social security compliance in conjunction with home/host offices (including Split payroll, FTCR and Section 690 agreements)
• Liaise with overseas offices regarding payroll and related accounting entries
• Application of accounting principles to ensure the correct recording of all payroll entries (including journal uploads into the accounting system) and reconciliation of control accounts
• Understand the impact of payroll costs and monitoring against budgeted data
• Deal with ad hoc employee queries
• Providing yearly audit support

Accounts:

• Production, reconciliation, and processing of employee personal disbursement accounts
• Processing and reconciliation of partner disbursement accounts
• Reconciliation of the payroll control accounts
• Preparation and payment of outsourced Madrid Payroll.
• Ad hoc duties and projects as required by the Line Manager to support the achievement of business, functional and individual objectives

Skills/Experience:

• A minimum of five years experience within payroll/accounts administration
• Knowledge of ADP payroll system desirable
• Knowledge of payroll and accounting practices and principles
• Previous experience within the professional services sector desirable
• Accurate with data review and reconciliation
• Strong desire to learn and take ownership of the processes outlined above
• CIPP foundation level desirable

This role will be based in the London office and reporting to our UK Payroll Manager. In office days Monday to Thursday with standard office hours are 09:30 - 18:00 with remote working on Fridays.

White & Case is committed to creating a fair workplace. It is our Firms policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.

If you require assistance and/or adjustment to participate in our application and/or interview process, please email. We will be happy to work with you.

The Firm may modify and amend any job description at any time in its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment. The above is only a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.