Reward & Payroll Manager

Are you a reward professional who enjoys balancing strategic reward initiatives with operational excellence? We're looking for an experienced Reward & Payroll Manager to lead reward, benefits and payroll activity within a complex organisation. This is a highly visible role where you'll shape reward strategy, oversee payroll compliance, and help create a compelling employee experience that attracts, engages and retains talent. Working closely with senior leaders, Finance and People colleagues, you'll provide expert advice on reward, benefits and recognition while ensuring all payroll activity is delivered accurately, compliantly and on time.

This role could suit an experienced Reward & Payroll specialist looking for their next challenge, or a commercially minded HR professional with strong reward and payroll exposure who is keen to build a longer-term specialism in this area.

What you'll be doing

• Leading the annual salary review, bonus and incentive processes.
• Overseeing monthly payroll, ensuring accuracy, compliance and robust governance.
• Managing pension, healthcare, wellbeing and broader benefits programmes.
• Conducting market benchmarking and providing insight on pay positioning and reward trends.
• Developing and enhancing reward, recognition and wellbeing initiatives.
• Producing reward analytics and reporting, including gender pay gap and workforce insights.
• Acting as the organisation's reward subject matter expert, supporting leaders on reward-related decisions.
• Managing external providers and driving continuous improvement across reward and payroll processes.

What we're looking for

• Significant experience in reward, compensation and benefits within a medium or large organisation.
• Strong payroll knowledge, including statutory compliance and reporting requirements.
• Experience leading salary reviews, market benchmarking and benefits programmes.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to turn data into practical, commercial recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on when required.
• CIPD qualification or equivalent experience is desirable.

Why this role?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of the reward agenda in a role that combines strategic influence with operational leadership.