Payroll Operations and Testing Specialist

Payroll Operations & Testing Specialist

Salary: £36,000 - £42,000 per annum (dependent on experience)

Location: Remote (UK) with occasional travel as required

Reporting to: Payroll Operations & Testing Manager

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Payroll Operations & Testing Specialist to join our growing EMS Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Payroll team.

This role combines end-to-end payroll processing with payroll testing activities, helping to ensure payroll services are delivered accurately, compliantly, and on time. You will support a portfolio of clients across UK payrolls and, where applicable, other European payrolls, while also contributing to payroll testing activities associated with system changes, legislative updates, and client onboarding projects.

Working closely with the Payroll Operations & Testing Manager, you will support User Acceptance Testing (UAT), payroll validation, regression testing, parallel payroll runs, and payroll change activities. You will also work alongside the Payroll Operations & Transitions team during client onboarding projects to support payroll validation, testing activities, and first live payroll runs.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced payroll professional who enjoys both payroll operations and payroll testing and is looking to broaden their skills within a client-focused BPO environment.

What You'll Be Doing

Payroll Operations

• Process end-to-end payroll activities for assigned clients, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery.
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, issues, and employee or client queries.
• Maintain payroll calendars, task schedules, and client payroll documentation.
• Create and maintain client-specific Statements of Procedure (SoPs).
• Support payroll reconciliations and payroll validation activities.
• Assist with the onboarding of new clients into the payroll service.
• Support first live payroll runs and post-go-live activities where required.
• Provide guidance and support to colleagues, sharing knowledge and best practice.

Payroll Testing & Validation

• Execute payroll testing activities for payroll changes, legislative updates, system upgrades, SAP Notes, and payroll configuration changes.
• Prepare and perform User Acceptance Testing (UAT), regression testing, and comparison or parallel payroll runs.
• Analyse payroll results, identify discrepancies, investigate issues, and support their resolution.
• Validate payroll testing outcomes and maintain supporting documentation.
• Work closely with the Payroll Operations & Testing Manager to ensure testing requirements are completed before payroll changes are released into the live environment.
• Support payroll testing activities during client onboarding and implementation projects.
• Coordinate assigned testing activities and communicate progress, issues, and outcomes to relevant teams.

Client Service & Support

• Act as a day-to-day point of contact for payroll clients.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with clients and internal teams.
• Support clients during payroll changes, testing cycles, and system updates.
• Work closely with the AMS team to investigate and resolve payroll-related system issues.
• Support payroll activities during client onboarding and transition projects.
• Assist clients with payroll validation activities following system or legislative changes.

Compliance & Controls

• Ensure payroll activities comply with UK payroll legislation, statutory requirements, and client-specific requirements.
• Maintain accurate payroll, testing, and client documentation in line with audit requirements.
• Ensure testing evidence and supporting documentation are retained appropriately.
• Support Business Continuity Planning (BCP) activities and payroll continuity testing exercises.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR, data protection requirements, and company information security policies.
• Keep up to date with legislative and regulatory payroll developments.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve payroll operations, payroll testing activities, and service delivery.
• Support the implementation of process improvements and new ways of working.
• Contribute to improvements in payroll testing processes and controls.
• Help reduce recurring payroll and testing issues by identifying root causes and recommending improvements.

What We're Looking For

Essential

• At least 5 years' experience in UK payroll, including end-to-end payroll processing.
• Experience supporting payroll testing activities, including UAT, payroll validation, reconciliations, regression testing, and parallel payroll runs.
• At least 3 years experience of SAP Payroll and/or SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP).
• In-depth knowledge of UK payroll legislation, including PAYE, NIC, RTI, statutory payments, and Pension Auto Enrolment.
• Strong Excel capability and experience working with payroll systems.
• Good understanding of GDPR and payroll data confidentiality requirements.
• Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively to deadlines.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with clients and internal teams.

Desirable

• CIPP qualification or working towards a recognised payroll qualification.
• Experience within a payroll BPO or managed payroll environment.
• Knowledge of ROI and wider EMEA payrolls.
• Experience supporting payroll implementations, payroll system upgrades, or client onboarding activities.
• Experience working within ISO-certified environments.

Why Join EMS?

• Remote-first working environment with flexible working arrangements.
• Opportunity to work with a diverse portfolio of payroll clients.
• Exposure to payroll operations, testing activities, and client onboarding projects.
• Collaborative and supportive team culture.
• Opportunities to develop expertise in UK and EMEA payrolls, SAP Payroll, and SAP SuccessFactors ECP.
• A varied role combining payroll delivery, payroll testing, client support, and continuous improvement initiatives.