JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB DESCRIPTION
Senior Payroll Specialist- UK&ROI
Senior Payroll Specialist , UK & ROI
Because we strive to put people first.
Culture, our way.
Payroll at Primark
What’s a career at Primark all about? The positive impact you’re making, the experiences you’re having and the people you’re with. You’re our inspiration. Embrace what sets you apart, own your career and develop in ways you never expected. Leave your mark. And do it your way.
What You’ll Get
People are at the heart of what we do here, so it’s essential we provide you with the right environment to perform at your very best
Let’s talk lifestyle: Healthcare, pension, and potential bonus. 27 days of leave, plus bank holidays and if you want, you can buy 5 more. Because Primark is all about tailoring to you, we offer Tax Saver Tickets, fitness centre, and a subsidised cafeteria.
What You’ll Do as aSenior Payroll Specialist , UK & ROI
Duties & Responsibilities
What You’ll Bring
Here at Primark, we want everyone to feel valued – so please bring your authentic self to work, of course with some other key experience and abilities for this role in particular:
Does this sound like you? Great, because we can’t wait to see what you’ll bring. You’ll be supported within a team of equally capable people, celebrating who you are and aiding you reach your potential. At Primark, we’re excited about our future - and we’re excited to develop yours.
About Primark
At Primark, people matter. They’re the beating heart of our business and the reason we’ve grown from our first store in Dublin in 1969 to a £9bn+ turnover business and over 80,000 colleagues and over 440 stores in 17 countries today. Our values run through everything we do. In essence, we're Caring and always strive to put people first. We're also Dynamic, bravely pushing the boundaries to stay ahead. And finally, we succeed Together.
If you need any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request, during your recruitment journey, such as extended time or breaks between online assessments, a sign language interpreter, mobility access, or assistive technology please contact your talent acquisition specialist.
All offers of employment are subject to background checks, including right to work, reference education and for some roles criminal, and financial checks. If you have any concerns, please reach out to our talent acquisition team to discuss.
146006BR
#LI-AK1
Apply
Because we strive to put people first.
Culture, our way.
Payroll at Primark
What’s a career at Primark all about? The positive impact you’re making, the experiences you’re having and the people you’re with. You’re our inspiration. Embrace what sets you apart, own your career and develop in ways you never expected. Leave your mark. And do it your way.
What You’ll Get
People are at the heart of what we do here, so it’s essential we provide you with the right environment to perform at your very best
Let’s talk lifestyle: Healthcare, pension, and potential bonus. 27 days of leave, plus bank holidays and if you want, you can buy 5 more. Because Primark is all about tailoring to you, we offer Tax Saver Tickets, fitness centre, and a subsidised cafeteria.
What You’ll Do as aSenior Payroll Specialist , UK & ROI
Duties & Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end, in-house processing of our UK and ROI payrolls, including all employee types: salaried, hourly, part-time, and seasonal.
- Process starters, leavers, contractual changes, variable pay elements (overtime, bonuses, commissions), and statutory payments.
- Collaborate with P&C to ensure payroll data is accurately maintained in the HRIS (e.g., Workday)
- Ensure strict compliance with UK (HMRC, RTI, P11D, auto-enrolment) and Irish (Revenue, PRSI, USC) payroll legislation and statutory requirements.
- Manage statutory year-end processes: P60s, P45s, P11Ds (UK), and other ROI filings.
- Stay up to date with regulatory changes and ensure timely system and process updates.
- Conduct regular payroll reconciliations and ensure accuracy between payroll, HR, and finance systems.
- Work with Finance to post payroll journals, reconcile payroll accounts, and support month- and year-end close.
- Assist with internal/external audits by providing reports, documentation, and process walk-throughs.
- Act as a senior point of contact for complex payroll queries from employees and internal teams.
- Support payroll onboarding for new employees and offboarding for leavers.
- Partner with Retail Operations and P&C to manage fluctuations in headcount and seasonal peaks (e.g., Christmas hiring).
- Proactively identify and lead payroll process improvements, automation initiatives, and control enhancements.
- Support integration projects between HRIS and payroll systems.
- Provide training, mentoring, and quality checks for junior payroll staff or P&C partners.
- Monitor work against deadlines and alert payroll Manager to any risks
- Work with the team to ensure that company and team procedures and policies are followed so that payrolls are delivered accurately
- Provide cover for Payroll Manager including by partnering with other Payroll specialists on payroll sign off and other high priority tasks
- Work closely with Compliance and Governance team ensuring we are delivering consistently in a compliant way.
What You’ll Bring
Here at Primark, we want everyone to feel valued – so please bring your authentic self to work, of course with some other key experience and abilities for this role in particular:
- 5+ years of hands-on, in-house payroll processing experience for both UK and ROI.
- Strong working knowledge of UK and Irish payroll legislation and best practices.
- Experience working with high-volume, hourly paid, and shift-based employees — ideally in a retail, logistics, or hospitality environment.
- Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, formulas, reconciliation).
- Experience with payroll software (e.g., SD Worx, MHR, Iris, or similar) and HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday, Oracle, SAP).
- Detail-oriented with a proactive, solution-focused mindset.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- CIPP (UK) or IPASS (ROI) qualification desirable
- Knowledge of Alteryx desirable
- Familiarity with rostering/scheduling systems (e.g., Kronos, Quinyx) desirable
- Organised and focussed approach
- Capable of making routine decisions on the team, recognising boundaries and knowing when to escalate
- Ability to use correct tone and approach in dealings within the team
- Remaining calm under pressure and can deal with multiple priorities
- Demonstrates flexibility whilst always keeping priorities and timelines in mind
- Supports team members in training and learning
- Is a collaborative team player with good interpersonal/communication skills.
