Payroll Specialist

Location: On site / Waterford, Ireland
Job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Finance & Legal Accounting & Payroll
Annual Salary range: from €41,891.00 to €54,212.00

Respond is one of the largest housing associations in Ireland, providing social housing and homeless services. Our vision is that 'every family and individual in Ireland will have high-quality housing as part of a vibrant and caring community'. We are growing rapidly in response to the housing crisis and are now looking for the right person who has the passion and skills to help us realise our vision.

Respond is committed to equal employment and growing a diverse workforce. If you do not "tick every box" there are likely other valuable attributes and skills that you have, that would make you a great fit for the organisation. We welcome applications from people of all cultures, nationalities, genders and from anyone who has historically faced social exclusion. If you feel this role is for you, then please apply.

Role: Payroll Specialist

Location: Respond Head Office, Airmount, Dominick Place, Waterford

Terms: Permanent / Full Time Contract

Job Purpose: To ensure the accurate, timely and controlled delivery of Respond's payroll processes, with a strong focus on operational resilience, compliance, data validation and effective coordination between Finance, People & Culture and operational teams.

Core Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage the end-to-end processing of weekly and monthly payroll for Respond, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time.
• Provide operational guidance to colleagues involved in payroll processing, subject to agreed reporting lines and role responsibilities.
• Ensure payroll is processed in line with Revenue requirements, employment legislation, internal policies and agreed payroll deadlines.
• Oversee payroll calculations including starters, leavers, salary changes, additional hours, deductions, statutory payments, pensions, salary banking and payroll adjustments.
• Prepare and review payroll-related documentation and statutory outputs, including year-end payroll documentation and other required payroll returns.
• Ensure Revenue Payroll Notifications are reviewed and applied appropriately before payroll processing.
• Review payroll outputs, exception reports, reconciliations and control checks before final approval and submission.
• Reconcile payroll control accounts on Exchequer and ensure reconciling items are investigated and resolved promptly.
• Prepare monthly payroll journals and ensure payroll costs are accurately reflected in the finance system.
• Prepare monthly payroll reports and provide payroll information to support management reporting, budgeting and financial planning.
• Prepare CSO quarterly returns and other payroll related statutory or regulatory reports as required.
• Prepare annual wage increase calculations and support implementation of approved pay changes.
• Complete payroll year end processes and support new tax year creation and set up.
• Assist in the preparation of payroll budgets and related analysis.
• Provide backup support and develop sufficient knowledge to support pension related processes where required.
• Respond to internal and external payroll queries in a professional, timely and confidential manner.
• Support the preparation of payroll related returns, reports and audit documentation, including Revenue, CSO, pension and internal reporting requirements.
• Engage in system development projects where appropriate, and support practical improvements to payroll input processes.
• Assist with documenting Financial Control / Departmental Procedures.
• Any other duties that may arise from time to time.
• Support continuous improvement of payroll processes by identifying recurring data quality, timing and handoff issues and escalating root cause matters to the relevant source data owners.
• Develop and maintain clear payroll input frameworks, standardised templates, validation checks and exception reporting to reduce rework and support first time right payroll processing.
• Work with People & Culture, Finance and operational teams to improve accountability for payroll inputs, agree clear handoff points and strengthen documented procedures, controls and escalation routes.

Technical Skills / Personal Attributes:

• IT literate and fully proficient in Microsoft packages including PowerPoint, Excel and Word.
• Experience working with Micropay, or similar payroll packages.
• Experience with Cezanne or another HR information system.
• IPASS or similar payroll certification desirable but not essential.

Desired Skills / Attributes:

• Strong technical knowledge of payroll legislation and compliance requirements.
• Attention to detail and excellent numerical skills.
• Strong communication and organisational skills, confidentiality, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience supporting HR/payroll system integration, automation or digital transformation projects.
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma or structured process improvement methodologies.
• Experience in a not-for-profit, housing, public service or regulated environment.

Experience: Position requires 3-5 years of payroll processing experience.

Closing Date for Applicants is 24th July 2026