Payroll Officer

Role: Payroll Officer
Salary: Excellent Salary / Package plus Great Benefits
Location: Woking (Head Office)

At Impact Food Group, we are more than a school caterer. The people are the heart of what we do. We are driven by creating a positive food culture and helping more students eat better food. Making a positive social impact is at the center of our identity. We tirelessly learn, develop and make improvements in every way, every day.

Delivered by our distinct and industry leading brands Innovate, Cucina and Chapter One, we cater for over 350,000 students. Find out more at (url removed).

Due to continued business growth, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Payroll Officer to join the team at a really exciting time of growth. We are looking for a Payroll Officer to assist the Payroll Manager with the smooth running of the Payroll Department including the development, implementation, and monitoring of payroll processes. This role will be the first point of contact for payroll advice across the whole of the UK business.

What you will be doing:

• Work closely with the current outsourced provider (Forbes) to ensure a prompt and efficient payroll and pension service ensuring compliance with legislation and reporting requirements.
• Ensure data entry is processed accurately throughout the month/year to meet agreed deadlines such as monthly pay run. Including checking the administration of starters, leavers, contract amendments, and additional hours etc. for both payroll and pensions, along with any other ad hoc requirements.
• Provide a customer-focused payroll and pension function ensuring appropriate and responsive service and guidance to internal customers and external stakeholders.
• Manage the day-to-day running of and the administration of the payroll and pension schemes, ensuring all work is completed in a timely manner, compliant with the relevant legislation and delivered in accordance with strict deadlines.
• Ensure that up-to-date information regarding salary scales, pension deduction rates, and any other relevant information, for all categories of staff are applied and maintained.
• Ensure that all expenses are received, validated, and processed in accordance with the payroll timetable.
• Liaise with HR, Finance and any other key stakeholders to ensure work is submitted and processed in a timely fashion, urgent items are prioritized and that any issues are highlighted and resolved as quickly as possible.
• Support the implementation and/or development of the HR/payroll system including the training of stakeholders.
• Support the completion and submission of all annual returns to HMRC and pension providers to the published deadlines and in the most efficient manner.
• Produce the monthly general ledger journal from the payroll, ensuring a complete reconciliation to the payroll. Reconcile all payroll figures at the end of each month ensuring that all payroll control accounts are balanced and corrections posted to the general ledger before the accounting period is closed.

What we are looking for:

• A minimum of 1 year’s payroll experience running either a manual or automated payroll system.
• A background in first line support with payroll queries.
• Knowledge of pensions is preferred as is previous exposure to Access; exposure to the Food Industry would be advantageous.
• Strong Excel Skills.
• The ability to work well under pressure, and comfortable in a very flexible, fast-paced working environment.
• A proactive approach and able to work under own initiative.
• The ability to motivate a team through promoting good strong working relationships.

What We’d Love to Give You:
Competitive salary
Bonus payable upon team hitting target.
Hybrid role 2 days in the office (Woking)
25 days paid annual leave plus bank holidays
Life assurance & company pension scheme.
Access to our extensive online Learning platform and development opportunities
An employee wellbeing platform.
Access to a salary sacrifice electric car scheme.
IFG rewards for high street discounts.
Annual Summer Party with company awards.

Additional Details:
IFG are committed to the safeguarding of children and our employees share this commitment. Successful candidates are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check, which we supply the cost for.
We are a committed equal opportunities employer - if you require any assistance for the interview process, please detail within your application. All information is kept confidential and in compliance with GDPR requirements.

Applicants will need to provide a portfolio of work to demonstrate experience. Second stage interviews will include psychometric testing and a skills-based task.