Payroll Team Leader

Payroll Team Leader

Temporary 45000 - 55000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Hays Accounts and Finance

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and motivate a payroll team to ensure high performance and engagement.
  • Company: Join a dynamic company in Central London with a hybrid working model.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.
  • Other info: 12-14 month FTC position with excellent career growth potential.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by fostering a positive team culture and driving payroll excellence.
  • Qualifications: Strong leadership skills and payroll knowledge are essential.

The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.

12-14 month FTC position in Central London with hybrid working.

Our client is seeking an experienced Payroll Team Leader to join their busy team on a 12-14 month FTC basis.

Duties include:

  • Lead, motivate, and manage a payroll team to ensure high performance and engagement.
  • Set clear objectives, priorities, and performance expectations for team members.
  • Conduct regular 1:1 meetings, team meetings, and performance reviews.
  • Provide coaching, mentoring, and development opportunities for team members.
  • Foster a positive, collaborative, and accountable team culture.
  • Allocate workloads effectively across the team based on skills and capacity.
  • Monitor productivity and adjust resource allocation to meet deadlines.
  • Manage team schedules, holidays, and cover to ensure continuous payroll operations.
  • Track individual and team performance against KPIs and service levels.
  • Address underperformance through structured improvement plans.
  • Ensure consistent adherence to company policies and standards.
  • Identify training needs and design development plans for team members.
  • Deliver or coordinate payroll-related and soft skills training.
  • Support onboarding and induction of new payroll staff.
  • Encourage continuous learning and cross-training within the team.
  • Act as the primary escalation point for payroll team queries.
  • Assist with manual calculations and training on payroll legislation.
  • Build strong relationships with HR, Finance, and external stakeholders.
  • Communicate effectively with senior managers on payroll team performance and issues.
  • Lead and implement process changes or system improvements within the team.
  • Drive standardisation and best practices across payroll operations.
  • Support the team through organisational or system changes.
  • Ensure team adherence to payroll processes, policies, and compliance requirements.
  • Oversee audit readiness and support the team during audits.
  • Act as escalation point for complex payroll or team-related issues.
  • Make informed decisions to resolve operational or people challenges.
  • Maintain calm and effective leadership in high-pressure payroll cycles.
  • Report on team performance, service levels, and key metrics.
  • Communicate changes, priorities, and expectations clearly to the team.
  • Encourage innovation, feedback, and proactive problem-solving.
  • Promote collaboration and knowledge sharing within the team.
  • Lead by example in professionalism and values.

You will have:

  • Strong leadership & team motivation - inspires, guides, and builds a high-performing, engaged team.
  • Effective communication - clearly conveys information and manages relationships with team and stakeholders.
  • People management & coaching - develops team members, handles performance, and supports growth.
  • Organisation & decision-making - prioritises workloads, delegates effectively, and resolves issues confidently.
  • Resilience & attention to detail - maintains accuracy and stays calm under pressure, especially during payroll cycles.
  • Ability to complete manual calculations and strong payroll knowledge.

If you have all of the above, and you are keen to support a dynamic team and can commit to a 12-14 month FTC position, then please apply now.

Payroll Team Leader employer: Hays Accounts and Finance

Join a dynamic and supportive environment in Central London as a Payroll Team Leader, where you will have the opportunity to lead a motivated team while enjoying the benefits of hybrid working. Our company fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous learning, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development, ensuring that every team member feels valued and engaged. With a focus on innovation and best practices, you will play a crucial role in driving payroll excellence and building strong relationships across departments.

Hays Accounts and Finance

Contact Details:

Hays Accounts and Finance Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Payroll Team Leader

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the payroll industry and let them know you're on the hunt for a Payroll Team Leader role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity or can put in a good word for you.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to leadership and team management. Think about how you would handle specific scenarios, like addressing underperformance or fostering a positive team culture. We want you to shine!

Tip Number 3

Showcase your skills during interviews by sharing real-life examples of how you've led teams, managed payroll processes, or implemented improvements. This is your chance to demonstrate your expertise and make a lasting impression.

Tip Number 4

Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged in their job search.

We think you need these skills to ace Payroll Team Leader

Leadership
Team Motivation
Effective Communication
People Management
Coaching
Organisational Skills
Decision-Making

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Leadership Skills:Make sure to highlight your experience in leading and motivating teams. We want to see how you've inspired others and built high-performing teams in the past. Use specific examples to demonstrate your ability to set clear objectives and manage performance.

Communicate Clearly:Effective communication is key in this role, so let your writing reflect that! Be concise and clear in your application. We appreciate straightforward language that gets to the point while still showcasing your personality.

Demonstrate Your People Management Experience:We’re looking for someone who can coach and develop team members. Share your experiences with performance management and how you’ve supported growth within your team. This will show us you’re not just a leader, but a mentor too!

Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy – just follow the prompts and you’ll be all set!

How to prepare for a job interview at Hays Accounts and Finance

Show Your Leadership Skills

As a Payroll Team Leader, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've motivated and managed teams in the past. Think about specific situations where you set clear objectives or helped team members grow through coaching.

Communicate Effectively

Effective communication is key in this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Be ready to discuss how you've built strong relationships with stakeholders and handled complex payroll queries in previous positions.

Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills

Be prepared to showcase your decision-making skills. Think of instances where you resolved operational challenges or addressed underperformance within your team. Highlight your ability to stay calm under pressure, especially during busy payroll cycles.

Know Your Payroll Inside Out

Brush up on your payroll knowledge and be ready to discuss manual calculations and compliance requirements. Familiarise yourself with current payroll legislation and be prepared to explain how you ensure adherence to policies and standards in your previous roles.