Payroll Specialist

Sustainable Energy First

Payroll Specialist at SE First responsible for delivering seamless payroll processes in a growing sustainability consultancy. Ensuring compliance and data integrity while enhancing payroll operations.

Posted 6/12/2026full-timeFulwood • 🇬🇧 United KingdomMid-LevelSenior💰 £35,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Join SE First as a Payroll Specialist and take ownership of delivering seamless, end-to-end payroll across a dynamic and growing organisation.
This role is at the heart of ensuring accuracy, compliance, and data integrity, while introducing strong controls that reduce risk and elevate payroll operations.
With increasing scale and complexity, you’ll play a key role in shaping a consistent, auditable process and delivering an outstanding experience for every employee.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Take full ownership of end-to-end payroll processing across multiple payroll cycles
Ensure all payroll inputs are accurate, approved, and delivered on time
Manage complex calculations including salary changes, bonuses, commissions, statutory payments, and deductions
Oversee all employee lifecycle changes, including starters, leavers, and amendments
Lead year-end processes, ensuring accurate delivery of P60s, P11Ds, and benefit reporting
Champion compliance with UK payroll legislation, including PAYE, NIC, and statutory requirements (SSP, SMP, SPP, etc.)
Own all HMRC reporting (RTI submissions, FPS/EPS), ensuring accuracy and timeliness
Maintain audit-ready processes with clear documentation and strong controls
Stay ahead of legislative changes, embedding best practice across payroll operations
Support internal and external audits with confidence and precision
Maintain high-quality payroll data across HRIS (HiBob) and payroll systems
Reconcile payroll with People and Finance data, ensuring consistency and accuracy
Proactively identify and resolve discrepancies
Deliver reliable payroll data to support finance reporting and people insights
Perform rigorous end-to-end payroll checks before final sign-off
Embed and maintain strong controls to drive accuracy and minimise risk
Quickly investigate and resolve payroll queries and issues
Ensure consistent oversight across the payroll cycle to protect business operations
Act as the go-to expert for payroll queries, providing clear and timely guidance
Build strong relationships with employees, managers, and key stakeholders
Manage external payroll providers, ensuring high service standards and accuracy
Collaborate closely with People Operations and Finance teams
Manage pension contributions and ensure compliance with auto-enrolment requirements
Support payroll-related benefits administration, including salary sacrifice schemes
Reconcile deductions, manage third-party payments, and ensure accurate reporting
Identify opportunities to enhance payroll efficiency, accuracy, and experience
Support system improvements and HRIS/payroll integration initiatives
Contribute to wider People Operations improvement projects
Play an active role in key initiatives such as system implementations, TUPE transfers, and policy changes

Benefits

Comp & perks

Salary: £35,000
Holidays: 25 days + bank holidays + 🥳 your birthday off, increasing to 30 days on length of service
Hybrid working (at least 2 days per week working from our Fulwood, Preston office)
Flexible working - including the ability to bank up to to 5 extra days off per year
Gym contribution
Long service awards
Private Medical Insurance
Enhanced paternity/non-pregnant colleague and maternity/pregnant colleague leave
Simply Health scheme
EV Scheme

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

end-to-end payroll processingpayroll calculationsP60sP11DsHMRC reportingRTI submissionspayroll data reconciliationpayroll checkspayroll systems integrationpayroll compliance

Soft Skills

ownershipattention to detailproblem-solvingrelationship buildingcommunicationleadershipcollaborationaccuracyrisk managementaudit support