About the Opportunity

Position overview

Department

Finance

Location

Devon House London (opportunity for Hybrid work arrangement)

Term

Full time; Permanent

Salary

per annum depending on experience

Benefits

Generous benefits package including 25 days holiday allowance pro rata (excl. Bank holidays) group life assurance group income protection pension schemes and private healthcare (optional)

Start

April 2026

The Senior Payroll specialist will work alongside the International Payroll Manager and Senior Business Systems Analyst to deliver the day to day running of payroll at the University. These include Gross to Net calculations for all staff on a monthly basis compliance with all HMRC and pension requirements as well as supporting the work required to deliver all necessary regulatory reporting to other external bodies where applicable and to work closely with the Human Resources and Finance department to ensure all contractual changes additions and deductions to payroll are processed in an accurate and timely manner.

Duties and Responsibilities

Although the list is not exhaustive the Senior Payroll specialist will be expected to:

• Delivering Full cycle end to end payroll processing for our London Campus including RTI submissions and Year End tasks ensuring all activities are completed within a timely manner.

• Overseeing Auto-Enrolment processes and submitting pension data to our external vendor

• Performing audits and reconciliations to maintain the accuracy and integrity of payroll information

• Assisting with internal and external audit preparation including organising documentation and supporting evidence requests

• Producing payroll reports for internal stakeholders

• Supporting employees by resolving payroll queries and identifying underlying issues

• Work closely with internal teams to ensure payroll processes are robust and meet finance and compliance standards.

• Assisting with payroll related implementation projects and contributing to continuous process improvement initiatives

• Act as a back-up for Canadian payroll processing

Skills and Knowledge

• 2 years of experience with strong knowledge of UK Payroll practices and compliance

• Proficient in using payroll systems and maintaining effective controls

• Excellent communicator with strong stakeholder management skills

• Membership of CIPP or working towards achieving CIPP Membership within 6 months of starting the role

• Workday Payroll experience is advantageous

• Canadian payroll experience and/or higher education industry exposure is advantageous

Person specification criteria (essential / desirable)

Education Qualifications and training

• Membership of CIPP or working towards achieving it. - Essential

Experience

• Strong payroll skills and previous experience in a similar role - Essential

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Good written communications and strong interpersonal skills to deal with individuals at various levels and on potentially sensitive matters - Essential

• Excellent IT skills including advanced level with Microsoft Office Suite - Essential

• Highly computer literate with experience of accounting packages - Essential

• Ability to work quickly accurately and to deadlines using a logical and methodical approach - Essential

• A team player with the ability to work independently - Essential

Position Type

Additional Information

They can be reached at the following:

However all applications must be made in accordance with the application process specified.

Application process

Applications should be made by 00:00 on the job postings end date (if applicable).

Participation in the equal opportunities section is encouraged but voluntary.

Applications must include a covering letter of no more than one page that addresses the criteria for the role and a full curriculum vitae.

The panel will be shortlisting for this position on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close this post before the closing date if we receive a large number of applications.

Please note all employees of Northeastern University London are required to undergo at least a basic DBS check. Our organisation acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard protect and promote the welfare of our students and staff and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities government guidance and complies with best practice and Ofsted requirements. You must adhere to the above if you are offered a role with NU London.

For staffs own wellbeing for part time roles the expectation is if you have multiple roles they should not exceed full time (37.5 hours per week) and for full time roles the expectation is that this will be your only role (apart from intermittent roles).

Applications are welcome from all sections of the community and will be judged on merit alone. We welcome applications from all underrepresented groups including the Global Majority. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.