Payroll and Benefits Adviser

Payroll & Benefits Adviser

Competitive | Full-time | Permanent | London

A leading educational foundation is seeking an experienced Payroll & Benefits Adviser to join its established HR & Payroll function. This is a key role supporting the delivery of accurate, compliant and high‑quality payroll services across multiple payrolls, while deputising for the Payroll Manager and taking ownership of the monthly payroll for c.200 employees.

This position offers the opportunity to work within a collaborative, professional environment where accuracy, integrity and strong stakeholder relationships are essential.

The Role

You will play a central part in ensuring the smooth running of monthly payrolls and benefits administration across the organisation. Acting as the Payroll Manager’s deputy, you will take responsibility for the end‑to‑end payroll cycle for one of the organisation’s core payrolls, while supporting wider payroll operations and statutory reporting.

Key responsibilities include:

• End-to-end monthly payroll processing for c.200 employees, ensuring accuracy, compliance and timely delivery.
• Supporting multiple Foundation payrolls, working closely with the Payroll Manager.
• Managing sickness absence processing and reporting, ensuring accurate data capture and statutory compliance.
• Administering pension schemes, including salary sacrifice arrangements and employee enrolment support.
• Responding to payroll and pension queries, providing clear guidance to employees and managers.
• Producing monthly payroll reports, headcount data, reconciliations and management information.
• Supporting statutory submissions, including gender pay gap and ONS reporting.
• Coordinating staff benefits, such as healthcare and cash plan schemes.
• Working in partnership with HR, ensuring data accuracy and seamless integration between HR and payroll systems.

About You

You will be an experienced payroll professional with strong technical knowledge, excellent attention to detail and the confidence to deputise for a Payroll Manager when required.

Essential experience:

• Proven experience running end-to-end UK payrolls.
• Strong understanding of payroll legislation, statutory payments and HMRC processes.
• Experience using multiple HR and payroll systems.
• Confident with Excel and reporting tools.
• Knowledge of pensions, salary sacrifice and benefits administration.
• Ability to manage deadlines, solve problems and communicate effectively across teams.

Desirable experience:

• Exposure to salary sacrifice pension schemes.
• Experience within multi‑payroll or multi‑entity environments.
• Familiarity with systems such as Oasis, iTrent, or Business Objects.

Personal Attributes

• High levels of integrity and discretion.
• Calm, resilient and able to work under pressure.
• Collaborative, approachable and confident building strong internal relationships.
• Detail‑driven with excellent organisational skills.

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INDPAYS

The Portfolio Group are acting on behalf of our client in recruiting for this position.