Location:
On site / Loughrea, Co.
Galway, Ireland
Job type:
Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector:
Accounting & Finance | Accounts Payable
Salary:
Negotiable salary
Position
Role:
Payroll Administrator
Role Overview
The Payroll Administrator supports the timely, accurate and compliant delivery of payroll across the UK and Ireland businesses, processing employee payments, maintaining payroll records and providing a responsive, professional service to employees, managers and external bodies.
Success is measured by consistently processed payrolls, prompt resolution of employee queries, audit-ready records and on-time statutory submissions.
Scope
Business area / team:
Payroll function within Finance / Shared Services, supporting the UK and Ireland businesses.
Geography / sites:
Loughrea office, supporting employees across multiple Glanua sites and offices in Ireland, the UK, Europe and the USA.
Work type:
End-to-end payroll administration including data input, validation, reconciliations, reporting and employee query resolution.
Decision making / authority:
Makes routine day-to-day decisions within clearly defined payroll processes; escalates anything unusual, complex or high-risk to the Payroll Manager.
Budget / resources:
No budget responsibility; accountable for the accuracy and integrity of payroll data and outputs within assigned areas.
Reporting Line
Reports to: Payroll Manager.
Dotted-line reporting: Works closely with Finance, HR and the wider Shared Services team.
Key interfaces: Employees, line managers, Payroll Manager, HR, Finance, external payroll providers, Revenue, HMRC and pension providers.
Key Responsibilities
Support the accurate and timely processing of weekly, fortnightly and monthly payrolls for employees across the UK and Ireland businesses.
Input, validate and reconcile payroll data including starters, leavers, contractual changes, hours, overtime, bonuses, expenses and statutory payments.
Carry out pre-payroll and post-payroll checks, including gross to net reviews and variance analysis, escalating anomalies to the Payroll Manager.
Process statutory payments and deductions (e.g. PAYE, PRSI, USC, NI, pensions, court orders, attachments and benefits-in-kind) in line with UK and Irish requirements.
Compliance, Controls & Confidentiality
Ensure payroll activities comply with all relevant national legal, fiscal and regulatory requirements in both Ireland and the UK.
Support adherence to internal controls (including ICSP controls), segregation of duties and approved payroll policies and procedures.
Maintain strict confidentiality of employee data and ensure full compliance with company and country data privacy rules at all times.
Support the preparation of information required for internal and external audits and respond to audit queries in a timely manner.
Reporting & Reconciliations
Prepare and support routine payroll reports, reconciliations and journal information for the Payroll Manager and Finance team.
Assist with statutory returns and filings (e.g. Revenue and HMRC submissions, pension reporting and year-end activities).
Employee & Stakeholder Support
Act as a first point of contact for payroll queries from employees and managers, providing clear, professional and timely responses.
Work closely with HR to ensure changes to employment terms, benefits and personal data are reflected accurately in payroll.
Liaise with external providers (e.g. pension administrators, benefit providers and tax authorities) on routine matters under the guidance of the Payroll Manager.
Support process design and improvement activities, contributing ideas to improve efficiency, accuracy and the employee experience.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of UK and Irish payroll legislation and best practice through ongoing learning and continuous professional development.
Undertake other duties as reasonably required to support the delivery of an effective payroll service.
Required Skills & Experience
Qualifications / certifications:
Leaving Certificate or equivalent essential.
A recognised payroll qualification (e.g. IPASS Certificate in Payroll Techniques, CIPP qualification or working towards one) is desirable.
Relevant experience: 1–2 years' experience in a payroll, finance or HR administration role is desirable.
Supporting Irish and/or UK payroll is particularly beneficial.
Technical / functional skills:
Working knowledge of payroll concepts and statutory deductions in Ireland and/or the UK (e.g. PAYE, PRSI, USC, NI, pensions and BIK); proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel; familiarity with a payroll system (e.g. Megapay, CorePay, Sage, SAP or similar) is desirable.
Behavioural skills:
Strong attention to detail and a high standard of accuracy; well-organised with good time management; clear written and verbal communication; discretion and respect for confidential information; collaborative team player with a positive, service-focused approach.
Other requirements:
Eligibility to work in Ireland; office-based role in Loughrea, Co.
Galway; ability to meet payroll cut-off deadlines and to handle peak processing periods.
Soft Skills & Personal Attributes
Self-Awareness:
Reflects on personal impact and asks for feedback; acts on feedback and learns from mistakes; stays composed during routine pressure and busy payroll cycles.
Communication & Collaboration:
Communicates clearly and listens well; builds positive day-to-day working relationships with employees, HR, Finance and external contacts; tailors message and tone to different audiences.
Accountability & Delivery:
Owns commitments and follows through on assigned payroll tasks; solves straightforward problems and asks for help when needed; completes work to agreed standards and within payroll deadlines.
Business & Strategic Awareness:
Understands how accurate payroll supports employee experience and business performance; recognises basic cost, compliance and quality drivers; uses facts and evidence to support routine recommendations.
Leading People:
Sets clear expectations in own interactions; creates respect and participation in team interactions; adjusts style for different people and situations.
Developing Others:
Shares knowledge with colleagues and gives clear information when asked; provides practical feedback to help others complete tasks; encourages participation in learning and new experiences.
Leading Change & Decisions:
Explains what is changing and why it matters; recognises obvious risks and escalates promptly; understands basic trade-offs between speed, quality and cost.
Sustainability & ESG Expectations
Environmental impact:
Support paper-light, digital ways of working in payroll administration and minimise unnecessary printing and waste.
Social impact:
Ensure employees are paid accurately and on time, supporting financial wellbeing; treat all colleagues with respect, professionalism and inclusivity.
Governance:
Uphold the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality and data protection; comply with internal controls (including ICSP controls), payroll policies and statutory requirements in Ireland and the UK.
Role-specific expectations:
Support a strong culture of compliance, accuracy and ethical behaviour across all payroll activities.
Benefits
23 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
Competitive salary and benefits package aligned to market standards.
Company laptop and phone.
Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a confidential 24/7, 365-day counselling service available to employees and their families.
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