Are you an experienced payroll professional with a strong eye for detail? Do you enjoy working with complex payroll calculations, legislation, and stakeholder queries? Our client is seeking a knowledgeable and proactive Payroll Specialist to join their People and Culture team. This is a specialist lead role, working closely with the Payroll and Pensions Manager to ensure the accurate and compliant delivery of payroll and pensions services, while supporting continuous improvement across systems and processes. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical payroll knowledge, excellent organisational skills, and a collaborative approach, thriving in a fast-paced and deadline-driven environment. Key Responsibilities: Plan, manage, and process payroll to ensure accurate and timely payment of staff, including complex calculations. Oversee payroll records, including starters, leavers, and pension data, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality. Ensure compliance with payroll legislation, tax regulations, pensions, and statutory payments. Identify and mitigate compliance risks, escalating complex or high-risk issues where appropriate. Act as a key point of contact for payroll and pensions queries, providing expert advice to staff and managers. Support training, induction, and knowledge-sharing activities across the organisation. Build effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and external bodies. Lead and contribute to payroll improvement initiatives and system d