PAYROLL SPECIALIST in Portsmouth, Hampshire

Payroll Specialist

Location:                          Dorset/Hampshire

Hours:                               37.5 hours a week (Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:30pm)

Salary:                               Circa £35,000 (Depending on Experience)

Contract:                          Full time, Permanent

About the Opportunity

Partnering with world renowned brands, our client process millions of customer interactions each year and are widely recognised for their people-centric workplace culture, professional development pathways, and comprehensive employee rewards.

In this pivotal position, you will take ownership of ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely end-to-end payroll delivery across both UK and European operations. Working alongside external outsourced payroll providers and internal HR stakeholders, you will maintain meticulous data integrity, perform variance analysis, handle complex calculations, and serve as a trusted subject matter expert for employee enquiries.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a detail-driven payroll professional seeking career stability, broad international payroll exposure, and a supportive, collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-End Payroll Operations: Support the accurate preparation, processing, and validation of multi-site payrolls across the UK and Spain.
• Calculations & Statutory Compliance: Execute accurate PAYE, National Insurance (NI), Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), and pension contribution calculations in line with statutory requirements.
• Reconciliations & Variance Analysis: Prepare thorough payroll reconciliations, conduct variance checks, and investigate discrepancies prior to sign-off.
• Provider & Stakeholder Liaison: Collaborate closely with outsourced third-party payroll providers to ensure seamless service delivery and resolve complex payroll queries.
• Employee Support & Query Resolution: Act as an approachable point of contact for staff, providing clear, empathetic guidance on tax, deductions, and pay enquiries.
• Process Governance & Reporting: Maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), assist with payroll reporting, and support continuous process improvement projects.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking an analytical, self-motivated payroll professional with strong technical UK payroll expertise and excellent communication skills.

Key Qualifications & Experience:

• Proven Payroll Track Record: 3+ years of hands-on payroll processing experience, with deep practical knowledge of UK statutory payroll legislation.
• Statutory Knowledge: Proficient in handling PAYE, NI, SSP, SMP, and workplace pension scheme administration.
• Advanced Excel Capabilities: High level of competency using Advanced Excel for data reconciliation and variance analysis (specifically Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP / VLOOKUP, and SUMIFS).
• Third-Party Provider Experience: Demonstrable background working alongside outsourced payroll vendor models.
• Communication & Stakeholder Skills: Excellent verbal and written English communication, with the confidence to liaise effectively across departments and with external partners.
• International Exposure (Desirable): Prior experience or exposure to European/Spanish payrolls is advantageous, but full training on region-specific rules will be provided.

What the Business Offers

• Competitive Remuneration: Attractively benchmarked salary tailored to your level of payroll expertise and qualifications.
• Professional Growth & Study Support: Structured onboarding, continuous skills training, and study assistance options for professional qualifications.
• Exceptional Corporate Perks: Generous annual leave entitlement, workplace pension scheme, health and wellbeing initiatives, and exclusive employee reward discounts.
• Workplace Culture: Join an inclusive, values-driven business that actively promotes agility, care, integrity, and teamwork.

How to Apply

If you are an experienced Payroll Specialist looking to advance your career with an established global business in Dorset or Hampshire, please submit your CV today for immediate consideration