Payroll Specialist
The Payroll Specialist plays a critical specialist role within the Human Resources Directorate, accountable for the accurate, timely, and compliant delivery of payroll services across NI Water Group. The role has direct responsibility for financial accuracy, statutory compliance, and the prevention of payroll-related errors that could result in legal, regulatory, employee relations, or reputational risk.
The postholder maintains and quality-checks HR and payroll records, applies expert knowledge of payroll legislation, systems, and financial controls, and manages complex and high-impact transactions including overtime, promotions, allowances, salary adjustments, recoveries, and statutory deductions.
The role acts as a subject matter expert on payroll and related HR policy, providing authoritative advice to employees, managers, and internal stakeholders, and leading engagement with external bodies such as HMRC, pension providers, trade unions, and courts to resolve complex issues and agree corrective action.
The postholder also drives continuous improvement, automation, system testing, and implementation of new statutory requirements, contributing to the development of payroll controls, reporting, and service resilience across the organisation.
The role directly determines payroll outcomes through the application of independent judgement within statutory and organisational frameworks, with decisions having an immediate and measurable impact on employee pay, regulatory compliance, financial accuracy, and organisational reputation.
Applicants MUST be able to demonstrate in their application and where necessary at interview:
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
1. Have a minimum of 5 GCSEs, Grade C or above (to include English Language and Maths) or equivalent e.g. relevant NVQ Level II;
2. Minimum of 2 years’ experience working within a high-volume payroll operation involving interpretation of payroll legislation, complex transactions, reconciliations, and stakeholder liaison for a large workforce.
Experience should include:
Inputting and processing payrolls to strict deadlines
Providing advice and support to employees and management on terms and conditions of employment, HR/Payroll policies and procedures and statutory payments.
Liaising with external stakeholders - HMRC, Pensions bodies, Trade unions, Courts, systems providers, professional services providers;
Liaising with internal stakeholders - HR advisors / managers, operational departments, Finance and other internal departments;
3. Experience using Oracle HR/Payroll modules or similar HR management or payroll information systems;
4. Proficient user of the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).
What is on Offer
Salary
This role offers a competitive remuneration package with a salary scale of £32,166 - £39,314 per annum.
Location
Westland House, 40 Old Westland Road, Belfast, BT14 6TE.
What we Offer
Generous annual leave and public/privilege holidays
Flexible working and family friendly policies
Hybrid Working (applicable to some of our roles after three months following onboarding and training)
Occupational sick pay
Employee assistance programmes
Cycle to work scheme
One of the largest corporate volunteering schemes in NI
Award winning health and wellbeing programme which focuses on supporting four key area of employee health; Physical, Mental, Social and Financial
How to Apply
To submit your application, please click the APPLY icon.
For additional information about the role please download a Candidate Brief, available below.
Closing date for submission of Applications: Monday 11th May 2026 10.00am
Interview Dates: Monday 18th May 2026