Senior Payroll

Leicester | £50,000–£67,000 DOE | Permanent | Hybrid Working

Macildowie Recruitment is working with a well-established, global organisation to recruit an experienced Senior Payroll Analyst to join their team based in Leicester.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with strong technical payroll experience who enjoys taking ownership of the full payroll process, managing complex payroll matters and working closely with stakeholders across the business.

You'll be joining a global business that operates across multiple industries and is recognised for its innovation, continuous improvement and collaborative working environment.

Working within a small payroll team and reporting directly to the Payroll Director, you'll take responsibility for overseeing payroll for approximately 1,000 employees across the UK and Ireland.

Although payroll processing is outsourced to ADP, this is very much a hands-on role. You'll be responsible for ensuring payroll is accurate, compliant and delivered on time, while managing more complex payroll arrangements, including expatriate payroll, executive compensation and stock-related payments.

There will also be opportunities to get involved in payroll projects, process improvements and potentially take on additional responsibilities as the team develops.

The Role

As Senior Payroll Analyst, your responsibilities will include:

• Taking ownership of the end-to-end monthly payroll process for approximately 1,000 employees across the UK and Ireland.

• Managing the relationship with ADP, ensuring payroll is processed accurately and within agreed deadlines.

• Reviewing payroll calculations, adjustments, deductions and reconciliations.

• Handling complex payroll queries and providing technical guidance to employees and internal stakeholders.

• Managing expatriate payroll arrangements, modified payroll and hypothetical tax requirements, with support from external specialists.

• Supporting executive compensation, including stock awards, RSUs and associated tax implications.

• Coordinating annual salary reviews, pay increases and sales bonus payments.

• Preparing payroll journals, reconciliations and supporting month-end reporting.

• Working closely with HR, People Services, Finance and senior stakeholders.

• Ensuring compliance with UK and Irish payroll legislation and statutory requirements.

• Supporting payroll projects, system improvements and process enhancements.

About You

We're looking for an experienced payroll professional who is confident managing payroll from start to finish and enjoys working in a technically varied environment.

Ideally, you'll have:

• Strong hands-on experience managing UK and Ireland payroll.

• Experience working with outsourced payroll providers.

• Confidence taking ownership of payroll processes and resolving complex queries independently.

• Strong knowledge of payroll legislation, statutory requirements and compliance.

• Experience producing payroll reports, journals and reconciliations.

• Good Excel skills and experience using payroll systems such as ADP, Workday or SAP.

• Strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships with HR, Finance and wider stakeholders.

• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple deadlines.

Experience with expatriate payroll, hypothetical tax, executive compensation or RSUs would be a real advantage, although specialist support is available for more complex tax matters.

A CIPP qualification or relevant payroll qualification would be beneficial, but we're equally interested in speaking with candidates who have developed strong technical knowledge through hands-on experience.

What's on Offer?

• Salary: Circa £50,000–£67,000 depending on experience.

• Location: South West Leicester.

• Working hours: 37.5 hours per week, with flexibility around start and finish times.

• Hybrid working: Ideally 4 days in the office and 1 from home, with potential flexibility for 3 office days and 2 from home.

• Opportunity to join an established global organisation.

• A varied role with exposure to complex and specialist payroll arrangements.

• The opportunity to work closely with senior stakeholders and take ownership of payroll delivery.

• Potential to get involved in projects, process improvements and future team development.

This position would suit an experienced Senior Payroller, Senior Payroll Analyst, Payroll Specialist or technically focused Payroll Manager who enjoys being hands-on and is looking for a role with responsibility, variety and exposure to an international business.

Interested?

If this sounds like the right next step for you, please apply or get in touch with Macildowie Recruitment for a confidential conversation about the opportunity.