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Payroll Delivery Specialist - Fixed Term Contract Ending in December 2026

Northampton, United Kingdom

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Northampton, England

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Date live: 02/04/2026

Business Area: HR

Area of Expertise: Human Resources

Reference Code: JR-0000080630

Contract: Temp/Contractor Payroll (Fixed Term)

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In this Payroll Specialist role you will manage end‑to‑end payroll activities for a portfolio of European countries, with a strong focus on France and Belgium, ensuring the timely and accurate delivery of monthly payrolls. You will handle BAU payroll operations, including resolving customer queries, validating changes to employee pay, completing monthly controls, and supporting HR Operations teams to meet SLA commitments. In addition to monthly responsibilities, you will carry out quarterly activities such as internal audits, reconciliation checks, and governance reviews. You will act as a key point of contact for internal stakeholders and third‑party payroll providers, supporting system changes, maintaining documentation, and ensuring all time‑management, screening, and monthly sign‑off processes are completed accurately and on time.

You will support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying process optimisation opportunities, maintaining compliance standards, and contributing to the professionalisation of European payroll operations. You will act with strong attention to detail, proactively managing risk events and overpayment recovery processes while ensuring all payroll controls are executed correctly. In this role, you will work closely with colleagues across HR and Payroll, collaborating respectfully within a fast‑paced, team‑oriented environment. While not essential, the ability to speak French is beneficial. This position is ideal for someone eager to learn, comfortable navigating the complexities of European payroll (which differs significantly from UK payroll), and motivated by delivering high‑quality service.

To be successful as a Payroll Specialist, you should have experience with:

  • Proven payroll experience, with solid European payroll delivery expertise.

  • Ability to handle complex payroll issues, work under pressure, and meet strict deadlines.

  • Prioritisation skills, self‑discipline, and motivation to succeed in a fast‑paced environment.

  • Clear and confident communication with stakeholders at all levels.

  • Attention to detail and accuracy during high‑volume periods.

  • Experience using ADP system.

Other highly valued skills include:

  • Experience using Workday.

  • French communication skills (written and verbal) are desirable

  • Understanding of finance processes linked to payroll (e.g., reconciliations, audits).

You may be assessed on the key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen, strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job-specific technical skills.

Your role will be based from our Northampton office.

Purpose of the role

To manage payroll functions, including calculating employee pay, withholding taxes, and any other deductions, as well as maintaining accurate payroll records for the business. 

Accountabilities

  • Processing of payroll for hourly, salaried, and commissioned employees, calculating tax and other contributions, withholding, and paying out as appropriate.
  • Employee payroll record administration and troubleshooting.
  • Guidance and support to employees on all payroll matters, including queries related to calculations of salaries and wages, overtime, bonuses, and commissions.
  • Compliance related statutory filings including the management of the reply to Government institution notices related to all Statutory obligations.
  • Payroll statutory reporting and filing including liaison with relevant local tax authorities.

Analyst Expectations

  • To perform prescribed activities in a timely manner and to a high standard consistently driving continuous improvement.
  • Requires in-depth technical knowledge and experience in their assigned area of expertise
  • Thorough understanding of the underlying principles and concepts within the area of expertise
  • They lead and supervise a team, guiding and supporting professional development, allocating work requirements and coordinating team resources.
  • If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.
  • OR for an individual contributor, they develop technical expertise in work area, acting as an advisor where appropriate.
  • Will have an impact on the work of related teams within the area.
  • Partner with other functions and business areas.
  • Takes responsibility for end results of a team’s operational processing and activities.
  • Escalate breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
  • Take responsibility for embedding new policies/ procedures adopted due to risk mitigation.
  • Advise and influence decision making within own area of expertise.
  • Take ownership for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work you own or contribute to. Deliver your work and areas of responsibility in line with relevant rules, regulation and codes of conduct.
  • Maintain and continually build an understanding of how own sub-function integrates with function, alongside knowledge of the organisations products, services and processes within the function.
  • Demonstrate understanding of how areas coordinate and contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the organisation sub-function.
  • Make evaluative judgements based on the analysis of factual information, paying attention to detail.
  • Resolve problems by identifying and selecting solutions through the application of acquired technical experience and will be guided by precedents.
  • Guide and persuade team members and communicate complex / sensitive information.
  • Act as contact point for stakeholders outside of the immediate function, while building a network of contacts outside team and external to the organisation.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

More about working at Barclays

Barclays offices across the UK are designed to be places where our people can come together to do their best work, surrounded by excellent facilities for both work and leisure. These are warm, diverse, supportive communities in some of the UK’s best locations, where everyone can thrive.

Our approach to hybrid working ensures there’s the right balance of working alongside colleagues at our onsite locations, as required for each role. For business areas that offer a hybrid working experience, this will be in a structured way, where colleagues work at an onsite location on fixed, ‘anchor’, days of the week. Some roles may require full onsite working. Please discuss the working pattern requirements for the role you are applying for with the hiring manager.

We continue to embed and review our hybrid working environment and remain in a phase of testing and learning. This means that working arrangements could change, with reasonable notice, to align with the needs of our business.

Barclays welcomes applications from all candidates and is committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments (accommodations) are put in place to allow for a fair and inclusive recruitment process. For more information and how to request one, please review Adjustments to the recruitment process.

We’re committed to providing an inclusive culture and environment, that recognises and supports ways to balance your personal needs, alongside the professional needs of our business. Providing the opportunity for all our employees globally to work flexibly empowers each of us to work in a way that suits our lives, as well as enabling us to better service our customers’ and clients’ needs.

Our approach to working flexibly is designed to support you to balance your life and to accommodate diverse needs, whilst still allowing us to meet our business needs. If you’d like to request a flexible working arrangement, please discuss this with your hiring manager.

We're committed to providing a supportive and simplified experience for our candidates throughout the application and assessment process. Here, you will find information about what to expect and some guidance around your assessment and interview.

While the application process depends on the role, there are some constant steps, which are;

Step 1 - Your application
Step 2 - Your assessment
Step 3 - Your interview
Step 4 - Next steps

We aim to create an inclusive work environment where everyone can reach their full potential. If you require any adjustments to our recruitment process, please click here to learn more.

Find out more information here.

Barclays offers a diverse, inclusive and engaged culture. A place where people can bring their whole selves to work and be respected for who they are, valued for what they do and celebrated for their contribution to our business and our community.
We are an equal opportunity employer and opposed to discrimination on any grounds. It is the policy of Barclays to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, colour, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law.

Barclays is required by law to confirm that you have the Legal Right to Work in any role that you apply for. If you currently hold a work visa sponsored by Barclays, or you would require sponsorship from Barclays, you must declare this as part of your application. Sponsored visas are role and entity specific and any changes must be reviewed. It is important that you ensure you are working on the correct visa at all times. Failure to accurately disclose your visa status or Legal Right to Work may result in your application or any employment offer being withdrawn at any time.

The Barclays Way

This is the spirit of Barclays. It’s why we exist, what we believe and how we behave. But most importantly, it’s how we make decisions, take action and get things done.

Learn more

Purpose

Working together for a better financial future.

Values

We believe great talent RISES. It acts with Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship.

Mindset

We discover our full potential through our desire to Empower, Challenge and Drive each other.

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