Payroll Projects Senior Assistant

Business Area: Finance and Accounting

Contract Type: Fixed Term Full Time

Salary: £35,000 - £40,000

Workplace: MediaCity, Manchester + Hybrid (Minimum of 2 office-based days per week)

Closing Date: 1st September 2026

The team..

The People Payments team operates at the heart of ITV's HR and Finance operations, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing across all legal entities. We are a collaborative, customer-focused team dedicated to operational excellence, continuous improvement, and strong data governance. Working closely with broader HR and Finance functions, our team manages end-to-end payroll data, supports critical project and compliance initiatives, and handles payroll cutover and hypercare activities in a fast-paced environment.

The role..

We’re looking for a Payroll Projects Senior Assistant to join our team on a 10-month fixed-term contract basis. Reporting directly to the Payroll Project & Compliance Manager, you will play a crucial role in supporting payroll project and compliance activities, with a primary focus on the M&E Payroll.

In this varied and detail-driven role, you will be responsible for supporting the accurate and timely processing of payroll data and payments across all ITV legal entities. You will execute end-to-end payroll transactions, perform reconciliations, carry out User Acceptance Testing (UAT), maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and manage payroll-related queries via our helpdesk and shared inboxes.

Some of your key day to day responsibilities will include:

• Processing payroll-related transactions, including new starters, leavers, employee movements, variable pay, bonuses, overtime, freelancer contract payments, VAT, salary adjustments, and temporary responsibility payments.
• Calculating and processing family leave, secondments, sabbaticals, pension-related adjustments, overpayment recoveries, and retroactive post-payroll analysis.

Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)

• 5 GCSEs at grades A–C including English and Maths (or equivalent).
• Recent experience in an administrative or support position, preferably within payroll, finance, or high-volume payment processing environments.
• Accurate, high-speed data entry skills with high attention to detail, proficient in Microsoft Word/Excel or Google Docs/Sheets.
• Confident handling of confidential and sensitive information with a sound understanding of GDPR and data protection regulations.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with proven experience logging, tracking, and resolving queries professionally.
• Familiarity with basic accounting principles and comfort working within established policies, procedures, and best practices.

Other things we’re looking for (key criteria)

• Previous experience processing end-to-end payroll, alongside familiarity with Oracle Fusion or similar HCM/bespoke payment systems.
• Knowledge and awareness of current payroll legislation (e.g., HMRC rules, Data Protection, Employment Rights).

Potential Challenges

• May require occasional travel within the UK.
• Requires flexibility in working hours during peak payroll cycles and critical project deliverables.

Please note, on occasion we may receive a very large volume of applications which means applications for a role may close earlier than the referenced closing date. We’d encourage you to apply as soon as possible if interested.