Payroll Manager/Specialist

The department

The Payroll department comprises the Payroll Manager and a Payroll Specialist. The team is responsible for all aspects of the London payroll and related compliance, including payments to Partners. They also oversee the payrolls for the Houston and BVI offices and provide ad hoc support to other locations as needed.

The role

We are seeking a highly skilled, detail-oriented, and hands-on Payroll Manager. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in managing payroll functions, ensuring compliance with UK regulations, and providing exceptional support to employees.  Experience with international payrolls is advantageous.

Key responsibilities

• Process, review and support the preparation of the London and overseas monthly payrolls to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Oversee and supervise the Payroll Specialist.
• Prepare and submit monthly payroll reports to management for approval.
• Ensure a robust control environment around payroll, fully documented, and recommend improvements.
• Prepare any monthly or ad hoc payments to Partners as advised by the Partnership Accountant.
• Assist with the preparation and posting of payroll related journals to the accounting system.
• Oversee statutory returns, including Employers Annual Return Form P35, Forms P14 and P60, and support the preparation of the firm’s PAYE Settlement Agreement; process P45s.
• Prepare all other internal and external reports on both a scheduled and ad hoc basis.
• Prepare payments and associated reconciliations for Partners, employees, and third parties.
• Prepare pension scheme data for the firm’s pension advisers and pension scheme provider.
• Control payments related to season ticket loans, insurances, gymflex, etc.
• Liaise with HR colleagues to ensure the smooth transfer of data to the Payroll team.
• Liaise with the Tax & Partnership Department on matters relating to in-pat and ex-pat employees.
• Address any UK payroll queries.
• Perform any other ad hoc tasks as required.

Key skills and experience required

• CIPP qualified or equivalently experienced.
• Proven experience as a people manager.
• Up-to-date knowledge of payroll legislation.
• At least 8 years of payroll experience, ideally within a partnership structure, preferably a law firm.
• Experience with internal accounts and reconciliation.
• Some experience with ex-pat/in-pat payrolls.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Knowledge of payroll software is desirable.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail

Additional information

Kindly note that this job description is not contractual. It will be reviewed periodically and may be amended or altered to meet the needs of the firm.

HFW aims to ensure equality of opportunity, and we are actively working towards improving the diversity of our staff. All applications will be considered only on merit and the applicant’s suitability to meet the requirements of the role.

HFW collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants to manage its recruitment process. The firm is committed to being transparent about how it collects and uses that data and to meeting its data protection obligations. For information on how the firm will process your data, please see our Privacy Notice on our website, in the section “What we collect and how we use it”.