Compensation Benefits Specialist

Description:

Meraki Talent is partnering with a leading brokerage house to hire an experienced Compensation & Benefits Specialist for their HR team. The role involves managing multiple international payrolls, providing detailed employee advice on payroll, tax, salary, pensions, and benefits changes, and supporting budgeting and compliance activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage seven monthly international payrolls across different business entities

• Interpret and explain tax codes, statutory payments (maternity/paternity pay), and regulatory changes

• Handle P11Ds, PSA calculations, NIC on benefits, and HMRC submissions

• Oversee benefits administration including pensions enrolment, contributions, and salary sacrifice schemes

• Manage renewals for life assurance, critical illness cover, private medical insurance, travel insurance, and income protection

• Prepare and monitor departmental salary and operating budgets

• Collaborate with Global Mobility and wider HR teams for monthly headcount and cost centre reports

• Monitor actuals against forecasts and ensure correct cost allocations

• Conduct annual compensation and benefits surveys and contribute to UK & Europe benchmarking

• Provide clear guidance to employees on payroll, taxation, and benefits matters

Person Specification:

• 5+ years experience in payroll, tax, and benefits preferably in financial services or trading firms

• Experience managing payroll for multi-entity businesses (not payroll bureaus)

• Strong understanding of UK tax laws and payroll regulations

• Knowledge of pensions and benefits schemes

• Familiarity with payroll systems (preferably Moorepay, ADP, or Sage)

• Experience with budgeting and accounting processes

• Exceptional accuracy, attention to detail, and analytical skills

• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables

• Strong organisation, time management, and decision-making skills

• Proactive and independent, able to meet strict deadlines especially during payroll cycles