Payroll Specialist (UK Firm)

UK Accounting Firm Hybrid (Johannesburg, South Africa)

At GCO Partners, we connect exceptional professionals from Africa with global opportunities in leading professional services firms.

We are currently looking for a Payroll Specialist to join our team supporting a well-established UK accounting and advisory firm. In this role, you will work closely with the firm's payroll services team, helping deliver accurate and compliant payroll processing for a portfolio of UK clients.

This is an opportunity to build international payroll expertise while working from South Africa as part of a high-performance, people-first team.

At GCO, our professionals are more than resources. We call them Goldies. They are talented individuals supported to do meaningful work, grow their careers, and contribute to global teams without leaving home.

As part of the payroll services team, you will support payroll processing for multiple UK client companies within a professional services environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Processing weekly, fortnightly, and monthly payrolls for multiple client entities.
• Managing statutory payroll deductions including PAYE, National Insurance, and pension contributions.
• Submitting payroll reports and RTI filings to HMRC.
• Handling payroll changes such as starters, leavers, and salary adjustments.
• Preparing payroll reports and reconciliations for client companies.
• Responding to payroll queries from clients and employees.
• Maintaining accurate payroll records and ensuring compliance with UK payroll regulations.

We are looking for detail-oriented payroll professionals who thrive in structured, compliance-focused environments.

Ideal candidates will have:

3+ years payroll processing experience

Experience working in a professional services environment such as:

• Accounting firms
• Payroll outsourcing companies
• Payroll bureaus

Experience processing multiple payrolls simultaneously.

Strong knowledge of statutory payroll deductions and reporting.

Experience with payroll systems such as:

• Sage Payroll
• BrightPay
• IRIS PayrollADP
• VIP Payroll or SimplePay

Strong Excel and payroll reporting skills.

High attention to detail and strong compliance mindset.

Experience working with UK payroll or HMRC reporting is advantageous but not required.

At GCO Partners, we believe talented professionals should be able to build global careers without uprooting their lives.

When you join GCO, you gain:

• Global client exposure while remaining based in South Africa.
• A people-first environment focused on support and long-term growth.
• Opportunities to build international experience in professional services.
• Access to a community of high-performing professionals across Africa.
• Ongoing support from a dedicated Talent and People team.

Our work is guided by three values: People. Performance. Progress. These principles shape how we collaborate with our clients and how we support our Goldies in building meaningful careers.