Payroll Administrator

About the role

This opportunity sits within a well-established professional services organisation in Ireland with operations across Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick, and a wider international network spanning more than 100 countries and territories. The business is focused on growth, strong client service, and creating meaningful impact for people, communities and the environment.

The organisation promotes an inclusive, people-first culture where colleagues are encouraged to grow professionally, work with integrity, and contribute to a supportive workplace.

Role overview

The Payroll Administrator will take ownership of the payroll process from start to finish, making sure pay runs are accurate, compliant, and completed on schedule. The role also supports month-end close work, including staff cost journals, balance sheet reconciliations, and statutory submissions. This is a role in a professional services setting, so a high level of confidentiality, precision, technical ability, and the discipline to meet tight deadlines are essential.

Key responsibilities

• Run monthly payroll end-to-end for all applicable employee groups, including partners, permanent employees and fixed-term staff.
• Keep payroll records current for new hires, exits, pay changes, bonuses, taxable benefits, statutory leave, deductions and other adjustments.
• Check that payroll inputs are complete, approved and aligned with internal controls and payroll schedules.
• Work closely with HR on employee updates, contract changes and payroll-related questions.
• Handle employee payroll queries in a professional and discreet manner.
• Ensure payroll activity complies with Irish legislation and Revenue obligations.
• Prepare and file all necessary Revenue payroll returns, including ROS submissions and statutory reporting.
• Manage pension contribution administration and provide data to pension providers.
• Support year-end payroll activities such as gender pay gap reporting, annual Revenue filings and related reconciliations or audits.
• Stay informed about updates in payroll law, tax rules and employment legislation.
• Review employee expense claims against travel, subsistence and tax rules.
• Verify supporting evidence such as VAT receipts and highlight any irregular or non-compliant claims for review.
• Oversee the reimbursement process so expenses are processed on time within monthly pay cycles.
• Identify taxable benefits arising from specific expense types and ensure they are correctly reported for year-end purposes.
• Act as the main contact for expense-related employee queries and provide guidance on eligible costs and submission deadlines.
• Prepare monthly spend reports for Finance to support budget tracking, trend review and VAT recovery.
• Post monthly payroll and staff cost journals to the general ledger.
• Reconcile payroll control accounts, pension balances and payroll accruals.
• Support management accounts preparation by supplying payroll cost information and explanations for variances.
• Assist with payroll accruals and prepayments where needed.
• Work with finance reporting teams so payroll costs are accurately captured in monthly results.
• Provide payroll cost analysis and ad hoc reports for internal reporting needs.
• Prepare monthly headcount reports for group reporting.
• Support internal cost allocations and partner reporting, making sure costs are posted to the correct cost centre and linked to the relevant revenue.
• Contribute to staff cost forecasting within the FP&A process.
• Protect data integrity for reporting and business decision-making downstream.
• Maintain effective payroll controls, including approvals, documentation and segregation of duties.
• Support internal and external audits with payroll data, reconciliations and explanations.
• Help improve payroll processes, documentation and controls over time.
• Keep payroll procedures accurate and assist with updates to process documentation.

Ideal candidate

The company is looking for someone with hands-on payroll administration experience, strong knowledge of Irish payroll rules and Revenue requirements, and the confidence to work accurately in a deadline-driven environment. The right person will be organised, discreet, proactive and comfortable working both independently and as part of a wider team.

Additional information

The employer states that it is an equal opportunities organisation. By applying, candidates consent to their personal data being processed for recruitment purposes. The company also notes that it generally recruits directly and works with agencies only through approved contractual arrangements; unsolicited CVs from agencies will not be eligible for introduction fees.

The role is based in County Dublin, Ireland and is full-time and onsite.

Why join

This position offers the chance to join a collaborative and ambitious professional services firm, contribute to a people-focused culture, and play an important part in payroll accuracy, compliance and financial reporting.