Hays
Payroll Analyst
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Your new company
Hays Payroll is pleased to be partnering with a well-established and highly regarded organisation that is seeking a Payroll Project Analyst to join its payroll function.
This is an excellent opportunity to support a range of payroll projects, system changes and process improvements within a collaborative and values-led environment. You will play an important role in ensuring payroll changes are delivered accurately, efficiently and in line with agreed controls, timelines and compliance requirements.
Your new role
As Payroll Project Analyst, you will support the planning, coordination and delivery of payroll-related projects, including system upgrades, implementations, process changes, payroll transfers and new scheme onboarding.
Acting as a payroll subject matter expert, your responsibilities will include:
- Supporting payroll projects from initial requirements gathering through to testing, implementation and go-live.
- Working with payroll colleagues, internal departments and external stakeholders to capture requirements and track project actions.
- Maintaining project plans, action logs, risks, issues and progress updates.
- Preparing test scripts and payroll scenarios, supporting user acceptance testing and recording evidence.
- Tracking system defects and supporting their resolution before implementation.
- Assisting with data mapping, cleansing, migration, validation and reconciliation.
- Supporting parallel payroll runs by comparing outputs, investigating variances and documenting findings.
- Producing process maps, procedures, testing records, control documentation and audit evidence.
- Identifying opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls and ways of working.
- Supporting compliance, audit, data management and external reporting activities.
- Providing guidance and training to help colleagues adopt new systems and processes.
- Ensuring payroll information and personal data are handled in line with data protection and information security requirements.
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What you'll need to succeed
- Experience supporting payroll projects, system changes, testing, onboarding or process improvements within a payroll environment.
- A strong understanding of end-to-end payroll processes, statutory requirements and payroll controls.
- Experience working with multiple pay groups or high-volume payrolls.
- Experience preparing test scripts, supporting user acceptance testing and tracking system defects.
- Strong data analysis, reconciliation and variance investigation skills.
- Good payroll systems knowledge, including interfaces and the impact of system or process changes.
- Strong Excel, numeracy and analytical skills.
- The ability to produce clear process documentation, work instructions, action logs and stakeholder updates.
- Excellent attention to detail and a structured approach to project delivery.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- The ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and control.
What you'll get in return
- The opportunity to join a supportive and collaborative payroll team.
- Exposure to complex payroll operations and specialist payroll projects.
- Ongoing professional development and opportunities to broaden your payroll expertise.
- A varied role offering a mix of payroll processing, customer service and project work.
- The chance to contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within a respected organisation.
- A positive and values-led working environment focused on teamwork, innovation and customer service.
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What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
Desired Skills and Experience
- Payroll Project Analyst
- Payroll Projects
- Payroll Transformation
- Payroll Systems
- Payroll Implementation
- UAT Testing
- User Acceptance Testing
- Payroll Change Management
- Payroll Migration
- Data Validation
- Data Reconciliation
- Payroll Controls
- Payroll Compliance
- HMRC Legislation
- Payroll Operations
- Process Improvement
- Continuous Improvement
- Stakeholder Management
- Requirements Gathering
- Defect Tracking
- Parallel Payroll Runs
- Payroll Analytics
- MI Reporting
- Excel
- VLOOKUP
- Data Analysis
- Risk Management
- Audit & Compliance
- Process Documentation
- Payroll SME
- System Upgrades
- Onboarding Projects
- Pension Payroll
- Project Coordination
- Payroll Governance
- Payroll Technology
- Payroll Excellence
- CIPP
- PRINCE2
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk
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