Payroll Specialist

About the role

John Sisk & Son Ltd is an international construction and engineering business with a long-standing family ownership. The company delivers work across building, infrastructure, rail, energy and off-site manufacturing in Ireland, the UK and Europe, with a focus on helping people build rewarding careers and contribute to meaningful change.

The business is looking for a Payroll Specialist with solid knowledge of UK and Republic of Ireland payrolls. The role centers on processing weekly and monthly payroll accurately and on time for employees across the UK and ROI, while supporting payroll compliance, maintaining clean data and dealing with employee questions. You will work closely with internal teams and clients to help provide a reliable payroll service and continue developing your understanding of payroll legislation in both regions.

This position suits someone with excellent attention to detail, strong organisation and the ability to work to deadlines in a busy environment. Familiarity with payrolls in other European countries would be an advantage.

Payroll processing

• Run payroll for UK and ROI staff and support the full payroll cycle from start to finish.
• Check, input and reconcile payroll information carefully and efficiently.
• Carry out manual calculations when required.
• Handle payroll elements such as basic pay, overtime, bonuses and statutory payments.
• Assist with BACS file preparation and payroll reporting.
• Make sure payroll activity follows UK and ROI tax rules, auto-enrolment requirements and other statutory obligations.

Benefits administration

• Process pension contributions and statutory deductions.
• Administer employee benefits in line with company policy.
• Answer payroll and benefits queries, escalating more complex matters when needed.

Systems and technology

• Use payroll software to maintain employee records and process payroll.
• Keep payroll data accurate and current within the system.
• Help roll out system improvements and process enhancements.
• Work with internal support teams on system changes and updates.

Audit, compliance and confidentiality

• Support payroll audits and internal checks.
• Work in line with GDPR and data protection requirements.
• Protect the confidentiality of payroll and employee records at all times.

Collaboration

• Partner with Payroll, HR and Finance teams to resolve payroll issues.
• Support payroll runs during peak cycles and tight deadlines.
• Help improve payroll processes and overall efficiency.
• Share knowledge and assist colleagues with less experience when needed.

Experience and qualifications

The ideal candidate will have proven in-house payroll experience in the UK or ROI and hands-on exposure to end-to-end payroll processing. A working understanding of payroll legislation in either or both regions is required. Experience with Coins payroll software is desirable, and strong Microsoft Excel skills together with good general systems knowledge are important.

A payroll qualification such as IPASS or CIPP is expected. You should also bring excellent accuracy, analytical thinking, problem-solving ability, and the capacity to juggle multiple priorities while meeting deadlines. Strong communication, interpersonal skills and fluency in spoken and written English are also needed.

What’s on offer

• Competitive pay.
• 26 days of annual leave.
• Pension scheme.
• Health, wellbeing and lifestyle support.
• Career development opportunities.
• Additional benefits through the Total Rewards programme.

Recruitment and working culture

All vacancies are handled directly by the internal recruitment team. Unsolicited CVs and contact from unapproved agencies are not accepted, and no fees will be paid in those cases.

The company is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including those protected by law. Reasonable adjustments can be provided during the recruitment process.

Applicants are encouraged to apply even if they do not meet every requirement, especially if confidence or imposter syndrome may be holding them back. Skills, experience and potential are valued.

Recruitment materials are prepared to meet or exceed applicable legal and regulatory standards, including the Irish and UK Equality Acts and the EU Pay Transparency Directive, to support fairness, transparency and equal access for candidates.