Purpose of Role

Responsible for managing end-to-end payroll processing for employees across the UK, and the USA entities, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant payroll delivery, including financial posting, month-end accounting support & analysis. Reports to: Group Finance Lead - Finance Operations (US, UK, Europe) Location: Darlington, United Kingdom

Job Description

Administer end-to-end payroll cycles for UK, and USA including gross-to-net calculations, statutory deductions, benefits, and reporting.
Ensure payroll compliance with HMRC (UK), IRS/State Agencies (USA).
Manage onboarding payroll setup for new hires in consultation with HR including tax codes, pensions, social security setup and regional equivalencies.
Reconcile payroll outputs monthly including variance checks, internal audits, and correcting discrepancies.
Coordinate with third-party payroll vendors and ensure SLAs and data accuracy standards are met in all regions.
Maintain payroll calendar, deadlines, year-end processes (P60s, W2s, etc.) and regional submissions.
Prepare payroll KPIs and performance dashboards for management.
Ensure GDPR compliance and secure handling of sensitive payroll data.
Prepare payroll-related journal entries and accounting postings in the ERP system, incl. allocation across departments and cost centres
Coordinate with the Treasury/Finance team to execute salary payments and statutory remittances, and reconcile the bank transactions and resolve discrepancies
Assist with management reporting and cost analysis related to payroll expenses
Provide accounting support for employee expense claims and benefits accounting where required

Knowledge, Skill and Experience

Deep understanding of UK PAYE/NIC, pension auto-enrolment, statutory leave pay, HMRC processes.
Knowledge of US federal and state payroll law including FICA, FUTA, W-4, state-specific tax variations.
Proficiency with multi-country payroll systems (e.g. Sage) & ERP accounting systems (e.g. Microsoft Dynamics).
Advanced Excel capabilities including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and payroll reconciliation formulas.
Experience completing payroll audits and preparing documentation for internal/external auditors.
5+ years multi-country payroll experience.
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field

Behaviors

High attention to detail and accuracy.
Strong understanding of multi-country payroll legislation.
Excellent problem-solving skills.
Ability to prioritise workload and meet payroll deadlines.
Strong communication skills and stakeholder management.
High integrity: Handles sensitive payroll information discreetly and professionally.
Ownership mindset: Takes responsibility for accuracy, deadlines, and continuous improvement.
Analytical thinking: Identifies anomalies, solves problems proactively, and suggests process improvements.
Collaborative: Works closely with HR, Finance, and external providers.

Please forward your CV to sally.adamson@uniquegroup.com

About Unique Group

A spirit of exploration. An endless curiosity about our seas and oceans. And an ambition to support your subsea and offshore endeavors. These remain the defining principles behind the Unique Group success story.

From A Local Vision To A Global Presence

What began as a small team with a big vision in a garage in the United Arab Emirates in 1993 has grown into a global organization with more than 18 locations across the United States, United Kingdom and Europe, the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar), and the Asia Pacific region including Singapore and Australia. Driven by our values of being Curious, Conscious, and Committed, we support clients and partners on offshore projects anywhere in the world, ensuring consistent service, expertise, and availability.

Today, Unique Group stands as a one stop solutions provider for offshore and subsea engineering, technology, and project support. We combine strong in-house capabilities with a global network of strategic partnerships and leading industry brands, giving our customers access to a comprehensive portfolio of equipment, systems, and services across the full lifecycle of their marine operations.

Engineering Capability Powered by Global Manufacturing

Our manufacturing facilities in the UAE, South Africa, and the UK deliver advanced offshore systems including diving life-support, mission equipment, mechanical solutions, and other critical technologies that support construction, intervention, maintenance, and deep-water operations. Alongside engineering excellence, our technology platforms, digital tools, and autonomous systems contribute to the future of safer, more efficient marine environments.

Guided by our Deep Imagination philosophy, we provide bespoke solutions, consultancy services, and a wide range of equipment for both sale and rental across seven divisions: Unmanned Surface Vessels, Survey Equipment, Seaflex Buoyancy + Water Weights®, Diving + Life Support, Lifting + Mooring, Mechanical Solutions, and Bespoke Engineering.

Our in-house R&D team works directly with customers to solve operational challenges, develop new solutions, and contribute to emerging areas such as environmental technology, digital marine applications, and ocean exploration research. Their work fuels continuous innovation and ensures we remain at the forefront of offshore capability.

Built for Evolving Offshore and Marine Challenges

As the needs of the subsea, offshore, renewables, maritime, and energy sectors evolve, so do we. Wherever our clients operate, our global teams are committed to delivering safe, reliable, and future-ready solutions that enhance performance and efficiency on every project, in every region.

Number of employees: 500+ globally
Sectors: Offshore Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy, Decommissioning, Defence & Security, Marine Support, and Subsea Research.
Preferred educational level: MBO/Vocational for technicians and warehouse roles; Bachelor/Master for Engineering, Sales, and Management.
Preferred education: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Hydrographic Surveying, Logistics, or Business Development.
Career level: All levels, including Experienced Technicians, Mid-level Managers, and Senior Sales Executives.

Senior Accountant – Payroll (UK &#038; USA)