Payroll & Bookkeeping Specialist | UK hours

About the role

Our client in the UK is looking for an experienced Payroll & Bookkeeping Specialist to join their UK-based accounting practice. This role is suited to someone with strong UK payroll and bookkeeping experience who can independently manage a portfolio of clients, take ownership of their accounts and act as their first point of contact.

You will be responsible for end-to-end payroll processing, bookkeeping, CIS returns and VAT preparation across multiple UK clients. You will work closely with the Operations Director, ensuring accuracy, meeting deadlines and maintaining strong client relationships.

This position offers an excellent opportunity for someone looking to develop into a senior position, with a clear progression pathway towards reviewing work and eventually overseeing the bookkeeping team.

Responsibilities

• Manage your own portfolio of UK payroll, bookkeeping and CIS clients, acting as their primary point of contact.
• Process weekly and monthly payrolls from start to finish, including RTI submissions, auto-enrolment pensions, statutory payments, starters and leavers, P11Ds, P60s and year-end processes.
• Prepare and submit monthly CIS returns, including contractor verifications and deductions.
• Handle full-cycle bookkeeping, including bank reconciliations, purchase and sales ledgers, month-end processes and UK VAT returns in line with Making Tax Digital (MTD) requirements.
• Maintain accurate financial records, manage deadlines and communicate directly with clients regarding their payroll and bookkeeping needs.
• Work closely with the Operations Director, taking responsibility for the quality and accuracy of your work while progressively taking on additional responsibilities.

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years of hands-on UK payroll experience within an accounting practice, payroll bureau or outsourced environment, managing multiple external client payrolls (both weekly and monthly). Single in-house payroll experience will not meet the requirement.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation and HMRC systems, including RTI (FPS/EPS), auto-enrolment, statutory payments, P11Ds, P60s and year-end procedures.
• Practical experience preparing and submitting monthly CIS returns, including contractor verifications, deductions and CIS300 submissions.
• Strong UK bookkeeping experience across multiple clients, including reconciliations, ledgers, month-end processes and VAT returns under MTD.
• Strong Xero experience is essential , with BrightPay experience strongly preferred. Familiarity with Karbon, Dext or AutoEntry would be advantageous.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple client accounts independently.
• Confident communication skills, with the ability to handle client calls and build trusted client relationships.
• AAT, ACCA, CIMA, SAIPA or CIPP qualifications, Xero or BrightPay certifications, and previous experience reviewing work or supervising junior team members would be advantageous.

Role Progression

The successful candidate will initially focus on managing their own portfolio of payroll, bookkeeping and CIS clients, with regular guidance and reviews from the Operations Director.

Within the first 90 days, the expectation is to manage payrolls accurately and on time, build trusted client relationships and progressively work with greater independence.

Following a performance review at 6–9 months, there will be an opportunity to take on responsibility for reviewing other bookkeepers' work and VAT returns, with the longer-term progression towards overseeing the bookkeeping team.