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- Tasks: Lead payroll and systems teams to enhance efficiency and integration across the organisation.
- Company: Join a values-led charity focused on transformation and improvement.
- Benefits: Flexible home working, collaborative culture, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Shape the future of our People function and improve lives through your work.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in payroll and HR systems with a strategic mindset.
- Other info: Opportunity for genuine change in a supportive and dynamic environment.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Do you want to be part of the leadership team taking Hft from turnaround to transformation? Hft has turned a corner. After navigating a period of significant financial and operational challenge, we have delivered a major turnaround reducing a £16 million deficit, stabilising our workforce, and restoring confidence across the organisation. Now, with a new and focused Executive Team working closely with our Senior Leadership Teams, clear governance, and a collective understanding of the need to embed sustainable improvement across all areas of the organisation, we are moving from recovery to transformation. This is an exciting moment to join us and this role sits at the heart of that journey.
The Opportunity: As part of our turnaround we are determined to build a great place to work. We are reviewing our people systems and processes, and now we are ready to bring everything together in a more connected, joined-up way. We are looking for someone who can act as a bridge across the People function, bringing clarity to complexity, connecting our systems, data and payroll, and helping us tell a clearer story through our people insight.
You will lead two teams across Systems, Administration, Data and Payroll, each with their own manager, bringing them together into a more connected and effective shared service, and be the systems expert for the People function. You will take ownership of our payroll processes, ensuring they are efficient, compliant and continuously improving, while improving the integration and optimisation of our people systems to drive real value and better service for our colleagues.
Alongside this, you will build our data and reporting capability, developing dashboards, people metrics and insight that helps leaders make better decisions. Across everything you do, you will set the standard for quality and service delivery, acting as the subject matter expert on systems, payroll and data for the wider People and Executive teams.
What we are looking for:
- Proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a high-performing team.
- Extensive experience of leading a team to deliver a complex payroll in a regulatory environment.
- Experience of improving and integrating HR systems, connecting platforms such as ATS and LMS, and using data and KPIs to measure performance.
- Confident working with data, able to draw meaningful insights and act as the subject matter expert on people data.
- Proven ability to lead and manage change effectively.
- Determination to thread EDI, wellbeing and engagement through everything you do.
- Experience of managing budgets and ensuring value-for-money service delivery.
- A strategic thinker with the ability to plan, prioritise and improve service delivery at pace.
- Resilient by nature, with the ability to lead through ambiguity in a fast-moving, evolving environment.
- Experience of managing and influencing senior stakeholders, including at Executive level.
- A collaborative approach to working across functions to deliver shared organisational priorities.
Hft is a values-led organisation where people genuinely look out for each other. Our People team is described as collaborative and supportive, relentlessly focused on driving improvement. Leaders dip in and out to help across areas, and there is a real culture of working together. This is a role where you will have genuine scope to make a difference, not just to how the People function operates, but ultimately to the lives of the people we support.
Home based with flexibility and regular team connection. Real scope to shape and improve. This is a building role, not a maintenance role. The opportunity to make a tangible difference in a purpose-led charity.
Selection Process: We will be shortlisting applications on an ongoing basis. Should your application be shortlisted, you will be invited to attend a pre-screening interview with a member of the senior hiring team. Should you be successful at this stage, the final assessment process will involve a competency-based interview, a presentation and the opportunity to meet with internal stakeholders to get to know the team and Hft. We anticipate the following timelines: Pre-screening interviews: On an ongoing basis. Final assessment: w/c 4 or 11 May.
Our Commitment to Inclusion: We are committed to recruiting people from diverse backgrounds and believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce helps us better support the people we work with to live their best lives. If there is anything we can do to support you to do your best during the application and selection process, please contact our recruitment team.
Ready to bring it all together? Apply now or get in touch to find out more. We would love to hear from you.
Head of Payroll and Systems in London employer: Hft
Contact Detail:
Hft Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Payroll and Systems in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Hft on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the company culture and what they really value in candidates.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for that interview! Research Hft’s recent changes and challenges. We want to show that we’re not just interested in the role, but also in how we can contribute to their transformation journey.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a friend to do a mock interview with us. Focus on articulating our experience with payroll systems and data insights clearly and confidently.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After the interview, shoot a thank-you email to express our appreciation for the opportunity. It’s a great way to keep us on their radar and show our enthusiasm for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Payroll and Systems in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how excited you are about being part of our transformation journey at Hft. Share why this opportunity resonates with you and how you can contribute to our mission.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in payroll and systems management. We’re looking for someone who can connect the dots between data, payroll, and people insights, so be specific about how your past roles have prepared you for this challenge.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, especially when it comes to complex topics like payroll and HR systems. Use bullet points if it helps to make your achievements stand out!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team at Hft!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hft
✨Know Your Numbers
As the Head of Payroll and Systems, you'll need to demonstrate your confidence with data. Brush up on key payroll metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. This will show your potential employer that you can bring clarity to complexity.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires leading high-performing teams, so be prepared to share specific examples of how you've motivated and developed your team in the past. Highlight your collaborative approach and how you've managed change effectively, especially in fast-paced environments.
✨Connect the Dots
Hft is looking for someone who can integrate various HR systems. Be ready to discuss your experience with connecting platforms like ATS and LMS. Prepare to explain how you've improved processes and delivered value through system integration in your previous roles.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement
You'll be managing and influencing senior stakeholders, so think about how you've successfully navigated these relationships before. Have examples ready that showcase your strategic thinking and ability to prioritise shared organisational goals, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.