UK Payroll Manager

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Payroll Professional to join our busy team and support our sites and business across the UK. We are looking for someone to be a champion for change in driving business change initiatives across Kinisla whilst identifying opportunities for business enhancement programmes. The ideal candidate will have a Payroll qualification and a minimum of 5 years’ experience, ideally in similar environment. The position will report to the HR Director.

This person will be accountable for the governance and oversight of in house and outsourced UK payroll services, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery across weekly and monthly cycles. They will act as the key liaison between the business and payroll provider, maintaining strong controls, data integrity, and stakeholder satisfaction.

This role is home-based; however the successful candidate must be free to travel to our UK, NI and Southern Ireland Sites when required.

What will I be doing?

• Act as primary point of contact for in house time and attendance and outsourced payroll provider
• Oversee end-to-end payroll delivery for weekly and monthly payrolls
• Review and validate payroll outputs prior to approval and sign-off
• Ensure compliance with UK statutory payroll legislation (PAYE, NIC, SSP, SMP, pensions, RTI)
• Manage payroll calendar, inputs, and deadlines with internal stakeholders and providers
• Perform payroll validation and reconciliation (e.g. variance analysis, gross-to-net checks)
• Ensure accurate and timely data flow between SAP (MySuccess), Time & Attendance (UKG/Kronos) and payroll provider
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, queries, and escalations
• Maintain robust payroll controls and support audits and compliance reviews
• Drive continuous improvement in payroll processes and vendor performance

What do I need to be successful?

At Kinisla, we understand that people have very different career trajectories and experiences. In order to be successful in this role we would be looking for the right competencies and aptitudes as well as your proven track record of success in a similar role and environment.

These include:

• SAP (MySuccess) (HR/Payroll data and reporting)
• UKG/Kronos Time & Attendance systems
• Advanced Microsoft Excel (data analysis, reconciliation, reporting)
• Experience with ResourceLink with be highly desirable
• Proven experience in UK payroll (oversight or management role)
• Strong knowledge of UK statutory payroll requirements and entitlements
• Experience managing outsourced payroll providers/vendor relationships
• Experience with weekly and monthly payroll cycles
• Advanced Excel skills (e.g. pivot tables, lookups, reconciliations)
• People Management Experience

What will I get in return?

At Kinisla, we believe in giving talented, curious people the opportunity to make a difference. We work as a team, searching for ways to inspire and lead the evolution of dairy, food and nutrition. We are a community of innovators, working across disciplines to solve global food challenges with a fresh approach. We want you to achieve whatever you put your mind to.

We also offer:

• 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays)
• Hybrid working
• Health Care
• Matched pension scheme
• Benefits platform offering discounts and cashback on major retailers.

About Kinisla

Kinisla is a vertically integrated farm-to-fork business with a very substantial consumer foods presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division, delivering high-quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation. From partnering with local family farms to producing world-class dairy products, we ensure every step of our value chain reflects our commitment to excellence.

With over 50 years’ experience in milk processing, dairy and nutritional technology advancement, and product innovation, we are a key stakeholder in the global food industry and creators of a strong portfolio of market leading dairy brands including Cheestrings, Charleville and Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow and our new SMUG range. Our from food, for food culture and deep-rooted connection to our 2,800 milk suppliers differentiates our business and offers captivating opportunities for our customers and consumers.

Our dairy comes from some of the world’s richest grazing land and is produced by a network of Irish family farms that have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, Kinisla is proud to shape the future of dairy while meeting the diverse needs of our farmers, customers, and communities.

Headquartered in Tralee, Co. Kerry, we operate multiple manufacturing facilities in the southwest of Ireland, including Listowel, Charleville, Newmarket, and Farranfore. Additionally, we manage 29 Farm & Home stores throughout the region, ensuring comprehensive coverage and service. In Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, our presence extends to key locations in Portadown, Coleraine, and Ossett.

Globally, Kinisla employs over 1,700 dedicated professionals across Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.

Get in touch today!

At Kinisla, we benefit from the knowledge of our colleagues who bring a diverse range of cultures, backgrounds, lifestyles and experiences. One team fostering an inclusive culture that, above all, inspires and leads the evolution of dairy, food and nutrition. One culture where everyone brings their unique perspectives and experiences to help make us better, together. We are committed to nurturing an environment of positivity and inclusiveness, where everyone can be at their best, both personally and professionally.

Our recruitment, selection and assessment process are based on the skills and competencies of the specific roles and based entirely on merit. We are committed to and value Diversity and Inclusion in all recruitment processes within Kinisla and do not discriminate based on gender, race, class, economic status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, age, political beliefs, veteran status, marital status or any other protected characteristic.

Please note: We do not accept CVs or candidate profiles from recruitment agencies where Kinisla terms of business have not been signed. Additionally, we will not consider or agree to payment of any recruiter fee under these circumstances. This also applies to CVs or candidate profiles sent directly to any Kinisla Hiring Managers.