Michael Hitchen
St Helens,Merseyside
Summary
Results-driven Payroll Manager with knack for streamlining processes and enhancing team productivity. Successfully led payroll operations, ensuring timely and accurate payroll for large organisations. Recognised for improving payroll systems, reducing errors, and fostering collaborative work environment.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work history
Payroll and Pensions support Manager
St Helens Council
St Helens, Merseyside
12.2022 - Current
- Manage team of 5 payroll and pensions officers and 1 payroll supervisor.
- Supported efforts to address workforce issues after COVID and improved team performance.
- Conducted performance reviews to aid staff skill development.
- Resolved complex customer issues efficiently.
- Coordinated tasks for timely project completion.
- Prioritised workload to enhance time management within the team.
- Fostered a supportive work environment contributing to high staff retention rates.
- Followed quality control procedures to maintain company standards.
- Collaborated with third-party agencies to resolve complex issues successfully including pensions funds and government agencies
- Implemented elements of the my view self service platform and have been part of continual improvements and developments to the system
Payroll Processing Manager
Peninsula Business services UK
Manchester, Greater Manchester
06.2021 - 12.2022
- Managed weekly agency payroll and monthly payroll for recruitment consultants and permanent staff.
- Assisted with full end-to-end payroll processing, including calculation of statutory payments and PAYE account reconciliation.
- Supported online timesheet system management for candidates submitting hours.
- Handled weekly client invoicing and addressed invoicing queries as required.
- Created and reconciled payroll journals for accounting software, ensuring accurate pension and holiday balance tracking.
- Oversaw company pension scheme, facilitating relief at source for weekly staff and salary sacrifice for monthly staff, including new starter uploads and leaver removals.
- Processed purchase ledger invoices from suppliers, coordinating payment runs, including HMRC PAYE payments and charity donations.
Payroll Manager
Harold Sharp Ltd
Sale, Greater Manchester
01.2018 - 06.2021
- Lead a team of 3 in a busy outsource team for a leading independent accountancy practice
- Payroll processing for c400 clients across a broad spectrum of industries, ranging form small one person companies to employers with hundreds of staff.
- Involved in all aspects of payroll processing from new starter set up through input of figures, production of reports and payslips to removal of leavers, issuing p45s and making HMRC submissions.
- Manage the auto enrolment process for a number of clients from start to finish.
- Responsible for development of new processes and improving efficiency, supporting the payroll specialists within the team and inducting and training new recruits to the payroll department.
Payroll Specialist
Brammer UK ltd
Manchester, Greater Manchester
01.2016 - 01.2018
- In-house role within a fast paced HR services office for a large pan- European mechanical M.R.O company.
- Processed payroll for UK arm and the Group PLC payroll.
- Involved in end to end processing of payroll for c2000 employees
- Payroll system was also the HR database, the training database and used for the company directory so maintenance of employee data to a high level of accuracy was important as it drove other systems company wide
- Production for reports for the finance department was my responsibility along with HR statistics and headcount reports that went out to department managers and the companies senior management
Payroll Coordinator
Tailored Recruitment Services ltd
St. Helens, Merseyside
10.2011 - 01.2016
- Payroll processing for a large scale industrial recruitment agency with a variety of clients across England. I was working alone in this role
- Weekly payroll in excess of 1500 staff, increasing to around 2000 in December. Majority hourly paid with overtime and bonuses
- Responsible for Full end to end payroll processing including auto enrolment for all staff. This was carried out as one payroll as all staff were employed by TRS as agency workers.
- The nature of this role meant dealing with pay queries across many different clients every week and was highly pressurised and demanding
Administrative Assistant
Department for work and Pensions (jobcentreplus)
St. Helens, Merseyside
05.2009 - 09.2011
- Carried out fortnightly face to face interviews with people claiming jobseekers allowance
- Referral of claimants to advisors or other government support
- Dealing with phone call queries and email handoffs
- General administration
Education
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
University of Manchester
Manchester06.2006
A-Levels - Chemistry
Carmel College
St.Helens06.2002
A-Levels - Biology
Carmel College
St. Helens06.2002
A-Levels - Geography
Carmel College
St. Helens06.2002
Skills
- Payroll management expertise
- 5 years experience with Zellis Resourcelink system and the myview platform
- Microsoft Office proficiency including excel
- Communication and organization skills
- Problem solving and analysis
- High-pressure adaptability
Timeline
Payroll and Pensions support Manager
St Helens Council
12.2022 - Current
Payroll Processing Manager
Peninsula Business services UK
06.2021 - 12.2022
Payroll Manager
Harold Sharp Ltd
01.2018 - 06.2021
Payroll Specialist
Brammer UK ltd
01.2016 - 01.2018
Payroll Coordinator
Tailored Recruitment Services ltd
10.2011 - 01.2016
Administrative Assistant
Department for work and Pensions (jobcentreplus)
05.2009 - 09.2011
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
University of Manchester
A-Levels - Chemistry
Carmel College
A-Levels - Biology
Carmel College
A-Levels - Geography
Carmel College