HR and Payroll Assistant

Background

The world around us is experiencing significant change, the greatest in generations. 

At Motion Applied, we're accelerating the response to that change. Our vision is that our people and technologies will pioneer a better future.  Our mission is to achieve breakthroughs in performance.

We're at the cutting edge of innovation in markets including motorsport, automotive, electrification and transportation. We create solutions that drive performance, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. We want to help to reduce the carbon footprint and become more sustainable.  

Purpose of the Role

The HR and Payroll Assistant will be responsible for the accurate and timely delivery of UK payroll for Motion Applied, supporting approximately 300 employees. In addition, they will provide a high-quality, proactive HR administrative service across the employee lifecycle, ensuring data integrity and a seamless employee experience.

Principal Accountabilities

Payroll Responsibilities

• Manage the complete monthly payroll cycle for approximately 300 employees, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery in collaboration with our payroll provider, ADP.
• Act as the first point of contact for payroll-related queries, offering clear and responsive support to employees and internal stakeholders.
• Liaise directly with ADP to process statutory documentation including P45s, HMRC starter checklists, and statutory payments (SMP, SPP, SSP).
• Collaborate with the Finance Manager to review and validate payroll reports and ensure data integrity.
• Administer pension contributions and compliance, including monthly uploads via the pension portal.
• Manage salary sacrifice schemes such as electric vehicle leasing, cycle to work, childcare vouchers, and pension contributions.
• Run monthly reports from Bamboo and upload to ADP, including sickness, unpaid leave, and benefit deductions.
• Assist with entering additional payments or adjustments into ADP and chase missing information as needed.

HR Administration

• Serve as the HRIS lead for Applied, ensuring accurate employee data, system maintenance, and first-line support for HRIS queries.
• Deliver flawless HR administration including contracts, offer letters, reference requests, change letters, and leaver documentation via DocuSign.
• Coordinate onboarding for new starters, including right-to-work checks, system setup, and induction scheduling.
• Oversee the leaver process and track fixed-term and contractor end dates, notifying managers of upcoming changes.
• Maintain up-to-date electronic personnel files and support continuous improvement in HR processes.
• Act as the main point of contact for HR reporting requests, including preparing accurate data sets for statutory reports such as Gender Pay Gap reporting.
• Administer employee benefits such as private medical cover, pension contributions, and salary sacrifice schemes.
• Liaise with benefit providers and ensure timely updates to employee records.
• Support the HR Advisor and Finance Manager with monthly payroll reconciliation and reporting.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Experience in a fast-paced environment with strong organisational and multitasking skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Demonstrable experience with UK payroll systems; ADP experience preferred.
• Familiarity with HRIS platforms and employee lifecycle processes.
• Working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practices.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Up-to-date understanding of HMRC regulations.
• High attention to detail and commitment to confidentiality and data protection.

What we can offer you 

In return for everything you bring to the table, we can ensure an exciting, challenging role in a dynamic business surrounded by some of the best people in their respective fields.

At McLaren Applied we firmly believe it's the relationships and friendships we create while working that make us special. We're also aware that the world is changing and we are part of that change. We all want and need different things from our work and home lives, so, if you have commitments outside of work, we're open to talking through flexible working options that work for you and us.

• Annual leave (25 days + bank holidays, pro-rated for part time colleagues).
• Enhanced Company Maternity, Paternity and Adoption leave and pay.
• Flexible working policies, including Hybrid Working.
• Life assurance to the value of 4 times base salary
• Opportunity to join the McLaren Applied Pension Plan
• Company funded individual private healthcare with the opportunity to extend to partner or spouse and/or dependents at a discounted rate.
• Electric car scheme – opportunity to drive a brand-new car in a more affordable way through this salary sacrifice scheme. Employees are eligible to join the scheme after successful competition of their probationary period.

Who we are

McLaren Applied are a medium-sized tech firm spun out of McLaren Group. We're looking for people who will thrive in a non-hierarchical, growth-orientated company, self-starters who are flexible and somewhat entrepreneurial in their approach.

McLaren Applied are committed to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) and promote DEI in all we do. McLaren Applied are also members of the UK Government Disability Confident Scheme.