Payroll & Benefit Manager (NI Top 100)

Job description

Payroll & Benefits Manager (NI Top 100)

VANRATH is delighted to be working in partnership with a NI Top 100 business to recruit a Payroll and Benefits Manager to take ownership of a critical function supporting employees across the Group. This is an excellent opportunity to lead payroll governance, employee benefits and continuous improvement within a commercially focused Finance team.

Salary/Benefits

• Competitive salary & benefits package
• Opportunity to manage both in-house and outsourced payroll operations.
• Responsibility for a broad employee benefits portfolio, including pensions, private medical insurance, life assurance and salary sacrifice schemes.
• The opportunity to influence payroll controls, compliance and process improvement across the Group.

About your next employer

Our client is a successful organisation seeking a Payroll & Benefits Manager to join its Finance function, reporting to the Group Finance Director. You will act as the subject matter expert for payroll, pensions and employee benefits, working closely with Finance, HR, senior leadership and external providers across the Group.

About you

• A minimum of five years' payroll experience, including supervisory or management responsibility.
• CIPP Level 4 Payroll Specialist Certificate or equivalent is essential.
• Strong experience managing in-house payroll processing, weekly payrolls, outsourced payroll providers and employee benefits schemes.
• Detailed knowledge of UK payroll legislation, PAYE, National Insurance, statutory payments, pension auto-enrolment and HMRC reporting requirements.
• Strong working knowledge of payroll systems, HR information systems and Microsoft Excel, including the ability to analyse complex data.
• Excellent analytical, organisational and stakeholder management skills.
• A high level of accuracy, confidentiality and professionalism.
• A strong understanding of benefits administration and salary sacrifice schemes.

Nice to have

• Understanding of Republic of Ireland payroll legislation and Irish Revenue requirements.
• Experience supporting payroll audits, year-end activities, statutory reporting and external audit requirements.
• Experience leading payroll process improvement, system enhancements or technology implementation projects.
• Experience managing relationships with payroll, pension and benefits providers.

Preferred education and experience

• CIPP Level 4 Payroll Specialist Certificate or equivalent qualification.
• At least five years' experience in a payroll environment, including responsibility for weekly, in-house and outsourced payrolls.
• Previous experience overseeing employee benefits programmes across multiple business entities would be advantageous.

What you'll do

• Manage the accurate, timely and compliant delivery of all Group payrolls, including weekly in-house payrolls and payrolls provided by external partners.
• Review and reconcile payroll outputs, deductions, benefit payments and statutory submissions before final authorisation.
• Oversee employee benefits administration, including pensions, private medical insurance, life assurance and salary sacrifice arrangements.
• Ensure compliance with UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements, pension regulations, GDPR and Company policies.
• Lead payroll audits, reconciliations, year-end activities and business continuity planning.
• Produce payroll reporting, cost analysis and headcount information for Finance, HR and senior leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying recurring errors, strengthening controls and standardising payroll processes.
• Provide expert advice to employees, managers and stakeholders on payroll, pensions and benefits-related matters.

For further information on this job, apply via the link or contact Kevin Roberts for a confidential chat today.