Payroll Specialist - Leeds (Leeds, GB)

Career Opportunity: Payroll Specialist at Arla Foods UK

Arla Foods UK is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Payroll Specialist to join their dynamic team. This role presents a significant opportunity for professionals looking to advance their careers in payroll, focusing on accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement. If you are passionate about payroll and eager to make a tangible impact within a leading global dairy cooperative, this position warrants your close consideration.

Key Responsibilities & Impact:

• Payroll Processing Excellence: You will be instrumental in processing both monthly and weekly payrolls for approximately 4,000 employees, ensuring meticulous accuracy and adherence to all legal and collective bargaining agreements.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Serve as the central point of contact for complex payroll inquiries, providing expert guidance and clear resolutions to employees, managers, and other stakeholders.
• Compliance Champion: Stay at the forefront of UK payroll legislation, ensuring all systems and processes remain compliant with current regulations, including PAYE, NIC, and Auto Enrolment.
• Project Leadership: Contribute to and lead payroll-related projects, focusing on optimization, compliance, and the successful execution of improvements.
• Process Enhancement: Proactively identify opportunities to enhance existing payroll processes for greater efficiency and effectiveness.
• Documentation & Training: Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation and training materials to support the payroll function.
• External Stakeholder Management: Manage payroll instructions and ensure accurate payments and reconciliations with external bodies such as HMRC and pension providers.
• Global Support: Provide valuable support to global payroll operations, leveraging your expertise.

What Arla Foods UK Offers:

Arla Foods UK offers a compelling benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth:

• Competitive Remuneration: A competitive salary package, discussed confidentially during the application process.
• Generous Leave: Enjoy 26 days of holiday in addition to bank holidays.
• Hybrid Working: A flexible hybrid working model allowing for 2 days per week remote work, promoting work-life balance.
• Pension Scheme: A robust pension contribution scheme with a matched contribution of up to 6%.
• Life Assurance: Peace of mind with 4 times your annual salary life assurance.
• Professional Development: A strong commitment to your training and development, offering both internal and external opportunities.
• Flexible Benefits: Options to purchase up to 5 additional annual leave days and access to a reward gateway scheme for discounts with various retailers.
• Festive Cheer: A delightful Christmas cheese hamper – a unique perk that embodies the company's spirit.

Key Considerations for Aspiring Candidates:

This role is ideal for a payroll professional with a proven track record and a desire for continuous learning and development. To thrive in this position, candidates should:

• Possess Strong Payroll Acumen: Demonstrate advanced knowledge of payroll operational procedures and tools, coupled with a deep understanding of UK payroll laws, regulations, and best practices.
• Exercise Independent Judgment: Be adept at resolving payroll-related issues with discretion and independent judgment.
• Embrace Compliance: Be highly diligent in ensuring adherence to the latest legislation, statutory filing deadlines, and internal reporting requirements.
• Value Continuous Learning: A strong theoretical understanding of payroll, evidenced by courses or certifications, is essential. While not mandatory, familiarity with SuccessFactors and SAP, and holding or progressing towards a CIPP qualification, would be highly advantageous.
• Bring Substantial Experience: A minimum of five years of relevant practical payroll experience is a prerequisite.

Career Path Advancement:

By stepping into this Payroll Specialist role at Arla Foods UK, you are not just taking on a new position; you are investing in your career trajectory. The emphasis on compliance, process improvement, and project involvement offers ample opportunities to broaden your skill set and deepen your expertise. The company's commitment to training and development, combined with the chance to work within a globally recognized organization, provides a solid foundation for future growth within the payroll and finance functions. If you are looking to shape the future of dairy with an ambitious, values-driven cooperative that prioritizes employee growth and fosters a collaborative culture, Arla Foods UK is an excellent choice.