Temporary Payroll Officer

Location: Surrey area
Working pattern: Full-time, hybrid – 2–3 days office-based per week
Contract: Temporary, approximately 2–3 months
Start: ASAP

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Temporary Payroll Officer/Payroll Professional to join a busy finance team on an urgent interim basis.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced payroll professional to provide essential cover during a period of team transition. You will take ownership of the end-to-end monthly payroll process and play a key role in ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time.

The Role

You will be responsible for processing a monthly payroll of approximately 350 employees, including around 300 hourly paid employees. The payroll is relatively complex, incorporating shift enhancements, weekend payments and overtime.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Processing the full monthly payroll from start to finish.
• Managing payroll for a large hourly paid workforce.
• Accurately processing overtime, shift enhancements and weekend payments.
• Working with time and attendance data and resolving discrepancies.
• Completing standard HMRC and pension reporting.
• Ensuring payroll is processed accurately, efficiently and within deadlines.
• Responding to payroll queries and resolving issues promptly.
• Working closely with the wider finance team during a period of organisational change.
• Supporting the transition and ensuring continuity of payroll operations while a permanent appointment is made.

About You

We are looking for an experienced payroll professional who can hit the ground running and work confidently with a complex monthly payroll.

You will ideally have:

• Strong end-to-end payroll processing experience.
• Experience processing payroll for hourly paid employees, ideally within care, retail or another shift-based environment.
• Experience working with time and attendance systems.
• Knowledge of HMRC and pension reporting requirements.
• Excellent attention to detail and a strong understanding of payroll controls.
• The ability to work independently and become productive quickly.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Experience with Select Pay would be advantageous, but direct experience of these systems is not essential. Relevant experience managing a complex payroll is more important.

What's on Offer?

• Full-time temporary assignment for approximately 2–3 months.
• Hybrid working, with 2–3 days per week office-based in the Surrey area.
• Immediate start available.
• Opportunity to join a friendly finance team during an important period of transition.
• A varied and hands-on payroll position where your experience will make an immediate impact.

If you are an experienced Payroll Officer or Payroll Professional available at short notice and have experience managing complex monthly payrolls, we would be keen to hear from you.