Payroll Specialist

Payroll Specialist – Based Glasgow

This is a full office based role

IMMEDIATE START!

Basic salary £34,000 plus 31 days holidays, perkbox, pension, social events

As a Payroll Specialist will be responsible for the end-to-end management of payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing across multiple countries.

The role will include ownership of the in-house UK payroll, together with oversight of the validation and approval of third-party payroll providers in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and the USA. You will be expected to ensure compliance with local legislation, support ongoing process improvement, and contribute to wider HR activities, including compensation and benefits.

Candidate Skills

Highly organised and strong problem solver

Proactive, improvement-focused mindset

Able to work independently and prioritise effectively

High integrity and confidentiality

Payroll qualification desirable (e.g., CIPP)

HR, Finance, or Payroll experience preferred

Payroll processing experience, ideally in-house UK payroll.

Outsourced payroll experience; Belgium/Netherlands preferred.

Strong payroll legislation and compliance knowledge.

Payroll reconciliations and variance analysis experience.

Detail-focused with strong analytical skills.

Strong stakeholder and communication skills.

Desirable Skills

HR/payroll systems experience.

Compensation and benefits exposure.

European multi-country payroll experience.

Advanced Excel or payroll reporting skills.

Duties

• Manage and process the in-house UK payroll accurately, on time, and compliantly.
• Review, validate, and approve outputs from SDWorx payroll providers in Belgium and the Netherlands.
• Serve as the main contact for regional payroll queries.
• Meet internal and statutory payroll deadlines.
• Perform payroll reconciliations and variance analysis.
• Investigate discrepancies and resolve issues promptly.
• Maintain payroll controls to protect data accuracy and integrity.
• Review and sign off payroll reports before payment processing.
• Ensure payroll compliance with local legislation and regulations.
• Keep current with tax, employment, and payroll legislation.
• Support audits with required documentation and explanations.
• Ensure GDPR and data security compliance in payroll processing.
• Manage external payroll provider relationships.
• Monitor SLAs and escalate issues.
• Support smooth payroll operations with HR, Finance, and stakeholders.
• Support HR/payroll system implementation and optimisation.
• Improve payroll efficiency and accuracy.
• Assist with upgrades, testing, and documentation.
• Identify automation opportunities.
• Support compensation and benefits, including allowances, bonuses, and deductions.
• Ensure reward programmes integrate accurately into payroll.
• Assist with benefits administration.