Payroll Officer / Manager - MEP Contractor, Essex

About the role

1st Step Solutions is recruiting, on behalf of a multi-disciplinary MEP contractor, an experienced and organised Payroll Officer / Payroll Manager for a permanent position in West Thurrock, Essex. The role sits in the finance team and covers the day-to-day running of the payroll function, including PAYE, CIS and subcontractor payments.

Key responsibilities

• Manage and process weekly and monthly payrolls, including the CIS process for subcontractors
• Handle new starters, leavers, salary changes and employee amendments
• Calculate holiday pay, statutory sick pay, maternity pay and other statutory payments
• Ensure PAYE, National Insurance and other statutory deductions are calculated correctly
• Submit RTI reports to HMRC, including FPS and EPS submissions
• Manage employee pension contributions and auto-enrolment
• Answer payroll queries from employees and management
• Produce payroll reports and keep accurate payroll records
• Verify subcontractors with HMRC, check UTR numbers and deduction status, and process subcontractor payment applications and invoices
• Calculate CIS deductions at the correct rates, prepare and submit monthly CIS returns, and issue monthly CIS deduction statements to subcontractors

Required profile

• Proven payroll experience, ideally in the construction industry
• Strong knowledge of PAYE, National Insurance and HMRC payroll requirements
• Extensive practical experience of the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)
• Experience reconciling payroll, CIS and PAYE accounts
• Previous experience with an MEP contractor, main contractor or construction subcontractor

Required skills

• Experience preparing and submitting CIS returns and making HMRC payments
• Good understanding of subcontractor verification and CIS deduction rates
• Strong Excel and general IT skills
• Experience with Sage, Xero, COINS or similar payroll/accounting software

What we offer

• Competitive salary depending on experience
• Company pension scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Exposure to major MEP and technically complex projects
• Career progression opportunities within a growing business