Payroll & Benefits Officer

Job description

Payroll & Benefits Officer Vacancy Reference: CLA- 426 Position: Full-time Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Salary: £38,000 - £40,000 At Callen-Lenz, we are expanding the limits of what is possible. We specialise in crewed and uncrewed aircraft operations and technology and having recently received investment into the business we are going through a period of rapid growth and development and are looking for key roles to assist with these changes. Callen-Lenz offers innovative and customer-focused UAS solutions through our 4 key business strands: technical services, products, platforms and operational services. We are looking for individuals to help drive forward our expansion, placing you at forefront of UAS development in the UK. Our Values Innovation Integrity Collaboration Excellence Why Work for Us Based in the heart of rural Wiltshire, close to the Historic city of Salisbury you will join our rapidly growing, friendly and multi-disciplined team, working on a range of diverse and interesting projects, leading the way in this exciting field and witnessing the full lifecycle of our products. The Callen-Lenz team are passionate about what we do, and we are searching for individuals to grow with us as we expand into the aerospace industry. Our benefits include: 25 days annual leave per year (plus bank holidays) Buy/Sell holiday policy up to 5 days either way Pension Scheme via Royal London Company contributed Share Incentive Plan. Green Car Scheme Life assurance scheme (6x basic salary) Income protection policy (75% of basic salary) Private Health Insurance via Bupa Private Dental insurance via Bupa Enhanced Maternity and paternity 1 Professional membership reimbursed per year 1 paid volunteering day per year Access to an independent financial advisor year round Training & development opportunities About the role Reporting to the Head of People, this role manages the end‑to‑end monthly payroll cycle and oversees the administration of the full benefits offering. It acts as the central coordination point between Finance, the People Team, and external partners, ensuring all payroll and benefits activities are delivered consistently, accurately, and in accordance with legal, regulatory, and internal policy requirements. The role also handles employee‑facing payroll and benefits queries, contributing to a smooth and trusted employee experience. Responsibilities Payroll Process monthly UK payroll, including starters, leavers, salary changes, and variable pay. Ensure accurate calculation of pay, deductions, overtime, bonuses, and statutory payments. Administer PAYE, National Insurance, student loans, and court orders. Process statutory payments including SSP, SMP, SAP, and SPP. Manage pension auto enrolment, opt ins and opt outs in line with legislation. Support month end and year end processes. Maintain accurate employee payroll records in compliance with HMRC and company requirements Benefits Administer the full suite of employee benefits including pensions, private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, and salary sacrifice schemes. Act as the main point of contact for employee benefit queries, ensuring a high quality service experience. Support benefits enrolment, renewals, and life event changes. Liaise with benefit providers and brokers to ensure accurate data, timely updates, and correct billing. Maintain accurate benefits records and assist with benefits reporting. Ensure benefits information on Elevate (our employee benefits platform) is accurate, current, and clearly presented, including updating documentation and liaising with the platform provider where required. Support the ongoing management of Total Rewards, including maintaining total reward statements, ensuring data accuracy, and contributing to reward related communications and updates. General Maintain accurate payroll and benefits data, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with GDPR and internal policies. Work closely with HR and Finance to ensure payroll and benefits information is aligned, timely, and correct. Support internal and external payroll and benefits audits, providing reports and documentation where required. Contribute to the continuous improvement of payroll and benefits processes, identifying opportunities for efficiency and better employee experience. Support wider People Team activities, including salary review tasks related to payroll and benefits, contract or data updates, and general People operations as needed. Assist with policy and documentation updates, ensuring payroll and benefits guidance remains accurate and up to date across internal systems and employee resources. Build strong relationships with employees, managers, and external partners, ensuring a consistent, reliable, and service focused approach across all payroll and benefits activities. Perform other related duties as required. Health & Safety Demonstrate in daily activities a commitment to health and safety in the workplace by always ensuring tasks are performed in the safest possible manner Report all hazards and incidents that the individual is party to, or observes, in the correct manner. When required or directed, participate in any health and safety training. Qualifications Desirable: CIPP (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals) Level 3 or Level 5 Training or certification in reward/benefits administration Skills and Experience Essential: Proven experience in a UK payroll role with exposure to benefits administration. Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements and pension auto enrolment. Experience using payroll and HR systems and Excel. High level of accuracy and attention to detail. Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information. Strong organisational and communication skills. Desirable: European payroll experience. Personal Attributes Must be a British Citizen or have an existing right to work in the UK. Ability to commit to occasional national and international travel. A full valid UK driving license. Ability to hold Security Clearance – 5 years residence in the UK. Callen-Lenz is an equal opportunities employer, committed to building an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. It is essential that the successful candidate must, by the start of their employment have permission to work in the UK. Proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK will be required prior to commencement of employment. Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.