Payroll and HR Assistant- Swietelsky UK!
Do you have experience in payroll or HR and are looking for a new challenge?
Swietelsky UK comprises two of Britain’s leading rail organisations: Swietelsky Construction Company Ltd, specialising in railway engineering and supported by a modern fleet of on-track machines, and HNRC Swietelsky, experts in traction, storage, and overhaul. Together, we deliver a comprehensive, high-quality rail service across the UK.
Job Description:
The Payroll & HR Assistant will be the first point of contact for payroll and HR related queries. This role work closely with the Payroll Manager to collate periodic pay, ensuring accurate processing of the payrolls across Swietelsky Construction and HNRC Swietelsky. The role will also work closely with HR and be the first point of contact for HR queries, as well as providing an efficient HR administration service (ie production of offer letters / contracts / recruitment adverts etc).
The role requires someone with strong communication skills, commercial awareness and common sense who understands the pressures of an operational environment and knows how and when to support.
Key Responsibilities / Role Specification
Payroll Support
- Act as the initial go‑to contact for payroll queries.
- Work closely with Operations and other departments to gather, sense‑check and validate timesheet information and collate expense submissions.
- Input the Payroll data and ensure accuracy, completeness and alignment with payroll deadlines.
- Build strong working relationships with Managers to improve (timely) data quality, efficiency and communication.
- Support payroll cut‑off activity, peak periods and critical deadlines (including Christmas working payments /overtime arrangements and other business arrangements).
- Any other tasks associated with first line Payroll.
HR Support
- Provide first‑line HR support to colleagues and managers acting as a visible and approachable people contact on site.
- Complete basic HR administration, including:
- Issuing offer letters and contracts.
- Managing the exit process for employees.
- Supporting recruitment activity (first‑stage administration and system updates).
- Supporting onboarding and induction activities.
- Maintaining accurate employee records and HR systems.
- Work closely with the Payroll Manager and HR Team to ensure alignment between payroll and people processes.
- Help and support in communication HR processes clearly, consistently and practically to operational teams.
Ways of Working
- Maintain a strong office presence within the GB Depot supporting and encouraging face‑to‑face engagement.
- Understand operational priorities and pressures to provide timely, and proportionate support.
- Act as a key link between the business, payroll, and HR helping improve understanding, communication and trust.
What Success Looks Like
- Accurate and timely payroll information submitted with minimal rework.
- Improved communication and relationships between operations, payroll and HR.
- Managers and colleagues feel supported and informed on people and pay matters.
- A trusted on‑site presence who understands the business and adds real value.
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION:
1. Skills and Experience:
- Strong communication skills with the confidence to engage at all levels of the business.
- High attention to detail particularly when handling payroll‑related information.
- Organised, reliable and comfortable working to strict deadlines.
- Practical, solutions‑focused mindset with the ability to apply judgement and common sense.
- Previous payroll or HR administration experience is desirable. Experience of Payroll and HR systems is also advantageous (Sage and Workday).
2. Business Focus:
- Understands the need to introduce best practice and a continuous improvement culture and has a clean vision of how the Company would operate in such an environment.
- ·Establishes and engages with key stakeholders within Swietelsky / HNRC group.
- ·omplies with Group Policy and communicates where changes occur.
3 Personal Drive:
- Personally committed to the success of the Company as a whole.
- Not afraid to challenge the status quo in pursuit of business excellence.
- Has a ‘can do/will do’ attitude.
- Takes responsibility for own developments, identifies and actively pursues learning and career development opportunities.
Benefits:
- 35-hour working week
- 28 days leave plus 8 bank holidays
- Generous Pension Scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Parking and good transportation links
Pay: £30,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company pension
- Free flu jabs
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Manchester M34: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:
- GCSE or equivalent (required)
Experience:
- Administration: 2 years (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
