Senior Payroll Officer (6-Month Fixed Term Contract – Potential to Extend)

BELONG. There’s no place like Principality.

Our home is your home. So, when you decide to join the team, we’ll go further to bring you the warmest of welcomes. From a friendly and inviting environment to a flexible benefit package designed around you – when it comes to belonging, there really is no place like Principality. We keep it flexible wherever possible; we encourage you to look after yourself; we do our bit in the communities we serve and support you in doing the same, and we promise to get better together.

Some reasons you may want to consider working with us; we have an award-winning flexible/hybrid working policy, we’re a 2022 winner of UK Best Large Workplaces for Women, we have a refurbished hi-tech office in the centre of Cardiff designed around colleague feedback, we ranked number 6 for wellbeing in 2022,  we have an extensive financial and well-being benefits package ‘’Belong’’ designed to put our people first, we have consistent colleague engagement scores of over 85% and a caring community of supportive Networks. But that’s not all, discover why there’s really no place like Principality; https://www.principality.co.uk/careers

A fantastic opportunity has arisen within the Payroll Team for an experienced Senior Payroll Officer. This is a fixed-term position for 6 months with the potential to extend to 9 months.

We're looking for someone who can take the lead on complex payroll tasks and regulatory reporting to help shape the continuous improvement of our payroll systems and processes. You’ll play a vital role in ensuring efficient and accurate payroll processing for all Principality staff.

Key Responsibilities:

• Process payroll accurately and efficiently each month for all staff
• Handle complex payroll queries and provide advice to employees and stakeholders
• Ensure compliance with HMRC regulations, including quarterly and annual returns
• Lead on the development and continuous improvement of payroll systems
• Mentor, train and supervise Payroll Administrators
• Ensure timely and accurate monthly pension and expense payments
• Be the main point of contact for HMRC, payroll providers, and external stakeholders
• Attend project meetings with HR, Finance, and IT regarding payroll development
• Assist in designing and implementing payroll workflow processes to improve controls and efficiency
• Provide financial reporting and payroll analytics for internal and external use
• Reconcile, authorise and sign off weekly expense payments

What you’ll be involved in:

• Starters, leavers & contract changes
• Statutory payments (SMP, SPP, etc.)
• Payroll reporting and analytics
• Private medical insurance and pension administration
• Month-end payroll and financial reporting
• Supporting system integration and upgrades
• Ongoing training and mentoring of team members

Technical Skills & Experience:

• In-depth knowledge of HMRC PAYE regulations and coding
• Strong understanding of pension schemes, salary sacrifice, and relevant legislation
• Proven experience in payroll system operations and improvements
• Confidence working with Microsoft Excel and Word
• Previous experience implementing new HR/payroll systems
• Comfortable running and presenting reports for finance and HR stakeholders

Key Competencies:

• Self-motivated with a proactive approach to leadership
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills
• Excellent attention to detail and numeracy
• Collaborative team player, especially across HR and IT functions
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Clear and logical thinking with a solution-focused mindset

Qualifications:

• A recognised payroll qualification is essential

At Principality Building Society, we’re committed to creating a supportive, inclusive and engaging workplace. You’ll be part of a dedicated team that values collaboration, innovation and continuous development. Our most important asset is our people. We value a healthy work-life balance and currently offer a 35-hour work week with our hybrid approach enabling you to have a mix of office days and remote working.  

Your base location for this role will be our Head Office, Principality House, The Friary, Cardiff, CF10 3FA

If you have any questions in relation to this role, please contact the recruitment team at -recruitment@principality.co.uk

‘’We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace where diversity is celebrated and where colleagues feel a sense of belonging’’ Daniel Priest, Inclusion Manager. But don’t just take our word for it, see what our colleagues say about working here too; Careers (principality.co.uk)