Payroll Administrator / Senior Payroll Administrator

At Abco Payroll, payroll is personal.

We are an independent payroll bureau looking for an experienced Payroll Administrator to join our small, close-knit team. This is an opportunity for someone who already has solid UK payroll experience and is ready to take greater ownership of their work, manage client payrolls and develop their career within a supportive payroll bureau.

You'll be involved in all aspects of delivering payroll services to our clients, from processing payrolls and resolving queries through to building trusted client relationships and ensuring deadlines are met accurately and efficiently.

Hours

Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 3.00pm
25 hours per week

Salary £30,000-£34,000 FTE (actual salary £19,500 - £21,500 based on 25 hours per week)

Start date: ASAP

Permanent position

What you'll do

As an experienced Payroll Administrator, you will take responsibility for processing and managing payrolls for clients, working as part of our experienced, close-knit team.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing payrolls from start to finish, ensuring they are accurate and completed within agreed deadlines
• Reviewing, checking and processing payroll data supplied by clients
• Setting up new starters, processing leavers and maintaining employee information
• Processing variable pay including overtime, bonuses, deductions and other payroll adjustments
• Calculating and processing statutory payments, including SSP, SMP, SPP and other applicable statutory leave payments
• Applying PAYE and National Insurance rules correctly
• Processing workplace pension contributions and supporting clients with payroll-related pension queries
• Producing payroll reports, payslips and other client documentation
• Completing payroll reconciliations and investigating discrepancies
• Supporting the accurate completion of RTI submissions to HMRC, including FPS and EPS submissions
• Responding directly to client enquiries by telephone and email
• Explaining payroll calculations and resolving payroll queries clearly and professionally
• Identifying unusual payroll results or potential errors and investigating them before payrolls are finalised
• Managing your workload effectively to ensure both statutory and client deadlines are met
• Handling sensitive personal and financial information securely and confidentially
• Maintaining accurate records using payroll software, Excel and our internal systems
• Working closely with colleagues and sharing knowledge across the team
• Supporting less experienced members of the team where appropriate
• Contributing ideas to improve processes, controls and the service we provide to clients

As part of a small payroll bureau, you'll have exposure to a wide variety of payrolls and situations. We therefore need someone who is comfortable taking ownership, using their experience and judgement, and knowing when a more complex issue needs to be discussed or escalated.

Although you will have your own responsibilities, we're very much a team. There will be times when you'll support colleagues with their workloads, help resolve an unusual payroll issue or pick up other administrative tasks to help keep the business running smoothly.

What we're looking for:

Essential

Previous hands-on UK payroll processing experience is essential for this role.

You should be able to demonstrate:

• Practical experience of processing UK payrolls
• Experience of taking payrolls through the payroll cycle with a good level of independence
• A good working knowledge of PAYE and National Insurance
• Experience processing statutory payments
• Experience with workplace pensions
• Understanding of RTI reporting to HMRC
• Strong numerical and analytical skills
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy
• The ability to investigate payroll discrepancies and resolve queries
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing payroll deadlines
• Confidence communicating with clients by telephone and email
• Experience using computerised payroll software
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Excel
• An understanding of confidentiality and data protection when handling employee and payroll information
• The ability to work independently while also being a supportive member of a small team

Desirable

It would be particularly useful if you also have:

• Previous experience working within a payroll bureau or outsourced payroll environment
• Experience managing a portfolio of client payrolls
• Experience processing payrolls of varying sizes, frequencies and complexities
• Experience dealing directly with clients and resolving more complex payroll queries
• A recognised payroll qualification, such as a CIPP qualification

Payroll bureau experience is desirable rather than essential. We would also be interested in someone with strong in-house payroll experience who can demonstrate that they have the technical knowledge, client-service mindset and organisational skills needed to move into a bureau environment.

Skills

We're looking for someone with strong:

• Payroll knowledge
• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer service skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Numerical skills
• Analytical skills
• Team working
• Initiative
• Time management
• Professional judgement

What the role is really like

No two days are exactly the same.

You could be processing a client's monthly payroll, investigating why an employee's pay has changed unexpectedly, checking a statutory payment calculation, reconciling payroll reports, dealing with a pension query or speaking directly to a client who needs help with a payroll issue.

Because we're a small team, your contribution matters. We're looking for someone who doesn't simply process the information in front of them, but who takes ownership of their payrolls, spots when something doesn't look right and takes pride in getting to the correct answer.

Behind every payslip is a person relying on us to get it right. We want someone who shares that approach and genuinely cares about accuracy, confidentiality and delivering an excellent service to clients.

About Abco Payroll

Abco Payroll Ltd is an independent payroll bureau providing outsourced payroll and pension services to businesses across a wide range of industries throughout the UK.

We pride ourselves on delivering a personal, professional and reliable service, helping employers manage their payroll responsibilities accurately, efficiently and in compliance with changing legislation.

We work closely with our clients to understand their businesses and provide a responsive, personal service, building long-term relationships based on trust and expertise.

As a small, friendly and close-knit team, every member of staff plays an important role. Unlike roles where payroll processing can be highly segmented, our team has the opportunity to be involved in the wider payroll process, communicate directly with clients and develop a broad understanding of payroll.

Our services include payroll processing, workplace pension administration, statutory payments, payroll reporting and ongoing support for employers navigating payroll legislation and compliance requirements.

We invest in technology, training and professional development and encourage our team to continue building their payroll knowledge and expertise.

Development and progression

We're looking for someone who wants to become an important long-term member of the Abco team.

For the right person, there will be opportunities to take on greater responsibility as their knowledge of our clients and business develops, including supporting colleagues, becoming involved in more complex payroll work and contributing to the continued development of our payroll processes and client service.

Benefits

• Company pension
• Free parking
• Professional development and training
• Supportive, small-team environment

Work location: In person
Location: Stansted Courtyard, Parsonage Road, Takeley, CM22 6PU

Pay: £30,000.00-£34,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Free parking

Work Location: In person