Senior Payroll Specialist

We are currently seeking a skilled and experienced payroll professional to join our team in Ireland.

The role involves delivering a managed payroll service to clients in a professional, friendly, efficient manner leading to continued business retention and growth as well as support your colleagues, offering guidance and appropriate assistance as and when necessary.

You will also support and on occasion deputise for the Operations Team Manager (OTM) – liaising and communicating appropriately and effectively with team members, managers and other contacts alike.

Key Responsibilities:

• Effectively plan and manage own workload, managing, servicing and delivering clients payrolls to agreed deadlines.
• Validating and inputting data received to agreed deadlines.
• Checking inputted data and making all relevant corrections before the live run
• Handling routine, non-routine and complex customer queries regarding payroll and HR related issues. This will include liaising with both internal and external contacts like team leaders, Tax Office etc.
• Manage and support the customer in the processing of their payrolls to ensure payments/reports to employees are made accurately and on time.
• Ensuring all tasks associated with each payroll in the team are performed within agreed deadlines
• Writing ad hoc reports / exports to agreed deadlines and costing appropriately
• Managing all aspects of Tax Year end processing for their customer base
• Communicating effectively to customers (internal & external) on an appropriate basis
• Provision and delivery of their performance statistics to the team leader on a monthly basis to meet team leader reporting requirements.
• Actively looking for improvements that could drive process efficiencies and profitability.
• Contribute effectively to Team Meetings, completing tasks and giving updates where necessary.
• Deputising as and when necessary for the Operations Team Manager – this includes liaison and response to SDM/ Operations Manager's requests, working side by side with the other OTM's and having the confidence (backed by OTM delegation) to make relevant decisions.
• Supporting the OTM in managing team performance – identifying development needs within the team and assisting in the development of others.
• Supporting and sharing knowledge with colleagues to contribute to the effectiveness of the team and to achieve the location's success. This may include providing cover for other team members as and when necessary.
• Actively involving colleagues in relevant tasks or projects.
• Using initiative to explore ways to improve processes, performance and aspects of their role.
• Actively share and promote best practice methodologies throughout the Service Centre.
• To actively support the SDM/ Operations Manager in improving colleague engagement across the department.
• To take responsibility for own personal development plan in line with Company objectives and values
• Offer guidance and direction and assist the team with difficult payroll issues.
• Ensure payroll delivery meets all governance, legal and compliance standards.
• Continuous Improvement of processes and practices.
• Consistent review of system level controls and reconciliation
• Support any / all internal and external payroll audits.
• Excellent knowledge of Irish payroll including statutory payments and pension plans.
• Coordination of Taxes / Social Charges, Pensions, Insurance payments.
• Distribute payment statements (digital or paper).
• Manage client relationships.
• Collect daily, weekly, or monthly timesheets.
• Process bi-weekly, weekly monthly, quarterly, and annual payrolls in accordance with payroll cycle.
• Accountable for collection and processing of client monthly payroll instructions and monitoring results and validating accuracy.
• Prepare employees' compensation by the end of each pay period using payroll software.
• Carry out payroll checks are required.
• Coordination of Taxes/Social Charges, Pensions, Insurance payments.
• Respond to / address HR and / or employee queries arising on supported payrolls.
• Keep informed and trained on latest payroll regulations / updates for entities supported.
• Ensure compliance with Data Privacy and Protection Guidelines (GDPR)
• Schedule bank payments.
• Distribute payment statements (digital or paper).
• Report on payroll costs.
• Ensure wages and tax withholdings comply with regulations.
• Enter new employees' data (e.g. bank accounts and tax identification numbers) into internal databases.
• Answer questions about compensation, benefits, taxes and insurance deductions

Requirements:

• Experience of working in a volume-based payroll operations environment
• IPASS qualified or in the process of becoming qualified
• Demonstrable written and verbal communication skills using a variety of media dependant on the situation.
• Demonstrable knowledge of PC literacy and software usage of Word and Excel
• Experience in up to date and upcoming changes to payroll legislation. Can actively share updates from payroll sources including HMRC Podcasts, HMRC Employer Bulletin, The Chartered Institution of Payroll Professionals (CIPP)
• A visible commitment to quality processes and the ability to challenge and influence change (if necessary) to established procedures.
• Demonstrable experience within a customer service environment and ability to prioritise conflicting workloads
• Has been involved in the day to day operation of a payroll department.
• Actively involved in running payroll, filing returns and dealing with employee queries.
• Strong maths skills with an ability to spot numerical errors.
• Ability to handle confidential information and prioritise and handle a high volume of Payroll Team queries.
• A clear, fast thinker who displays great attention to detail and analytical ability.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to work on own initiative and perform well under pressure with tight deadlines.
• Works well under pressure
• UK payroll experience, while not a necessity, would be an advantage.

What We Offer:

• A dynamic hybrid environment: a minimum of 1 day in the office (other 4 days are flexible on working from home or office - whatever works for you)
• 25 days holiday + public holidays (including the ability to buy an additional 5 days holiday)
• Pension (6% matched)
• Medical healthcare - employee or cash option
• Workation: possibility to work from any SD Worx location (4 weeks per year, EU only)
• Referral program
• Learning opportunities: through an individual development plan and professional training
• Career growth: whether you want to become more of an expert in your field or want to expand your knowledge more horizontally, there is always room to grow within SD Worx