Payroll Specialist

Reports to: Head of Payroll
Location: Hoddesdon, UK (On-site)
Company headcount: c2200
Type: Multi-site manual payroll
Payroll systems: Staffology and MS Excel
Working Pattern: 8am to 5pm – Monday to Friday

About the Role

As the Payroll Specialist, you will thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment and bring precision. You will be highly organised, detail-oriented, and passionate about getting payroll right the first time.

This role is central to ensuring our employees are paid accurately and on time, with a strong focus on manual payroll calculations and delivering excellent internal service. You will also support a range of HR administrative tasks, helping to ensure our people processes run smoothly throughout the employee life cycle.

What you will be doing

-End-to-end processing of payroll with a focus on accuracy, timeliness and compliance.
-Perform complex payroll manual calculations for all payroll elements confidently and correctly.
-Maintain and update payroll records, ensuring data integrity across all data sets.
-HR administration, including but not limited to processing starters, leavers, recording absences and job changes.
-Support the Time and Attendance process to ensure accurate data is extracted for payroll processing.
-Ensure all payroll queries are managed and resolved in a timely manner. Whilst providing an open and knowledgeable approach to all staff.

-Collaborate with internal teams to strengthen and streamline payroll processes.
-Stay updated with UK payroll legislation and compliance requirements, ensuring adherence to all relevant regulations.
-Oversee the administration of employee pension schemes, including enrolment, contributions and liaise with pension providers.
-Review and validate payroll inputs, including salaries, benefits, allowances and deductions.
-Provide guidance and support to Operations, resolving complex payroll-related issues and queries.

About you
-Proven experience in payroll administration, with a focus on manual calculations and high-volume processing.
-In-depth knowledge of UK payroll processes, tax regulations and compliance requirements.
-Intermediate Excel proficiency, with the ability to use pivot tables, VLOOKUP, IF statements, SUMIFS etc.
-Logical and methodical approach to problem-solving and data processing.
-Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.
-Ability to work efficiently in a challenging environment while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines.
-Familiarity with pension scheme administration and compliance requirements.
-Effective communication skills to liaise with employees and resolve payroll-related queries.
-Understand HR processes, including onboarding, offboarding and absence management.
-Tech savvy and curious about systems. Proficiency in using payroll software for end-to-end payroll processing.
-Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to handle complex payroll calculations and reconciliations.
-Understanding of data protection regulations and confidentiality requirements in handling employee information.
-Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
-Continuous learning mindset to stay updated with changes in UK payroll regulations and best practices.

Why Join Us?

You'll join a team where your expertise is valued, your input matters, and your work makes a real impact on people’s lives every single month. We offer a supportive environment, opportunities to grow and the satisfaction of knowing you’re making a difference where it counts.

Motor Parts Direct has established an enviable reputation for quality and reliability, whilst at the same time meeting all targets for successful growth. Our teams across the company network make us who we are and enable us to provide a service level beyond customer expectations.Our customers have a choice, and we aim to be that ‘natural choice’.

Motor Parts Direct has been acquired by Motus. A diversified (non-manufacturing) business in the automotive sector with unrivalled scale and scope in South Africa, and a selected international presence, primarily in the United Kingdom and Australia and a limited presence in South East Asia, and Southern and East Africa.

Motus Group (UK) Ltd. encompasses the UK's largest independent commercial vehicle dealer group and, with its passenger vehicle interests included, ranks inside from the Top 15 of all UK automotive dealer groups. The company has annual revenues of over £1 billion and employs almost 3000 people across its operations