HR Operations & Payroll Administrator

Senior HR Operations & Payroll AdministratorYour New CompanyA dynamic and growing organisation operating across multiple UK entities. As the business continues to evolve, the HR function is investing in its operational infrastructure to create a more efficient, scalable and sustainable people model. To support this growth, our client is seeking a Senior HR & Payroll subject-matter expert to join the UK HR team. This newly created position combines extensive HR administration, process improvement and payroll coordination responsibilities into a key operational role, providing the opportunity to make a visible impact on the employee experience and wider HR function. Your New Role: • Managing HR administration activities across the full employee life cycle, including onboarding, contractual changes, employee records and offboarding. • Coordinating monthly payroll activities across the UK entities, ensuring accurate data preparation, validation, reporting and reconciliation. • Acting as the primary HR operational point of contact for employees and managers. • Producing regular HR and payroll reports, ensuring accuracy, compliance and effective data management. • Supporting HRIS administration, system enhancements and continuous improvement initiatives, including the ongoing development of Dayforce. • Developing, maintaining and improving HR processes, templates, workflows and operational documentation. • Ensuring compliance with UK employment legislation, payroll regulations and internal policies. • Identifying opportunities to simplify, standardise and enhance HR operational processes and service delivery. This role offers broad exposure across HR operations, payroll, systems and reporting, with significant opportunity to influence and improve the way HR services are delivered across the UK business. What You'll Need to SucceedTo be successful in this role, you will have: • Previous experience in both HR Operations and Payroll Administration roles. • A strong understanding of employee life cycle processes and payroll administration. • Experience working within a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and deadlines. • Experience producing reports, analysing HR data and working with large datasets. • Experience using HRIS and payroll systems. • Advanced Excel skills, including reporting, analysis and data validation. • Excellent organisational skills and strong attention to detail. • The ability to build effective working relationships with stakeholders at all levels. • A proactive, solutions-focused approach with a continuous improvement mindset. • The ability to work independently and take ownership of operational processes. Desirable experience includes: • Supporting HR system implementations, upgrades or process improvement projects. • Experience within a multi-site or matrix organisation. • Experience with Dayforce (beneficial but not essential). What You'll Get in ReturnIn return, you will join a business that is investing in its HR function and offers the opportunity to play a key role in shaping future HR operations. You'll benefit from: • Competitive base annual salary • Company bonus scheme (10% non-contractual bonus). • Competitive benefits package. • 25 days annual leave plus statutory holidays. • The opportunity to contribute to HR transformation and systems development. • Exposure to a broad range of HR and payroll activities across multiple business entities. • Career development within a collaborative and growing organisation. Additional Information • Location: Somerset • Working Pattern: Office-based role with attendance expected 3 days per week • Hours: 40 hours per week (8:30am - 5:30pm with a one-hour lunch break) • Probation: 6 months • Start Date: ASAP This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HR Operations and Payroll professional looking to move beyond traditional administration into a role offering genuine ownership, process improvement responsibility and the chance to drive meaningful change across the HR function. 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. 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