Head of Payroll

Overview

C&C Group is a premium drinks company which owns, manufactures, markets and distributes a unique portfolio of beer and cider brands in its home markets and across the globe. You probably know us best from brands like Bulmers, Magners and Tennent’s.

Role Overview

Lead the delivery and transformation of payroll services across C&C Group in the UK and Ireland, including operations in Ireland and Scotland. In the initial phase, the role will focus on a comprehensive review of all payroll processes, procedures, and governance frameworks to ensure robust controls, documentation, and risk mitigation. This role ensures payroll processes are compliant, efficient, and aligned with business needs, while continuously improving systems, reporting, and team capability.

About the role

• Conduct a full review of existing payroll processes, procedures, and governance structures.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation of payroll operations, controls, and workflows.
• Ensure governance frameworks are aligned with internal policies and external regulatory requirements.
• Manage the end-to-end payroll process for all C&C Group entities across the UK and Ireland.
• Ensure accurate and timely payroll processing in line with statutory and contractual obligations.
• Maintain compliance with all relevant payroll legislation and regulatory requirements in both the UK and Ireland.
• Act as the key contact for internal and external audits related to payroll, ensuring timely and accurate responses.
• Identify and implement improvements to enhance accuracy, timeliness, and service delivery.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and resilient team culture that supports continuous learning and professional growth.
• Identify skills gaps and implement training and development plans to build capability and confidence across the team.
• Set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and conduct performance reviews to support individual and team success.
• Lead a strategic transformation programme to modernise payroll operations, reduce risk and enhance service delivery.
• Drive cultural and operational change within the payroll team to support a future-fit, resilient service model.
• Manage payroll-related projects with clear governance, scope, and objectives.
• Deliver projects end-to-end, from planning through execution to post-implementation review.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth delivery and adoption of changes.
• Manage service level agreements (SLAs) and ensure clarity of payroll services and frameworks.

About you

• Technically proficient payroll professional, ideally CIPP and/or IPASS accredited, with deep knowledge of UK and Irish payroll legislation and compliance requirements.
• Extensive experience in payroll operations within fast-paced, complex, and matrixed organisations.
• Strong project management skills, with a proven ability to lead payroll-related projects end-to-end, applying governance, stakeholder engagement, and success measurement.
• Process improvement and change management expertise, with a focus on driving operational efficiency, automation, and service excellence.
• Team leadership and development capability, with experience in building resilient, confident, and high-performing payroll teams.
• Client-focused approach, with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively across diverse business areas.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, with a commitment to delivering reliable and compliant payroll services.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise workload and meet strict deadlines.
• Experienced in using HR, Payroll, and Time & Attendance systems, with a strong understanding of data integrity, system optimisation, and cross-platform consistency.
• Numerically and IT literate, with the ability to analyse payroll data and generate actionable insights.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Knowledge of systems such as TMS, iTrent, and Sage is advantageous.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Project Management and Finance
• Industries: Food & Beverages and Manufacturing