UK Payroll Specialist

The UK Payroll Specialist is a subject matter expert responsible for the accurate, compliant, and timely delivery of UK payroll across GoGlobal’s in-house client portfolio. Based in Romania as part of GoGlobal’s near-shore EMEA hub, this is a founding role within a deliberate and strategic investment in regional delivery capability building a centre of excellence for UK payroll expertise close to GoGlobal’s European client base.

This is a hands-on specialist position for someone who knows UK payroll inside out from PAYE and National Insurance mechanics to statutory payments, Real Time Information (RTI) submissions, and pension auto-enrolment compliance. The successful candidate will be comfortable working autonomously in a remote environment, partnering closely with the EMEA Regional Payroll Operations Lead (RPO)

This role is ideal for an experienced UK payroll professional who wants to apply deep technical expertise in a global, fast-paced services environment, contributing to a growing payroll operation that spans over 140 countries.

Responsibilities

UK Payroll Processing

• Own the end-to-end processing of UK payrolls for a portfolio of GoGlobal clients, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and on-time delivery every cycle
• Process all payroll inputs including starters, leavers, salary changes, variable pay, overtime, bonuses, and statutory payments (SSP, SMP, SPP, ShPP, SAP)
• Calculate and apply correct PAYE tax codes, National Insurance contributions (employee and employer), student loan deductions, and other statutory deductions
• Manage Real Time Information (RTI) submissions to HMRC including Full Payment Submissions (FPS) and Employer Payment Summaries (EPS) within statutory deadlines
• Process and reconcile payroll journals, ensuring payroll outputs align with client finance requirements
• Manage pension auto-enrolment calculations, contributions, and scheme compliance in accordance with The Pensions Regulator requirements
• Produce and distribute payslips, P60s, P11Ds, P45s, and other statutory documentation accurately and on time
• Handle payroll year-end processes including reconciliation, HMRC reporting, and employee tax documentation

Compliance & Regulatory Adherence

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC guidance, and employment law changes, proactively flagging updates with impact to the EMEA RPO and Data & Compliance function
• Ensure all UK payrolls are processed in strict compliance with HMRC requirements, Employment Rights Act obligations, and GoGlobal’s internal compliance standards
• Monitor and apply legislative changes including National Living Wage uplifts, tax code updates, statutory payment rate changes, and National Insurance threshold adjustments
• Maintain accurate and audit-ready payroll records for all UK clients, ensuring documentation meets both regulatory and internal governance standards
• Support internal and external audits by providing accurate payroll data, evidence of compliance, and clear explanations of processing decisions

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary payroll contact for designated UK payroll clients, managing day-to-day queries with professionalism and accuracy
• Communicate proactively with clients on processing timelines, legislative changes, and any payroll-related actions required from their side
• Liaise with client HR and finance teams to collect and validate payroll inputs, resolve discrepancies, and ensure clean data ahead of processing
• Escalate complex client queries, compliance risks, or payroll errors to the EMEA RPO in a timely and structured manner
• Support client onboarding and go-live activities for new UK payrolls, ensuring payroll configurations are set up correctly from day one

Data Quality & Process

• Conduct pre- and post-payroll data quality checks to identify and resolve discrepancies before outputs are delivered to clients
• Maintain and update UK payroll SOPs, run guides, and process documentation, ensuring they reflect current legislation and GoGlobal operating standards
• Identify manual inefficiencies in UK payroll processes and contribute ideas for automation, tooling improvements, or standardisation to the EMEA RPO
• Support the implementation of system changes or new payroll tools affecting UK payroll delivery, acting as the UK technical point of contact for testing and validation
• Contribute to the broader EMEA payroll operations team by sharing UK payroll knowledge, supporting cross-training, and providing cover during periods of absence