Payroll Data Analyst
Summary
A 6-month contract Payroll Data Analyst (day rate, inside IR35) at Primark in Reading or Dublin (hybrid), supporting a global payroll transformation: analysing, cleansing, reconciling and migrating payroll data, building reports, and aiding system implementations and UAT. Core tooling is advanced Excel, with Power BI, SQL and payroll systems desirable.
Payroll Data Analyst (Global Programme)
Location: Reading or Dublin (hybrid)
Duration: Initial 6 Months
Contract Type: Day Rate (Inside IR35 if UK based)
About the Role
We’re hiring a Payroll Data Analyst to support payroll transformation, system implementations, and operational improvement across a complex, multi‑country organisation. You’ll analyse, validate, cleanse, and reconcile payroll data while working closely with Payroll, HR, Finance, Technology, and external providers to ensure accuracy, integrity, and compliance.
Key Responsibilities
- Payroll data analysis - Analyse, validate, and reconcile data across multiple systems.
- Data cleansing & migration - Support mapping, transformation, QA, and migration activities.
- Transformation support - Contribute to payroll system implementations and process improvements.
- Reporting & insights - Produce dashboards, reports, and actionable insights.
- Issue investigation - Resolve discrepancies and recommend fixes.
- Audit & compliance - Support statutory reporting and audit data needs.
- Controls & documentation - Maintain validation, reconciliation, and control processes.
- Testing support - Assist with UAT and parallel payroll runs during implementations.
Essential Skills
- Proven experience as a Payroll Data Analyst or similar role.
- Strong understanding of payroll processes, data structures, and controls.
- Advanced Excel (Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP, Power Query).
- Experience working with large data sets and complex reconciliations.
- Exposure to payroll system implementations or upgrades.
- Excellent attention to detail, problem‑solving, and stakeholder engagement.
- Experience partnering with Payroll, HR, Finance, and external providers.
Desirable
- Retail or multi‑site experience.
- Knowledge of UK/international payroll.
- Familiarity with systems like Workday, SAP, Oracle, ADP, SD Worx, SuccessFactors.
- Experience with Power BI, SQL, or other visualisation tools.
- Background in payroll migrations or outsourcing programmes.
- Understanding of GDPR and payroll data governance.