Full job descriptionSenior Payroll Administrator
*Salary: £40,000 - £50,000 per annum
*Location: Central London
*Job Type: Full-time
Join our payroll team at a prestigious location in London, where we manage payroll processing and compliance for a diverse portfolio of clients. As a Payroll Client Manager, you will take ownership of a multi-client caseload, running payrolls end-to-end and acting as the primary point of contact for client payroll queries. This hands-on role extends beyond processing; you will scope and onboard new clients, advise on payroll matters such as salary sacrifice and benefits in kind, and ensure a busy, deadline-driven caseload runs smoothly.
Day-to-day of the role:
*Payroll Processing: Run end-to-end payroll for a portfolio of clients using BrightPay or similar multi-client payroll software, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery. Process starters, leavers, statutory payments (SMP, SPP, SSP) and other payroll variations. Manage RTI submissions and ensure compliance with HMRC reporting deadlines.
*Auto-Enrolment & Pensions: Administer auto-enrolment duties and pension contributions across schemes including NEST, Smart Pension and The People’s Pension. Manage assessments, enrolments, opt-outs and re-enrolment activities.
*Client Relationship Management: Act as the primary contact for client payroll queries, providing clear and timely advice. Attend client meetings and calls to discuss payroll matters and resolve issues. Build strong client relationships, developing a thorough understanding of each client’s business and proactively identifying potential issues.
*New Client Onboarding: Scope and onboard new payroll clients, gathering all relevant information to ensure accurate and compliant payroll setup. Liaise with clients and previous providers to ensure seamless payroll transitions.
*Advisory & Compliance: Advise clients on payroll matters including salary sacrifice arrangements, National Insurance categories and benefits in kind. Maintain a strong understanding of payroll legislation and compliance requirements. Use workflow and practice management systems such as Karbon, or similar software, to manage deadlines and deliverables effectively.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
*Experience & Qualifications: Minimum 5 years’ payroll experience, ideally within a bureau, practice, or multi-client environment. Proven experience managing your own portfolio of payroll clients. Confident working independently and taking ownership of client relationships and payroll delivery.
*Technical Skills: Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, pensions, statutory payments and HMRC compliance requirements. Experience using BrightPay or similar payroll software is highly desirable.
*Organisation and Deadline Management: Excellent organisational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple client pay runs and statutory deadlines effectively.
*Communication and Advisory Skills: Comfortable being the direct point of contact for client queries, not just processing in the background. Able to handle complex payroll queries confidently and independently. Client-facing, with the ability to build and manage relationships directly.
Benefits:
*Opportunity to manage a varied portfolio of clients.
*Autonomy within a supportive and collaborative team environment.
*Exposure to advisory work as well as payroll processing.
*Ongoing professional development and opportunities to expand technical expertise.