Payroll Specialist - London

We’re looking for a Payroll Specialist to make sure everyone is paid accurately, on time, and in compliance, every time. You’ll run payroll across our operating locations, work with external providers and local advisers, and act as the trusted point of contact for employees on pay queries. You’ll work closely with Finance and the Compensation & Benefits Manager so that payroll data, costs, and reporting are accurate and reconciled.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Processing

• Run end-to-end monthly (and any other cycle) payroll for all operating locations, from data collection to payment and payslip distribution

• Process starters, leavers, promotions, pay changes, overtime, allowances, bonuses, commissions, and equity-related payments

• Manage statutory deductions and payments, including income tax, social contributions, pensions/retirement, and loan or garnishment deductions

• Run pre- and post-payroll checks and variance analysis to catch errors before they reach employees

• Handle off-cycle payments, corrections, and expense reimbursements

Multi-Country and Provider Management

• Manage relationships with external payroll providers, bureaus, and local accountants in each country

• Review and challenge payroll providers’ output, checking it against source data before it is submitted or paid

• Coordinate local statutory filings, year-end returns, and tax authority submissions

• Keep up to date with changes to payroll legislation, tax rates, and thresholds in each jurisdiction

• Support the set-up of payroll in new countries as we expand

Finance Partnership

• Provide payroll journals, accruals, and reconciliations to Finance each month and support month-end and year-end close

• Work with the Head of FP&A to provide accurate actuals for people-cost reporting and forecasting

• Partner with the Compensation & Benefits Manager on salary review, bonus, benefits, and pension implementation

• Support audits and respond to queries from auditors and tax authorities

Data, Systems and Compliance

• Maintain the accuracy of payroll data in the HRIS and payroll systems, and own the integration between them

• Maintain payroll policies, procedures, and documented controls, ensuring segregation of duties and data confidentiality

• Ensure compliance with GDPR and local data protection requirements for employee data

• Identify opportunities to automate and improve payroll processes

Employee Support

• Be the first point of contact for payroll, tax code, pension, and payslip queries

• Explain pay calculations clearly and sensitively

• Support managers and People Partners on the payroll implications of changes to employment

Requirements

Essential

• 4-6 years of experience in payroll, ideally running full-cycle payroll in a growing business

• Strong working knowledge of payroll legislation, tax, and statutory deductions in relevant jurisdictions

• Advanced Excel/Google Sheets skills, with the ability to reconcile and analyse large data sets

• Experience working with HRIS and payroll systems (e.g. ADP, Papaya Global, Deel, Xero, Sage, BambooHR)

• Exceptional attention to detail, with a record of accuracy under tight deadlines

• Strong judgment and discretion when handling confidential data

• Clear communication skills, with the ability to explain pay topics simply

Desirable

• Experience managing multi-country payroll through external providers

• Experience in fintech, technology, or a high-growth environment

• Experience with equity, share option, and bonus payroll processing

• Understanding of payroll accounting and journals

• Professional qualification such as CIPP, CIPD, or equivalent payroll qualification

• Experience with payroll audits and internal controls

Key Competencies

• Accurate, methodical, and reliable

• Strong ownership and accountability

• Discreet and ethical

• Collaborative with Finance, People, and external partners

• Comfortable working to fixed deadlines

• Continuous improvement mindset