Payroll & Incentives Specialist
Barbican
Permanent
£40K
Hybrid

We’re looking for a Payroll & Incentives Specialist to join our finance and payroll team within a fast-paced, high-performing recruitment business.
You’ll have primary responsibility for internal payroll for all permanent employees, alongside full ownership of bonus and commission calculations across the Group. You’ll also support temporary payroll as a secondary area.
It’s an exciting opportunity for someone who wants a hands-on operational role, with the scope to improve processes, enhance reporting, and help modernise how payroll and incentives are delivered using better systems and technology.
What you’ll be doing
You will take full responsibility for bonus and commission delivery across the business, including:
- Owning monthly and quarterly bonus and commission calculations
- Interpreting recruitment incentive schemes accurately and consistently
- Producing clear bonus/commission statements and supporting documentation
- Ensuring all incentive payments are processed correctly, fairly, and on time
You will manage end-to-end payroll for internal permanent employees, including:
- Running the full internal payroll process each month
- Acting as the key point of contact for payroll queries and escalations
- Supporting month-end reporting, reconciliations, and compliance
- Playing a key role in the transition to a new external payroll software provider for the upcoming tax year
- Temporary Worker Payroll Support
- Provide support with temporary worker payroll processing
- Assist with timesheet handling, payment accuracy, and query resolution
This role isn’t just about running payroll, it’s about improving it. You’ll be encouraged to:
- Identify opportunities to streamline payroll and incentive processes
- Support automation, reporting enhancements, and better controls
- Help adopt modern payroll systems and technology-enabled solutions, including AI tools where useful
What we’re looking for
• Experience managing internal payroll processes to strict deadlines
• Recruitment sector exposure, including complex bonus and commission structures
• Advanced Excel skills (complex formulas, pivots, data analysis)
• Strong attention to detail and confidence handling complex calculations
• A proactive mindset - someone who improves things, not just maintains them
• Experience supporting payroll system upgrades or implementations
• Solid knowledge of UK payroll compliance (PAYE, NI, pensions)
• An interest in automation, technology, and modernising operational processes

Why it’s worth doing
Payroll and incentives sit right at the heart of the business. This is a role with real ownership, real visibility, and real impact and ensuring people are paid accurately, rewarded properly, and supported with clear, professional delivery.
If you enjoy operational responsibility, detail, and the opportunity to improve how things work, this is an excellent next step.