Payroll & Benefits Specialist (Part Time)

Collinson is the global, privately-owned company dedicated to helping the world to travel with ease and confidence. The group offers a unique blend of industry and sector specialists who together provide market-leading airport experiences, loyalty and customer engagement, and insurance solutions for over 400 million consumers.

Collinson is the operator of Priority Pass, the world’s original and leading airport experiences programme. Travellers can access a network of 1,500+ lounges and travel experiences, including dining, retail, sleep and spa, in over 650 airports in 148 countries, helping to elevate the journey into something special. We work with the world’s leading payment networks, over 1,400 banks, 90 airlines and 20 hotel groups worldwide.

We have been bringing innovation to the market since inception – from launching the first independent global VIP lounge access Programme, Priority Pass to being the first to sell direct travel insurance in the UK through Columbus Direct and creating the first loyalty agency of its kind in the travel sector with ICLP. Today we still invest heavily in innovation to ensure that we continue to deliver superior customer experiences.

Key clients include Mastercard, American Express, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, LATAM, Flying Blue, Accor, EasyJet, HSBC, Chase, HDFC.

Our mission is focused on doing good beyond profit, which for us means we seek out opportunities for our people to share in our success and that we give back to the communities and people within which we work.

Never short of ambition, the success of our business is delivered through the diverse and talented team of over 2,200 global colleagues.

Purpose of the job

We are currently looking for a Payroll & Benefits Specialist on a part-time permanent basis (3 days per week) to start as soon as possible. As an integral part of the People & Culture function, this role will support the Head of Payroll & Benefits UK & IRL to:

• Ensure the efficient, timely and accurate payroll management of the UK and Ireland payroll(s).

• Hold joint responsibility for all payroll and benefits administration, to include the departmental mailbox and the UK Benefits space on SharePoint.

• Work collaboratively to complete all monthly reporting and processing to meet internal, statutory, and third-party requisites.

• Capability to deliver monthly UK payroll approval meeting with the SVP Global Finance, if required.

This position will interact with all employees at all levels and must have a great customer service disposition, be efficient and highly organised.

To support the UAE, KSA, and other EMEA offices, with transactional net payroll processing requirements to maintain colleague confidentiality at a localised level.

The role will need to have the capability to perform the core start-to-finish functions required to pay UK and Ireland colleagues and fulfil critical statutory and/or third-party reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• To respond to all internal and external enquiries and issue correspondence in a timely and professional manner.

• To process employee benefits requests and distribute any information relating to these.

• To complete the monthly processes surrounding Automatic Enrolment for both the UK and Ireland, including employee assessment, and pension payments.

• Keep abreast of current legislation associated with all aspects of UK and Ireland payroll legislation.

• Process the UK and Irish payrolls collaboratively with the Head of Payroll & Benefits.

• Ensure payroll is prepared for sign-off in a timely manner.

• Ensure up-to-date and relevant processes are documented to include, but not limited to, the following:

• Starters and leavers.

• Contractual changes.

• Parental leave, statutory and occupational.

• Real Time Information.

• Statutory reporting, for payroll and taxable benefits.

• Benefits administration

• Ensure the enrolment of eligible colleagues into the relevant benefit(s) in a timely and efficient manner.

• Carry out and/or support with any project work, as and when required.

• Provide administrative support to the Head of Payroll & Benefits in all related matters.

• KPI’s:

• Achieve all payroll associated deadlines for each pay period/cycle.

• Maintain monthly payroll processing accuracy of 99% (subject to uncontrollable external influence).

• All associated payroll and benefits enquiries answered within 48 hours of request.

• Any other duties deemed appropriate to the role.

Knowledge, skills and experience required

• A minimum of 3 years’ hands-on payroll processing experience.

• Have a strong knowledge of manual PAYE and National Insurance calculations.

• Good understanding of RTI, Auto Enrolment and statutory payroll legislation.

• An understanding of Irish payroll legislation desirable.

• Previous in-house payroll administration experience desirable.

• Previous exposure to Cascade Payroll and/or Europay system(s) would be desirable.

• Exposure to Workday Payroll (UK & Ireland) is key, as this will be our payroll solution from 2027.

• Experience with Aegon SmartEnrol and ARC systems would be desirable.

• Payroll qualification is desirable.

• Strong sense of urgency, ability to meet deadlines and respond promptly.

• The ability to effectively prioritise workload and adapt to changing business needs and priorities.

• Excellent attention to detail is essential.

• Proven efficiencies in organisational skills.

• Computer proficiency in Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point.

• An ability to maintain confidentiality and to perform work with integrity and professionalism.

Please note we are looking for a part-time (3 days per week) permanent candidate ideally. Immediately available to start, or short notice periods will be considered.

Collinson is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes differences in all their forms including: colour, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, family status, age, individuals with disabilities and people from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences as we strongly believe this contributes to our on-going success.

We are focused on continually evolving our purpose driven, high performing culture, providing an environment where our people have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and do interesting and meaningful work. Our company values are: Take Action, Do the right thing, One team and Be insight led. These help guide everything we do internally in terms of how we think, act and interact, right through to how we deliver value to our customers and clients.

In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example - she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc).

If you need any extra support throughout the interview process, then please email us at ukrecruitment@collinsongroup.com