Payroll Officer - Goodman Masson

About the role

Central London| Hybrid Working (3 days office / 2 home) £280-310 per day PAYE (c.£67k permanent equivalent) ? 6-Month Temp to Perm Opportunity A leading global bank based in Central London is seeking an experienced Payroll Officer to join its HR Operations team on a temp-to-perm basis. This is a critical hire within a small, collaborative HR function and would suit someone who enjoys operating in a fast-paced, hands-on environment with broad exposure across the business. The successful candidate will take ownership of end-to-end payroll operations for approximately 760 employees, with additional oversight across international payroll activities. The role requires a proactive individual with strong technical payroll knowledge, excellent attention to detail, and a willingness to "roll their sleeves up" within a highly visible open-office environment. Key Responsibilities - Manage the end-to-end monthly payroll cycle, ensuring accurate and timely salary payments, bonuses, overtime, deductions, and adjustments - Ensure compliance with all UK payroll legislation including HMRC regulations, National Insurance, Auto Enrolment pensions, SSP, SMP, PSA and P11D reporting - Maintain payroll records and employee data in line with GDPR and internal controls - Process and reconcile payroll journals, bank payments, payroll accounts and general ledger entries - Support month-end payroll accounting activities including balance sheet reconciliations - Manage payroll-related submissions including RTI, year-end reporting and statutory filings - Handle payroll queries efficiently, resolving discrepancies in a timely manner - Administer employee benefits processing including season ticket loans, childcare vouchers and bike-to-work schemes - Support pension administration and liaise with pension providers and HMRC - Assist with payroll audits, Head Office reporting requirements and ongoing compliance activity - Work closely with HR, Finance and external tax advisors on global mobility and assignee matters - Contribute to payroll process improvements, automation initiatives and system enhancements Candidate Requirements - Minimum 3 years' payroll experience within financial services, banking, insurance or a similarly regulated environment - Proven experience managing end-to-end payroll processes independently - Strong understanding of UK payroll legislation and employment taxes - Experience with PSA, P11Ds and benefits processing - Exposure to international payrolls or global mobility arrangements is highly desirable, particularly across Europe or APAC - Strong Excel skills including VLOOKUPs, pivot tables and data manipulation - Experience using payroll systems such as SDWorx, Sage, ADP or similar platforms - Understanding of payroll accounting, journals and reconciliations - CIPP qualification (completed or studying towards) beneficial - Excellent communication skills with the confidence to engage across teams and senior stakeholders - Highly organised, resilient and comfortable working in a busy open-plan environment with frequent interruptions Personal Attributes - Strong attention to detail and high level of accuracy - Proactive and solutions-focused approach - Collaborative and team-oriented mindset - Comfortable navigating ambiguity and shifting priorities - High level of integrity and confidentiality - Driven to improve processes and deliver quality outcomes - Able to build strong working relationships across HR, Finance and Operations Working Arrangements & Interview Process - Hybrid working model: 3 days in the office / 2 days from home