Senior Payroll Officer jobs

Role – Payroll Manager (PM)

Reporting to - Client Director

Salary (depending on level and experience)

• £35,000 to £40,000 (Payroll Manager)
• £40,000 to £45,000 (Senior Payroll Manager)

Location – Remote, working from home (UK)

Job description

To support the expansion of our accounting service delivery teams and provide expert payroll, pension, and benefits advice, we are seeking a Payroll Manager to join our growing firm.

This role brings specialist experience and expertise to an area that is critical to our clients’ businesses, ensuring we can deliver reliable, efficient, and compliant payroll services as our client base continues to scale.

There is the opportunity to influence and enhance payroll processes, helping to improve efficiency and client service delivery, while championing the integration and continuous improvement of payroll systems and technology. This includes exploring, testing, and leading the implementation of new UK and US payroll platforms or tools as Onside’s client base evolves, ensuring the function remains efficient, scalable and tech-driven.

Payroll Manager responsibilities

• Manage and prepare monthly payroll for a portfolio of clients using BrightPay Cloud.
• Process pay, deductions, statutory payments, and complex payroll scenarios accurately and on time.
• Take full ownership of payroll payments, ensuring that salaries, pensions, and associated deductions are processed accurately and on time each month.
• Ensure all RTI submissions and other HMRC reporting are filed on time.
• Proactively investigate any discrepancies between HMRC figures and payroll records, liaising directly with HMRC when necessary.
• Administer workplace pension schemes, including auto-enrolment, salary sacrifice arrangements, and compliance requirements.
• Take ownership of P11D compliance, including preparation and filing.
• Monitor payroll and pension service billing, ensuring fees remain up to date.
• Oversee the delivery of pay slips and, for certain clients, upload payroll payment files into Apron, Onside’s payments solution.
• Maintain accurate payroll integrations with Xero and collaborate with accounting teams to ensure reporting consistency.

Skills and experience required

• Qualified by experience or working towards / holding a recognised payroll or accounting qualification (e.g. CIPP or Level 4 or equivalent).
• You will have 3+ years of payroll experience, ideally within a UK accounting practice or bureau environment.
• Confident working within a modern, paperless practice environment.
• Demonstrate deep knowledge of payroll systems such as BrightPay Cloud and HMRC requirements.
• Strong experience in administering pensions, benefits and statutory payments is essential, along with the ability to communicate these processes clearly to colleagues and clients.
• You must be capable of prioritising and managing multiple client workloads in a remote and flexible working environment.

What’s on offer

• Home-based, flexible working
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP), offering wellbeing support and advice.
• Additional days’ paid leave for your birthday
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• All new joiners are paired with a buddy, to ensure you feel supported from day one!
• Staff referral bonus scheme
• Ongoing training, support, and progression opportunities
• Annual performance reviews with discretionary bonus scheme
• Bi-annual company meet-ups

You must be resident in and have the legal right to work in the UK.

If you are interested in this Payroll Manager position, or would like further information, please contact Leah Mason-Wilson at Onside Accounting leah.mason-wilson@onsideaccounting.com.

Pay: £35,000.00-£40,000.00 per year

Application question(s):

• What Payroll Software have you used?
• How many days a week do you work from home?

Work Location: Remote