Payroll Manager

Who Are Absolute Taste and What Do We Do?

We are an innovative culinary and customer service provider, dedicated to delivering inspirational food and experiences that redefine customer satisfaction. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for pushing boundaries, we continue to grow from strength to strength. As a small, dynamic team of event professionals, we specialize in creating exciting, well-managed, and sustainable events, while fostering strong working relationships. We're looking for individuals who share our fun, resilient, and hardworking values to join our supportive, high-performing team. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a highly regarded organisation dedicated to success and a positive, empowering culture.

About The Role

As Payroll Manager, you’ll take ownership of end-to-end payroll across Absolute Taste, ensuring our people are paid accurately, on time and in compliance with all statutory requirements. Based in Bicester, you’ll manage multiple payrolls, working closely with HR and Finance to oversee payroll changes, pensions, benefits, reconciliations and queries. You’ll also drive process improvements, maintain strong controls and ensure an excellent payroll service across the business.

Location: Bicester, Oxfordshire

As a Payroll Manager, your key responsibilities will be:

• Take full ownership of the end-to-end payroll process for Absolute Taste, ensuring multiple payrolls are processed accurately, on time and in accordance with statutory requirements.
• Prepare, validate and process payroll data, including new starters, leavers, contractual changes, salary amendments, overtime, statutory payments, deductions and benefits.
• Ensure payroll records are maintained accurately and in line with HMRC legislation, pension auto-enrolment requirements, GDPR and company policies.
• Administer workplace pension processes, including enrolment, contributions, opt-ins/opt-outs, reconciliations and liaison with pension providers.
• Act as the subject matter expert for payroll, providing advice and guidance on payroll legislation, compliance and best practice to managers, HR and Finance.
• Build effective working relationships with employees, line managers and key stakeholders, providing a professional and responsive service while resolving payroll queries in a timely manner.
• Complete payroll reconciliations, reporting and year-end activities, ensuring all submissions are accurate and deadlines are met.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls and efficiencies, implementing continuous improvements where appropriate.
• Work closely with HR and Finance to ensure employee data is accurate and payroll changes are processed correctly throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Support, coach and provide day-to-day guidance to the HR & Payroll Administrator, ensuring payroll administration activities are completed accurately and to agreed timescales.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times when handling sensitive employee and payroll information.
• Keep up to date with changes in payroll legislation and employment-related regulations, ensuring ongoing compliance across payroll operations.