Payroll Specialist - 12 month FTC

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for delivering accurate, timely and compliant payroll across the UK, Netherlands and Dubai. The role owns the end-to-end UK payroll process through HiBob / Pento and oversees outsourced international payroll providers, while maintaining strong payroll controls, reconciliations and records. The Payroll Specialist will partner closely with People Experience, Finance, employees and external providers to resolve queries, improve processes and ensure payroll activity is accurately reflected in HiBob and NetSuite. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Manage UK Payroll: Take ownership of the end-to-end UK payroll process, ensuring all employees are paid accurately and on time. 

• Partner with People Experience: Work closely with the People Experience team to ensure employee data, payroll changes and relevant documentation are accurately maintained and processed through HiBob. 

• Manage Payroll Through HiBob: Oversee payroll activity within HiBob, ensuring data integrity, accurate reporting and effective system controls. 

• Oversee International Payroll: Manage outsourced payroll providers for the Netherlands and Dubai, ensuring payrolls are processed accurately, compliantly and within agreed deadlines. 

• Payroll Data and Controls: Review payroll inputs, changes and outputs, ensuring appropriate checks, approvals and controls are followed across all entities. 

• Process Improvement: Review and enhance existing payroll processes to improve efficiency, accuracy and compliance. 

• Process Documentation: Create and maintain clear payroll process notes, controls and guidance to support consistency and future handovers. 

• Payroll Journals: Prepare and post accurate payroll journals into NetSuite, working closely with the Finance team to resolve any discrepancies. 

• Payroll Queries: Manage payroll-related queries from employees and internal teams, including queries relating to commission, deductions, benefits and statutory payments. 

• Compliance and Reporting: Ensure ongoing compliance with UK payroll legislation and work with external providers to meet local requirements in the Netherlands and Dubai. 

• Maintain Payroll Records: Ensure payroll records, reports and supporting documentation remain accurate, complete and compliant with statutory and company requirements. 

• Reconciliations: Complete payroll reconciliations and work closely with Finance to ensure payroll costs, payments and journals are correctly recorded. 

• Month-End & Finance Support: Provide ad hoc support to the wider Finance team during month-end and year-end processes, including reconciliations, reporting, balance sheet reviews and audit requests. 

• Management Information & Reporting: Assist with the preparation of payroll, headcount and employee cost reporting, providing insights and analysis to Finance and senior stakeholders where required. 

Requirements

• Proven Payroll Experience: Strong experience managing an end-to-end UK payroll function, ideally within a complex or fast-paced organisation. 

• HiBob Experience: Experience managing payroll processes, employee data or payroll integrations through HiBob / Pento is highly desirable. 

• International Payroll Exposure: Experience overseeing outsourced or multi-country payrolls would be beneficial, particularly across the Netherlands or Dubai. 

• Strong Excel Skills: Strong Excel capability, including formulas, lookups, pivot tables, reconciliations and analysing large sets of payroll data. 

• Process Improvement: Demonstrated experience reviewing, documenting and improving payroll processes and controls. 

• Attention to Detail: A highly accurate and methodical approach, with the ability to identify discrepancies and resolve issues before payroll is finalised. 

• NetSuite Knowledge: Experience preparing or posting payroll journals into NetSuite or a similar ERP system would be advantageous. 

• Strong Communication Skills: Able to work effectively with People Experience, Finance, employees and external payroll providers. 

• Organisation and Delivery: Comfortable managing multiple deadlines and ensuring payroll is completed accurately and on time. 

• Compliance Knowledge: Strong and up-to-date understanding of UK payroll legislation, tax, pensions and statutory requirements. 

• Commission Payroll Experience: Experience managing variable pay or commission-based payroll arrangements would be particularly beneficial. 

Benefits

🌴 Annual Leave: Enjoy up to 30 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, your birthday off, and a Christmas closure period.

🏙️ Hybrid Working Model: We work 4 days a week from our London office, with 2 weeks per year to work from anywhere, whether that’s by the beach, in the countryside, or closer to family.

🎿 Annual Company Ski Trip: Hit the slopes with the team, our all-company ski trip is open to everyone.

💆 Wellness Perks: We subsidise your gym membership to help you stay active and energised, and offer weekly in-office massages for a midweek recharge.

🧠 Mental Health Support: Access to professional support and resources to help you prioritise your wellbeing.

👶 Enhanced Maternity Pay: We provide enhanced maternity packages to support you through life’s important milestones.

🎉 Incentives & Socials: Regular team socials, performance incentives, and rewards to celebrate your success.

🦷 Private Health & Dental Discounts: Take advantage of discounted private healthcare and dental plans, because your health matters.