Payroll Senior Specialist

We’re looking for an experienced Payroll Senior Specialist to join our friendly and collaborative Payroll team. Reporting to the Payroll Team Leader, you’ll play an important role in delivering accurate and timely in‑house payrolls across our UK sites. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working with detail, supporting others, and contributing to continuous improvement.

This is a part-time role (15 to 22.5 hours per week), to include all day Friday (08:30 to 17:00); the remaining hours are to be agreed taking into account the needs of the department.

City: Hexham (UK)    Contract Type: Part-time     Job-Code: 6449   Department: Other Finance / Administration  

What you’ll be doing

In this role, you will take responsibility for a wide range of payroll activities, ensuring excellent service to colleagues and stakeholders. Your key responsibilities will include:

Key Responsibilities

• Accurately process payroll data each pay period, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and internal timelines.
• Manage the full payroll employee lifecycle, including new starters and leavers.
• Complete payroll data input including payments, deductions, absences and adjustments.
• Process HMRC submissions and retrievals.
• Create and upload BACS files.
• Issue payslips, P60s and P11Ds through ESS, mobile app or via post.
• Reconcile payroll data and support audit activities.
• Maintain up‑to‑date payroll schedules and employee records.
• Monitor team mailboxes and respond promptly to payroll‑related queries.
• Support process improvements, system testing, and quality/risk management.
• Provide subject matter expertise to the Payroll Specialist, including legislation, policies and processes.
• Coach and develop the Payroll Specialist through feedback, training and skills development.
• Take ownership of your own professional development.
• Provide guidance and training to managers and supervisors on payroll‑related queries.

What we’re looking for

We’re keen to hear from you if you bring:

• Experience in a similar payroll role.
• Strong end‑to‑end payroll processing knowledge.
• Ability to manually calculate payroll payments and deductions accurately.
• Experience with SAP payroll (desirable but not essential).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage workloads and meet deadlines.
• Confidence working independently and solving problems.
• Good working knowledge of GDPR principles with a high degree of personal integrity and confidentiality.
• Strong IT skills, including high proficiency in Excel.

Why join us?

You’ll be part of a supportive team where your expertise will be valued, and your development encouraged. This is a role where you can make a real impact — improving processes, sharing your knowledge, and helping shape the service we deliver across the business.

We Offer

Join Northumberland’s largest family-owned manufacturing employer, where employee wellbeing, health and safety are at the heart of everything we do. We’re committed to delivering excellence in quality, customer service, sustainability, and environmental responsibility. You’ll benefit from a competitive pension and benefits package, a rewarding and diverse role, and access to cutting-edge technology and systems. From a thorough induction to ongoing professional development, we support your growth every step of the way.

Other benefits include:

• A competitive salary and pension scheme (with Life Assurance).
• Private Health Cash Plan.
• An annual Christmas bonus and gift.
• Annual lifestyle and wellbeing checks. 
• The chance to work for an international business operating across 11 countries.
• 26.5 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
• Subsidised school holiday kids clubs.
• An environmental and sustainability focused employer.
• Tailored training and career development opportunities.
• The opportunity to take part in a range of employee wellbeing initiatives.
• On-site restaurant.
• Access to free fruit on a weekly basis.
• Free parking in a secure staff car park.

Applications close on 13 February 2026

Your Contact

Philip Maloney, HR, T +44 1434 613361