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- Tasks: Lead payroll and benefits delivery, ensuring accuracy and compliance across multiple PAYE schemes.
- Company: Join Access Education Group, a dynamic organisation supporting creative education across the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse workplace, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape payroll strategy and enhance employee experience in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in payroll management and strong knowledge of UK legislation required.
- Other info: Embrace diversity and inclusivity while driving innovation in payroll processes.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
We’re looking for a confident and experienced Payroll & Benefits Manager to take overall accountability for payroll and benefits delivery across Access Education Group. This is a senior, hands‑on leadership role responsible for ensuring payroll is accurate, compliant and delivered on time across multiple PAYE schemes. You’ll provide assurance and oversight while working closely with a payroll team member who supports operational processing. Beyond payroll, you’ll play a key role in shaping and enhancing our benefits offering — reviewing current provision, exploring salary sacrifice opportunities, and ensuring our reward processes are robust, compliant and employee‑focused. If you thrive in a complex, multi‑entity environment and enjoy balancing compliance, governance and continuous improvement, we’d love to hear from you.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
- Payroll Leadership & Accountability
- End‑to‑end accountability for accurate and timely payroll delivery across multiple PAYE schemes
- Oversight of monthly salaried, hourly and overtime payrolls
- Ensuring strong payroll controls, checks and sign‑off processes
- Acting as the senior escalation point for complex queries or risks
- Compliance & Governance
- Ensuring compliance with UK payroll legislation including PAYE, NI, RTI and statutory reporting
- Managing year‑end processes (P60s, P11Ds, P45s etc.)
- Maintaining auditable payroll records
- Supporting internal and external audit activity
- Benefits, Pensions & Reward
- Overseeing workplace pension schemes and auto‑enrolment compliance
- Leading administration and governance of company benefits
- Reviewing and assessing benefits enhancements, including salary sacrifice schemes
- Supporting pay reviews, bonus schemes and settlements
- Systems, Reporting & Improvement
- Working with People Systems and Finance to optimise payroll and HR systems
- Producing payroll reports and cost data to inform planning and decision‑making
- Leading payroll‑related improvement projects
- Supporting acquisitions, TUPE transfers and organisational change
About You
You’ll be someone who takes ownership, provides assurance, and brings both technical expertise and a collaborative mindset. You will have:
- Significant experience in a senior or lead payroll role
- Experience managing payroll across multiple PAYE schemes
- Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation and compliance requirements
- Experience with workplace pensions and auto‑enrolment
- Experience working closely with Finance and HR/People teams
- A track record of supporting audits and maintaining strong governance
It would be great if you also have:
- CIPP qualification (or working towards)
- Experience in education, charity or multi‑entity organisations
- Experience reviewing or implementing salary sacrifice schemes
- Exposure to TUPE, acquisitions or system implementations
Why Join Us?
Access Education Group is a dynamic, multi‑division organisation supporting creative, industry and sport education across the UK. This role offers the opportunity to shape payroll and benefits strategy, strengthen governance and add real value to the employee experience across the Group. If you’re ready to take ownership of payroll delivery while driving improvement and innovation, we’d love to hear from you.
A full job description and person specification is available for download alongside our full benefits booklet. Based on volume of applications we may seek to interview before the vacancy closing date. Diversity and open expression are fundamental to creativity. We are committed to promoting a culture of diversity and inclusivity for all our employees and potential employees. DBS Checks: Enhanced DBS clearance will be required.
Payroll & Benefits Manager in Manchester employer: Access Creative College
Contact Detail:
Access Creative College Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Payroll & Benefits Manager in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the payroll and benefits field. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s payroll processes and benefits offerings. Show us you’re not just interested in the role but also in how you can contribute to improving their systems and compliance. Tailor your answers to reflect our values and goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your experience with payroll across multiple PAYE schemes and how you’ve tackled compliance challenges. We want to hear about your successes and how you can bring that expertise to our team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining Access Education Group and making a difference in payroll and benefits management.
We think you need these skills to ace Payroll & Benefits Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Payroll & Benefits Manager role. Highlight your experience with payroll systems, compliance, and benefits management. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of how you've improved payroll processes or enhanced benefits offerings in previous roles. This helps us see the impact you can bring to our team.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and concise. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon unless it's relevant. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to track your application and ensure it reaches the right people. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Access Creative College
✨Know Your Payroll Legislation
Brush up on UK payroll legislation, especially PAYE, NI, and RTI. Being able to discuss compliance confidently will show that you’re not just familiar with the rules but also understand their importance in ensuring accurate payroll delivery.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led payroll teams or projects in the past. Highlight your experience in managing complex queries and ensuring strong payroll controls. This will demonstrate your capability to take ownership and provide assurance in a senior role.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Benefits Strategy
Think about how you would enhance the benefits offering at Access Education Group. Be prepared to discuss salary sacrifice schemes and other employee-focused rewards. Showing initiative in this area can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios, such as handling payroll discrepancies or managing audits. Practising these types of questions will help you articulate your thought process and decision-making skills effectively.