Does this sound like you? Great, because we can’t wait to see what you’ll bring. You’ll be supported within a team of equally capable people, celebrating who you are and aiding you reach your potential. At Primark, we’re excited about our future - and we’re excited to develop yours.
About Primark
At Primark, people matter. They’re the beating heart of our business and the reason we’ve grown from our first store in Dublin in 1969 to a £9bn+ turnover business and over 80,000 colleagues and over 440 stores in 17 countries today. Our values run through everything we do. In essence, we're Caring and always strive to put people first. We're also Dynamic, bravely pushing the boundaries to stay ahead. And finally, we succeed Together.
If you need any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request, during your recruitment journey, such as extended time or breaks between online assessments, a sign language interpreter, mobility access, or assistive technology please contact your talent acquisition specialist.
All offers of employment are subject to background checks, including right to work, reference education and for some roles criminal, and financial checks. If you have any concerns, please reach out to our talent acquisition team to discuss.
146006BR
#LI-AK1
MEET YOUR COLLEAGUES
-
May 02, 2024
-
Meet Humphrey, our Head of Digital ExperienceWe sat down with Humphrey Rose to talk about our Digital journey, what we're working on and the opportunities that brings for our colleagues to make a huge impact. January 20, 2025 Article Our People Stories Digital, Tech & Data Content Hub Related Content - Digital, Tech & Data Related Content - Digital
-
Craig My Primark StoryMeet Craig. One of our Team Managers at Primark OSE. Craig’s always had the eye for commerce. At Tottenham Court Road Primark, he’s bringing his vision to life! July 04, 2024 Article Our People Stories In-store Content Hub Related Content - Instore
-
Digital, Tech & DataWhether you love the possibilities of the latest tech, thrive with all the data in front of you, or digital marketing gets your creative brain going, there's a role for you at Primark. February 01, 2018 Related Content - Digital, Tech & Data Related Content - Digital
-
Our Dublin Head OfficeRedesigned in 2015, this amazing hub is home to over 1,000 talented, interesting, and unique people who can't wait to welcome you to the team. Enjoy the fun, friendly, inclusive atmosphere, and all the incredible facilities that make our office so much more than just a workspace. July 12, 2024 5 minute read Article About us Primark Locations Content Hub Related Content - Head office
-
Harrish My Primark StoryFind out about Harrish and his role as our Senior Ethical Trade Executive - Western Europe, Africa and the Americas July 04, 2024 Article Our People Stories Ethical Trade Content Hub Related Content - Head office Related Content - Ethical
-
Meet DougieDougie is one of our Buyers. Find out more about his career story at Primark July 04, 2024 Article Our People Stories Buying, Merchandising & Design Content Hub Related Content - Head office Related Content - Buying, Merchandising & Design Related Content - Buying
-
Nigel's StoryMeet Nigel, one of our Retail Assistants. Find out more about his story and what makes life at Primark different for him. July 10, 2024 Article Our People Stories In-store Content Hub Related Content - Instore
-
Oscar My Primark StoryFind out about Oscar and his role as a Visual Merchandising Manager. July 12, 2024 Article Our People Stories Visual Merchandising Content Hub Related Content - Instore
-
Ikram My Primark StoryMeet Ikram, a Team Leader at our Sawgrass Mills store! Find out more about her story and the role of a Team Leader. July 12, 2024 Article Our People Stories In-store Content Hub Related Content - Instore
-
Emeir My Primark StoryFind out about Emeir's amazing career journey at Primark. July 25, 2024 Article Our People Stories Marketing & Brand Content Hub Related Content - Head office
-
Let's Talk Adaptive with Ann Marie & ChristineAs part of our adaptive range launch, Ann Marie and Christine sat down to chat about their involvement in bringing the product to life. February 13, 2025 Article Our People Stories Values & Diversity Buying, Merchandising & Design Content Hub Related Content - Buying, Merchandising & Design
-
Meet Daniela, Our Senior SEO ManagerWe caught up with Daniela to dive into the world of SEO at Primark. January 20, 2025 Article Our People Stories Digital, Tech & Data Content Hub Related Content - Head office Related Content - Digital, Tech & Data Related Content - Digital
-
Meet Lauren, Our Ecommerce Trading ManagerWe caught up with Lauren to talk about her role within Digital at Primark. January 29, 2025 Article Our People Stories Digital, Tech & Data Content Hub Related Content - Digital, Tech & Data Related Content - Digital
-
PRIMARK IS A TOP EMPLOYER!We're thrilled to be named a Top Employer for 2025 for a second consecutive year. February 19, 2025 Article Our People Stories Content Hub
-
Leading with Values: Building Success TogetherMeet Julien and learn how he and his team have embraced our Values & Behaviours. March 26, 2025 Article Our People Stories In-store Content Hub Related Content - Instore
-
Sandra's StoryWe sat down with Sandra, one of our Payroll Specialists to find out more about her career journey to date. April 16, 2025 About us Our People Stories Finance Content Hub
-
Trend ReportHow Automation, and Global Mobility Are Transforming Payroll at Primark April 16, 2025 Article Finance Content Hub Related Content - Finance
-
Payroll at PrimarkA Primark payroll career has a massive global impact - from the UK and Ireland to Centre Easter Europe and the US, Payroll supports some pretty impressive functions, like expanding into new markets and supporting innovative global strategies. April 09, 2025 Article About us Finance Content Hub Related Content - Finance
Sign Up for
job alerts
Sign up for email job alerts for future roles with Primark using the form! We will use the details you provide only to inform you about future vacancies that match your search criteria if and when they become available.