Assistant Manager Payroll and Expenses UK

Why Join Us?

We’re looking for an Assistant Payroll Manager who thrives in a collaborative, friendly team environment and brings technical expertise with a flexible, dedicated approach. This is a fantastic opportunity to work on complex, multi-entity payroll across UK & Ireland, supporting over 15 divisions and managing payroll for thousands of employees. If you enjoy problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, and delivering excellence under tight deadlines, this role is for you.

About the Role

You’ll assist the Country Payroll Manager in delivering a best-in-class payroll service for UK & Ireland, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and efficiency. This role combines hands-on payroll expertise, team leadership, and strategic projects, including international mobility, expense policy governance, and system enhancements.

You’ll work closely with HR, Finance, Tax, and external advisors, managing queries and driving improvements while maintaining strong internal controls. Expect plenty of cross-functional meetings, reporting responsibilities, and opportunities to shape payroll processes for a dynamic, growing business.

What You’ll Do

• Ensure accurate and timely payroll for UK & Ireland, including expats/inpats, with full statutory compliance.

• Maintain robust internal controls and audit-ready documentation.

• Support long-term incentive processing (stock, RSUs, share schemes) and HMRC annual returns.

• Liaise with management and external tax advisors for smooth salary and benefits administration.

• Track internationally mobile employees and manage associated statutory reporting.

• Deliver payroll-related presentations at inductions and employee sessions.

• Act as deputy for the Country Payroll Manager when required.

• Lead and motivate payroll team members, ensuring performance and development goals are met.

• Drive system changes, compliance testing, and process improvements.

• Own UK & Ireland expense policy updates and act as SME for expense compliance.

• Support tax compliance projects and company initiatives.

• Collaborate on company car fleet administration and taxation.

• Oversee absence reporting systems and flexible benefits platform data provision.

What We’re Looking For

• Team Player: You’ll join a close-knit, supportive team—strong interpersonal skills are essential.

• Payroll Expertise: Minimum 3 years in a supervisory or management payroll role, ideally multi-site.

• Technical Knowledge: Up-to-date UK tax law (Ireland tax law, an advantage), statutory reporting, and compliance.

• Systems Skills: SaaS payroll platforms, strong Excel (complex formulas), PowerQuery/PowerAutomate a plus.

• Communication: Ability to explain technical payroll/tax issues clearly to all levels.

• Flexibility & Dedication: Comfortable managing multiple priorities and tight deadlines.

• International Exposure: Experience with expats/inpats and mobility tracking is highly desirable.

• Leadership: Proven ability to train, motivate, and manage a small team.

Qualifications:

• Payroll Diploma or equivalent.

• Experience with expense disbursement and tax reporting is an advantage.

What We Offer

Attractive compensation package that includes competitive pay and structure Bonus, as well as benefits such as

• Private Health Insurance

• Occupational Pension Scheme with an excellence contribution rate

• Bonus Target

• Life assurance

• Career Development

• Growing business plus access to many more benefits

• A collaborative, friendly team culture with strong support and development opportunities.

• Exposure to international payroll and compliance projects.