Benefits & Payroll Administrator (9 month FTC)

Eurofins Forensic Services (EFS) is the largest forensic service provider in the UK and Europe. We are part of Eurofins Scientific, which is an international life sciences company, providing a unique range of analytical testing services to clients across multiple industries, to make life and our environment safer, healthier and more sustainable. From the food you eat, to the water you drink, to the medicines you rely on and forensics. Eurofins laboratories work with the biggest companies in the world to ensure the products they supply are safe, their ingredients are authentic, and labelling is accurate. Eurofins is dedicated to delivering testing services that contribute to the health and safety of society and the planet, and to its corporate responsibility to protect the environment and ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion across the entire network of Eurofins companies.

In over 35 years, Eurofins has grown from one laboratory in Nantes, France, to 61,000 staff across a decentralised and entrepreneurial network of approximately 900 laboratories in 61 countries. Eurofins companies offer a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods to evaluate the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability and purity of biological substances and products. In 2025, Eurofins generated total revenues of EUR 7.2 billion and has been among the best performing stocks in Europe over the past 20 years.

Eurofins Forensic Services (EFS) laboratories are amongst the most advanced analytical facilities in Europe, enabling the company to offer a complete and comprehensive range of independent and innovative forensic testing solutions to police forces, legal and criminal justice organisations throughout the UK and Europe.

We are looking for a detail-driven and customer-focused Payroll & Benefits Administrator to join our HR team on a 9-month fixed-term contract. This role will support Seren Laboratory Services (SLS) and Lextox, while also providing wider payroll and benefits support across the UK Forensic Business Line.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in a significant HR and Payroll system transition project, helping to ensure a smooth implementation and migration while maintaining high standards of payroll and benefits administration throughout. Working closely with HR, Finance, managers and external providers, you will support a range of payroll and benefits activities, ensuring processes are accurate, compliant and delivered to agreed timescales.

As a trusted point of contact for employees and stakeholders, you will assist with payroll processing, benefits administration, data management, system testing and process improvements, helping to enhance the employee experience and support the successful delivery of this important business initiative.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Payroll

• Prepare documentation and complete system updates in an accurate and timely manner for two monthly payrolls and one weekly payroll, for submission to the third-party payroll provider, including:
  • New starters (HMRC New Starter Checklists and/or P45s)
  • Changes to salary and allowances
  • Leavers (including holiday pay, benefit recoveries, PILON, redundancy payments)
  • Zero-hours and variable pay
  • Bonus and incentive payments (annual and ad hoc)
  • Overtime and on-call payments
  • Unpaid leave and sickness
  • Parental leave (Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared Parental, Ordinary Parental Leave)
  • Statutory notifications and statutory payments

Additional responsibilities include:

• Managing the monthly payroll checking process and obtaining approval from senior leadership/finance prior to finalisation.
• Responding to and resolving payroll queries, escalating to the third-party provider where required.
• Supporting HMRC and PwC audits by providing required payroll data and documentation.

Employee Lifecycle

• Manage payroll-related aspects of the employee lifecycle, including:
  • Payroll setup and benefits enrolment for new starters
  • Processing leavers (final pay, benefits cessation, recovery of outstanding balances)
  • Managing contractual changes affecting pay and benefits
  • Maintaining accurate employee records across HR and payroll systems
  • Managing payroll and benefits queries through shared HR inboxes
  • Recording and filing sickness notifications and medical certificates, with escalation of SSP/half pay triggers or absence concerns where appropriate.

Benefits Administration

• Administer and promoting employee benefit schemes across the UK Forensic Business Line, including:
  • Benefits platforms (e.g. Reward Gateway, Perkbox, Benenden)
  • Pension administration, including auto-enrolment compliance
  • Salary sacrifice schemes and associated payroll deductions
  • Maintaining accurate records and ensuring timely processing of changes
  • Acting as first point of contact for employee benefits queries
  • Supporting annual renewals and enrolment cycles
  • Liaising with external providers to resolve issues and maintain service standards
  • Administering P11D and PSA data collection

Additional Duties

• Processing third-party invoices
• Providing ad hoc HR administrative support to the wider HR team

Essential

• Proven experience in payroll administration (in-house or outsourced) 
• Strong working knowledge of UK payroll legislation (PAYE, NI, statutory payments) 
• Experience administering employee benefits and pension schemes 
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail 
• Experience using HR, payroll and benefits systems 

Desirable

• Payroll or HR qualification (e.g. CIPP, CIPD) 
• Experience supporting multiple business units or legal entities 
• Experience using benefits platforms such as Reward Gateway or Perkbox 

Person Specification

• A proactive, positive ‘can do’ attitude with a demonstrable commitment to delivering a quality service.
• Remains calm under pressure and can appropriately prioritise tasks in a fast paced environment.
• Ability to work flexibly by demonstrating excellent organisational skills and strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrate initiative to identify and suggest areas for improvement relating to working practices, policies and process
• Excellent interpersonal skills with both internal and external customers.
• Operates in a sensitive and confidential way and within given timeframes.
• Demonstrates the Eurofins Forensic Services company values; Customer Focus, Quality, Competence & Team Spirit and Integrity. 

What We Offer

We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays 
• Enhanced company pension scheme 
• Life assurance 
• Enhanced family leave and sick pay
• Perkbox benefits, discounts and wellbeing support including Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work scheme & volunteering days
• Free on-site parking (site dependant)