Payroll and Benefits Partner

Joining the Hakim Group means becoming part of a close-knit family of independent optical practices across the UK and Ireland.

A place where empowerment, innovation and support create a genuinely rewarding career. As our business continues to grow, we are investing in the future of payroll through our Payroll 2030 strategy, strengthening our payroll and benefits function to deliver exceptional service, compliance and colleague experience across the Group.

We are now looking for a Payroll & Benefits Partner to join our payroll team and play a key role in supporting payroll operations, pensions governance and employee benefits administration.

In return for your expertise and commitment, we’re offering:
• A competitive salary based on experience and impact.
• Access to our employee health plan and financial flexibility fund.
• A rewards portal full of exclusive offers and benefits.
• A vibrant calendar of team events and celebrations that bring our culture to life.

Most importantly, you’ll be part of a supportive, growing team where accuracy, care, and collaboration are at the heart of everything we do.

We're looking for a proactive and detail-oriented Payroll & Benefits Partner to play a key role in delivering an exceptional payroll and benefits experience across the Group.

This is a varied role that combines payroll operations, pensions administration, employee benefits and compliance. You'll be a trusted point of contact for colleagues and stakeholders, helping to ensure payroll is delivered accurately, benefits are administered effectively, and processes remain compliant and efficient.

As part of our Payroll 2030 strategy, you'll also have the opportunity to contribute to ongoing improvements, helping us streamline processes, enhance colleague experience and build a payroll function fit for the future.

If you enjoy solving problems, building strong relationships and working in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same, we'd love to hear from you.

ABOUT OUR PAYROLL FUNCTION

Our payroll operation is significantly more complex than a traditional in-house payroll environment.

The team supports:

• Over 500 employing entities
• Approximately 375 PAYE references
• Simultaneous payroll processing across multiple companies
• UK payroll operations
• Republic of Ireland payroll
• Isle of Man payroll
• Guernsey payroll
• Jersey payroll
• Ongoing acquisitions and onboarding activity
• Multiple pension schemes and salary sacrifice arrangements
• HMRC audits and compliance activity
• Payroll transformation and automation projects through our Payroll 2030 strategy

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys variety, thrives in a fast-paced environment and can confidently manage payroll, pensions and benefits across a complex organisation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the accurate and timely delivery of monthly payrolls across the Group.
• Act as a key point of contact for payroll, pension and benefits queries.
• Manage pension administration, compliance activities and auto-enrolment processes.
• Administer employee benefits including healthcare, salary sacrifice schemes and company cars.
• Carry out payroll checks, reconciliations and reporting to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Work closely with People, Finance and external providers to resolve payroll and benefits matters.
• Support process improvements and payroll transformation initiatives as part of Payroll 2030.
• Promote a positive colleague experience through responsive and accurate payroll support.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

We're looking for someone who combines strong payroll knowledge with excellent organisation and stakeholder management skills.

Essential

• Experience working within payroll, benefits or pensions administration.
• Strong understanding of payroll processes and statutory requirements.
• Experience managing employee benefits and pension schemes.
• Strong Excel skills and confidence working with payroll systems.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• A proactive approach and commitment to continuous improvement.

Desirable

• Experience with Sage, iTrent or similar payroll systems.
• Experience working within a multi-site or complex organisation.
• Knowledge of payroll compliance, audits and reporting.
• Experience supporting payroll improvement or transformation projects.

Click apply now and a member of our recruitment team will be in touch