Payroll & Benefit Specialist

About us

Carina facilitates the growth and development of software companies in the energy and resources sector through acquisitions that empower existing leadership to facilitate long-term sustainable growth. Become a leader in enabling companies to manage their opportunities. Carina is a global portfolio company with the drive to grow.

About the role

The Payroll and Benefits Specialist will work with the Finance team to complete the payroll processes for multiple business units, ensuring the proper and timely execution of the monthly payrolls and accurate and timely administration of the benefits infrastructure.

This role will ensure the accurate and timely processing of payroll and benefits administration for employees while ensuring compliance with payroll legislation, and in support of the HR and Finance teams with payroll related matters. This role requires outstanding time management skills, the ability to stay organized in a fast-paced environment and being serious about ensuring employees are treated as customers.

Requirement

Payroll

• Actively participate in ongoing reporting including month-end and year-end activities including reconciliation and reporting to HMRC.
• Liaise with each business unit to gather payroll changes and ensure correct documentation, escalating any concerns
• Respond effectively to payroll requests from government agencies and auditors.
• Maintain payroll data "back up" including, but not limited to, information related to employee new hires, leavers, taxable benefits, commissions, bonuses, expenses, benefit deductions and stock purchase plans to justify payroll processing and for auditing purposes
• Input data, for multiple business units, full-cycle monthly payrolls including the administration of PAYE, National Insurance, pension contributions, and other deductions to prepare for approvals.
• Knowledge and experience of preparing payslips, P45s, P60s, and P11Ds.
• Preparing monthly payroll reports for HR and Finance or as requested.
• Work effectively with various departments to provide solutions and follow-up using well-developed problem-solving skills.
• Ensure compliance with UK government legislation and tax requirements which will affect the UK payrolls.
• Ensure accurate and timely delivery of funding requirements to the finance team in order to process payroll in a timely manner
• Set up and transition payroll services in the UK as new acquisitions come on board or as internal requirements are needed

Benefits

• Set up and maintain the health and other voluntary benefit programs for new enrollees and removing employees who have left. Currently our benefits programs are unique within each business.
• Assist in harmonizing benefits where possible under the direction of the HR Director, UK.
• Maintain information for employees that is easily accessible and current for each business unit.
• Conduct reconciliations for benefits program to ensure costs are allocated appropriately and any employee movements are captured.
• Identify any items that need to be accounted for as a benefit in kind through payroll
• Assist in ordering items such as eye care vouchers as requested.
• Set up and transition benefits brokers as required in coordination with new acquisitions or internal changes.
• Work with vendors, brokers and others to be up to date on emerging trends and benefit considerations for teams for both additions and deletions in offerings.
• Understand how to advise and administer any benefit supported leave programs.

Overall

• Maintain strict confidentiality with all data.
• Help others where possible, share your knowledge and be supportive with employees with sensitive, personal data.
• Ability to produce and optimize regular processes/project manage payroll and benefit processing.

Experience

• Minimum 3+ years of payroll experience in a UK-based role.
• CIPP qualification (e.g., Advanced Payroll Technician) preferred.
• Strong understanding of UK payroll legislation and statutory requirements.
• Highly organized with a very high degree of data accuracy, sense of urgency/responsibility for time sensitive processing requirements
• Familiarity with GDPR and data protection in payroll processes.
• Experience of answering managers and employee payroll queries.
• Experience of using in-house payroll systems, Sage 50 experience is desirable.
• Knowledge or ambition to learn and process other country payrolls (specifically Norway, Sweden, Finland).

Qualifications

• Payroll Technician Certificate or equivalent.
• Strong qualifications in Maths and English, or equivalents.
• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Processing (CIPP) is desirable.
• Intermediate to high level Microsoft Excel skills.

Technical Competencies

• Problem Solving:ability to understand and interpret complex payroll challenges. Finding solutions that are effective and minimum cost while maintaining compliance to government regulations.
• Confidentiality and Discretion: deal with employee data and maintain confidentially with sensitive employee situations.
• Organisation and multi-tasking: ability to manage multiple payrolls and deadlines, escalating issues and priorities as needed.
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills: ability to provide a customer centric approach to managers and employees queries.
• Attention to Detail: ensure that data, policies and legal requirements are adhered to.